Milk supply shutting down when I go raw...HELP!

[Rawfoodmom]

I'm breastfeeding my 6 month old daughter and every time I try to go 80% to 100% raw my milk supply almost completely stops. I'm taking Fenugreek and Mother's Milk Tea to try to keep it up but the only thing that helps is to add back in meat and dairy. I need advice. I really want to be raw but I will not do it at the risk of having to stop breastfeeding.

Kay

[Zaphirah]

I know nothing about breastfeeding-except that I had no supply with each of my babies. :confused: But have you tried going healthy cooked vegan, or weaning off the meat and dairy very slowly, allowing your body to adjust gradually? Perhaps too much detox too quickly is effecting your milk supply?

[Veganforlife]

You might want to pose this question to Jinjee (www.thegardendiet.com). SHE would be able to help you answer this. I can't believe that meat and dairy are nourishing your milk supply.

e-mail addy: info@thegardendiet.com

[rockstar135]

It is almost definitely a calorie issue. You have to eat tons and tons of raw food to get the level of calories that you can easily procure with meat and dairy.

[HolyGuacamole]

It is almost definitely a calorie issue. You have to eat tons and tons of raw food to get the level of calories that you can easily procure with meat and dairy.

That is my thought as well.
I would try loading up on calorie-rich raw foods.
Dig in to lots of avocados, nuts, and healthy oils and see if that helps.

Best to you and hugs to your sweet little one!

[Eva]

www.llli.org has a host of info -- La Leche League

[shashibala]

You might try eating sesame seeds or tahini, or drinking sesame milk. It is supposed to help milk production. I like to put raw tahini in my smoothies.

[freshlight]

Drink lots of sweet coconut milk

http://www.thaitable.com/Thai/recipes/Coconut_Juice.htm


that will definitely help. Eating LOTS of juicy fruit is great as well.

Enjoy!

Eva





http://fresh-and-raw.blogspot.com/


http://rohundfroh.blogspot.com/

[Revvell]

You say
every time I try to go 80% to 100% raw

What does that mean to you? I don't agree you need TONS of food to satisfy caloric needs, more fruits and greens but then, on this (breastfeeding), I don't have experience. I would email Jinjee as Lucy said. This is her domain.


I'm breastfeeding my 6 month old daughter and every time I try to go 80% to 100% raw my milk supply almost completely stops. I'm taking Fenugreek and Mother's Milk Tea to try to keep it up but the only thing that helps is to add back in meat and dairy. I need advice. I really want to be raw but I will not do it at the risk of having to stop breastfeeding.

Kay

[freshlight]

I've just remembered something else: fennel is THE milkmaking plant. Try it: it worked with three of my friends and our babysitter did suddenly start producing milk after drinking a cup of fennel tea: she was 22y. old by the time and has never even been pregnant!

[Raene]

I'm breastfeeding my 6 month old daughter and every time I try to go 80% to 100% raw my milk supply almost completely stops. I'm taking Fenugreek and Mother's Milk Tea to try to keep it up but the only thing that helps is to add back in meat and dairy. I need advice. I really want to be raw but I will not do it at the risk of having to stop breastfeeding.

Kay

When I went raw the first time I was eating cooked vegan and nursing my 2 year old daughter. I had an average milk supply considering my daughter was two. However, I started incorporating lots of raw fruits, especially at breakfast...sometimes 4-6 fruits for breakfast or one big melon. My milk supply came back to being as it had been when my daughter was a newborn. I poured milk and choked her! I couldn't believe it. Try lots of fruit. And make sure you're drinking enough water :)

[1bigfamily]

I agree with more calories but if there is an expert out there then definitely ask her!! I haven't had a milk supply issue at all and I am nursing 3.

[Rawfoodmom]

Thanks so much to all of you that have replied. I've been incorporating alot more tahini and trying to eat alot more calories. I will let you know how it works. So far so good but...time will tell :confused:

[Rawfoodmom]

Well, it only worked for 2 days and then my milk supply shut down so much that she was up 8x that night trying to feed. I went back on meat and dairy and after a couple of days my milk is back to normal. I AM SO FRUSTRATED!!! I added in tahini, Mother's milk tea, Fenugreek, and LOTS of calories and still no milk.

