And yes, this is my life for the past 2 weeks. Totally working on a scheduled routine with pumping every 3-hourly and latching as and when needed. This routine is applicable over wee hours and technically starts at 1am, 4am, 7am, 10am, 1pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm.
In order to increase supply, we have to take in plenty of fluid to ensure that we have sufficient to generate into breast milk. Personally i feel that having Milo with brewer's yeast and cereal after every feed helps to regain energy and also boost milk supply a little more. Do note that some may not like the taste of oat milk though but i feel that Oat milk is also one of the must-drink beverage to increase supply. Adding on, did a research on Kellymom and found the following article, quoted the most important part:
“Some little tips to help increase your supply if you really need it. It’s nice to have these on hand just in case:
First drink plenty of water. I don’t drink a ton but I make sure to stay hydrated. Check your pee when you go (I know, sounds funny!). If it is light yellow to clear, you are plenty hydrated.
Make sure you eat! While you are pumping, you will keep the weight off, I promise! It can make you hungry as a horse and it does that for a reason. You need the extra calories because you are burning so much off! When I didn’t eat enough, I would get really light headed and feel like I was going to drop my baby…not good! Eventually, your hunger should taper off (mine has).
Eat REAL oatmeal, not the instant. You can eat the quick oats (the ones that cook in 1 minute) or the old fashioned oats (that cook in 5 minutes). You can also make cookies that have oatmeal in them and get oatmeal that way (I prefer this way! Ha!). The way they process the instant oatmeal, it doesn’t give you the same results. No one is sure how the oatmeal works but it does!
Get some rest (yeah, I know easier said than done!) If you are exhausted and have the opportunity to take a nap (even if it pushes your pump back) do it! You will actually get more milk that way! Even if you’re not sleeping, rest by sitting down a lot. Conserving energy is important.
Don’t stress too much. This all depends on how you personally handle stress. I tend to be a thinker, so I think things out a lot. It has to be some MAJOR stressful situation for it to hurt my supply.
Some suggest drinking dark beer, with or without alcohol. Some say it’s the barley in it or something, that helps to increase supply. Plus some women just swear by the relaxation it gives them! You can have 1 or 2 beers without much crossing into your milk. (Note: Most breastfeeding experts do not routinely recommend using alcohol to boost milk supply. More on alcohol and breastfeeding here.)
There is a tea called Mothers Milk Tea and it is supposed to increase your supply if you drink it.
There are herbs like Fenugreek and also prescription medications that will increase your supply if you really need it. I would use these as a last resort but they can be effective and are available!
Most importantly, good pumping habits will keep your supply up and increase it!”
JIAYOU!!!