Hello.  I am a dietitian currently counseling a breastfeeding mother.  She
has a 4 1/2 month old son she is currently exclusively breastfeeding.  She
has also been pumping and storing breastmilk since his birth.  Over the last
3 weeks she has been quite unsuccessful in pumping.  She tries at least 2
times per day at intervals between feedings (usually at least 1 - 2 hours
after feeding, which corresponds to about 1-2 hours prior to the next
feeding).  Most times (over the last 3 weeks) she gets virtually no milk
when she pumps.  Her food intake seems fine (we are working on charting her
food intake and choices) and her fluid intake seems fine, too (at least 6
glasses of water per day, along with milk and some fruit juices).  Her baby
is thriving, so it seems that there is no worry that she isn't producing
enough milk.  She has been getting very frustrated.  She heard that
Acidophilus would help increase her milk production so she bought
Acidophilus tablets and has been taking them for about the last 4-5 days.
So far, she has not seen an improvement.  My questions:

1) is there any evidence (research, anecdotal or otherwise) that Acidophilus
(tablets, in milk or yogurt) increases milk production?

2) besides making sure she ingests enough calories and liquids, making sure
she is calm before pumping, is there any further advise I can pass along to
her?

Thanks in advance.

Michael Danzik, M.P.H., R.D.

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