[coco]

don't stress out, a healthy baby is the goal here no matter what.

that said, is it possible to add in some really healthy cooked food choices instead of the meat and dairy? like hearty soups and stews with root veggies, lentils and beans, brown rice etc? keep trying to find what works best for you but let me tell you, stress WILL affect your milk supply so give yourself some support while you're at this and avoid being critical of where you're at. you're doing great.

[HolyGuacamole]

don't stress out, a healthy baby is the goal here no matter what.

that said, is it possible to add in some really healthy cooked food choices instead of the meat and dairy? like hearty soups and stews with root veggies, lentils and beans, brown rice etc? keep trying to find what works best for you but let me tell you, stress WILL affect your milk supply so give yourself some support while you're at this and avoid being critical of where you're at. you're doing great.

Exactly. :)

[Nature_is_Yummy!]

There is a great ebook on this, are you familiar with Jinjee from The Garden Diet? She wrote an ebook on breastfeeding and it has a whole section on foods to increase supply. www.yogaofnursing.com Hope that helps!

[phytomama]

i had issues from day one with my daughter, but i can tell you that tons of liquids, fruit, coconut oil and coconut water, fennel and fenugreek do help. also, you may want to get your thyroid checked. i know that it sounds strange, but there is such a thing as subclinical hypothyroidism, where you are seemingly fine, but odd things show up, such as decreased milk production. you can ask your doc for a full thyroid panel and see what they come up with. i did it per suggestion of a lactation consultant and oddly enough i had issues. you never know.

good luck mama!

[*green*faery*]

Hi, I am currently nursing my 6mo. I have been cooked vegetarian for years. We had supply issues, but are doing good now. I have been eating 90% raw for a couple weeks now. I have lots of fluids, and green juice everyday. I have had some raw cheese and sometimes a hard boiled egg. I know this is a raw vegan board, but this is just what I'm doing, not to say it's the right/best way. I eat a good amount of nuts, seeds, and avocados.

The most important thing is that you have enough milk for your baby and eat as well as you can. I had to pump a lot at one point to get my milk supply up (might help). In my opinion, even if you eat whatever meat and dairy you are use to, make that your only cooked food and eat the rest raw:)

oh, and thank you for breastfeeding!

[rawlight]

You don't mention water. When a friend of mine gave birth last December, her doula told her to drink lots of water to help her milk supply.

[Pizza]

1. It is not in nature's plan for women to 'not make enough milk' (which is the #1 reason for weaning) - there would be no continuation of the species!

2. My suggestions (after nursing 6 babies, none of it smoothly but we stuck with it til it worked) are as follows:

* give yourself 36 hrs to devote to nothing but nursing. no laundry. no shmoozing on the phone. no dishwashing. just curl up in bed with baby, get out every now and then to make a smoothie and pee. pay attention to how baby is latching, make sure you are hearing swallows. massage/milk the breast to help baby get more at each feed.

* take more fenugreek. you're supposed to take more and more until your pee smells like maple syrup. it could be a lot. keep taking it as your milk supply increases, until you are making enough, maybe even a little too much. then you can stop.

* keep paying attention to your baby's nursing cues: pay attention to how baby is latching, make sure you are hearing swallows. massage/milk the breast to help baby get more at each feed. dont stop. dont talk on the phone while nursing, or read a book or magazine. watch baby, make sure she doesnt slow down or fall asleep until she's eaten.

good luck
hang in there!

[Raw Angel Mom]

It is true for me that my milk went down, but it went back up.

I noticed that with e3live and almond, my milk would boost. The nursing tea also would boost my milk production. You will have more energy soon on raw which will make you produce more milk.

Remember that going raw, give more nutrient and better quality of milk to your child. Nurse more often, it will stimulate the milk production.

I went raw when my daughter was 15 months, she was almost exclusively on my milk then not much solid food. She is very healthy and a great weight.

Speaking from my experience, i was able to produce the perfect amount of milk for my child no problem. I am still producing milk two year and half after, so no, it won't compromise nursing your child. Exercise, will drop your milk production.

Don't be afraid to go raw.