A guest post from breastfeeding expert Zoe Amy.
In those early days of newborn life it’s easy to get stressed trying to make sure you’re producing enough milk for your baby. Up until breastfeeding has been established, most of us have felt like we’d like to boost your breast milk production quickly. Luckily, there are several ways for increasing breast milk that is simple to use; however, some will require more time than others. Here are simple ways to help improve milk production.
Use a breast pump to increase your supply.
The main thing to remember about increasing breast milk supply is that milk production works on supply and demand system. If you need to make more breast milk, then more milk will need to be removed from your breasts.
The more you empty your breasts, the more milk you will produce. A breast pump is one method for removing breast milk. This more straightforward approach if you are not comfortable with the hand expression method. I can confidently state that a breast pump is far more convenient and faster to use than expressing by hand.
A good quality breast pump can be used in between, during or after breastfeeding sessions. If you want to pump solely, you will need to schedule additional pumping sessions to ensure your baby gets enough milk.
If you continue to a breast pump, you can be confident that your breast milk will not diminish when you return to work, so long as you are pumping more than what your baby is drinking each day.
Ditch the dummy
A lot of moms seem in a hurry to give their new babies a dummy. They help with sleep, right? A dummy is essentially a nipple substitute. Babies are designed to suckle at breasts.
If you do want to introduce a dummy, it is better to wait until nursing has been established at around the 8-12 week mark to ensure that your milk supply is appropriately established.
However, if you are having supply issues, allowing your child to spend more time nursing and even sleeping at the breast will provide more stimulation and help you to make more milk.
Introducing a dummy to your infant does not cause nipple confusion, but it does result in lost chances to feed your baby and maintain or increase your milk supply.
Try Power Pumping
Power pumping is a nickname given to using a breast pump to simulate cluster feeding. By emptying your breasts regularly, you might trick your body into producing even more milk.
While there is no specific timetable for power pumping, you can be sure to pump for at least half an hour uninterrupted in the morning when the milk supply is at its greatest.
An example routine for power pumping would be to pump for 20 minutes, then relax for about 10 minutes before continuing to pump for 10 minutes, followed by a 10-minute pause and another 10 minutes feeding. This aids in the complete emptying of your breasts and stimulates your breasts to produce more milk.
Relax
The early days of breastfeeding are challenging. You really need to look after yourself and take care of your well-being. Drinking adequate water and taking time to relax is crucial not just for milk supply but also for your health.
Stress and exhaustion can quickly derail efforts to develop a sufficient supply of breast milk. Any relaxation, whether physical or psychological, assists in the production of milk for the nursing mother.
Visualization
Some moms swear by visualization to help increase breast milk supply. A good place to start is to visualize your breasts as being full of milk throughout the day. Make it a point to visualize it vividly in your mind. Then, before feeding your baby, imagine the milk flowing and pouring out to satisfy your infant.
Additionally, when nursing, focus entirely on your baby’s face and allow the image of them to become stronger from the breast milk to enter your mind. Looking at videos and photographs of your kid on your phone while pumping might lead to an increase in milk production because your body responds to the visuals you create.
Avoid things that decrease milk supply
The change in role from carefree adult to parent is a big lifestyle adjustment. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to accept that you now have someone to look after.
According to Dr.Sanjeev Kumar Singh, you should abstain from certain lifestyles such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and anything else that may impair your milk production. Remember that everything you consume is also going to your baby.
While breastfeeding, it is important to avoid over-the-counter medicines and prescriptions that might reduce your milk production. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are nursing before taking new medications or prescriptions.
If you do return to birth control, make sure to notify your provider that you’re nursing so that you may receive a technique that won’t interfere with your milk production or harm your nursing baby.
Encourage your child to breastfeed regularly.
The more you breastfeed your infant, the more milk you will make. Frequent milk removal and stimulation of the breast is the most important part of increasing milk production.
When your infant is satisfied before the breast is fully emptied, you can attempt hand expression or even pumping to remove the excess milk.
A baby will typically nurse 8-10 times a day, with cluster feeding in the evening and during the night.
Eat lactogenic foods
As hectic as caring for a newborn can be, as a breastfeeding mom you must eat frequently and drink plenty of fluids, especially warm liquids, and you must make staying hydrated a top priority.
You’re probably wondering whether there are any foods you can consume to assist you in improving your supply of breast milk. It’s a real possibility!
According to Dina Carey, adding lactogenic to your diet can help you to get your milk flowing. And, of course, these foods are a great addition to the other techniques we’ve mentioned.
Talk to your doctor
If none of these methods are working for you, you should consult your doctor. Make sure to tell them about all of your medical issues, as well as the medications you’re taking.
Some medical conditions may be the cause of your insufficient milk supply. Your doctor will always be ready to diagnose your problems and advise you on the best treatments for you.
Some medications associated with certain conditions may also cause a low milk supply, but your doctor will offer you alternatives that are more appropriate for a breastfeeding mother.
Conclusion
While you may not notice an increase in breast milk supply the next day, every little bit of milk you add will make a big difference for your baby over time. A few tricks and steps will significantly assist you in your motherhood journey if you understand how breast milk works for your baby. These simple steps can result in a significant increase in your breast milk production over time.
It’s not uncommon to experience negative emotions and feelings when you don’t have enough breast milk supply. Instead of allowing yourself to suffer and become stressed and afraid, you can take the steps outlined above to increase your milk supply. If negative feelings persist, make an appointment to talk to a doctor, therapist or board-certified lactation consultant to get you back on track.
About the author
Zoe Amy is a writer and mum with a passion for breastfeeding. From finding the right breast pump to natural term weaning and gentle parenting. You can find more at Breastfeeding Mama.
