How to increase your milk supply.
Nursing can be a wonderful time for new mothers and is often an amazing experience that you won’t soon forget. As magical as this time can be, nursing can be equally challenging and pose a new set of problems you never considered before. It can lead to sore nipples, sleep deprivation, and the need for hours of pumping.
Not to mention, what do you do if your milk supply is low?
The sad reality is that 75 percent of mothers stop nursing within a few months. For most, one of the biggest reasons they give up on this experience is because they have a low milk supply… or think they do.
There are tons of potential causes for low milk supply, including:
Supplementing the baby’s diet with formula
Introducing solid foods before four months of age
Limiting nursing sessions
Taking birth control or other medications
Lack of sleep
Consuming alcohol or smoking
If you suffer from a medical condition like PCOS, diabetes, thyroid issues, or hormone imbalances, you may also have a harder time coming up with an adequate milk supply.
What you don’t need to worry about
While some new moms have a hard time producing the milk needed, many just think they aren’t making enough. What you don’t need to stress about:
Cluster feeding- When your baby nurses more frequently and for longer periods, it’s not a sign of low milk supply. Your little one might simply be preparing for a long night of sleep ahead or they could be going through a growth spurt.
Unfull breasts- In those beginning stages of nursing, our breasts feel like they can sometimes explode from being so full. But, eventually, our bodies adjust to what our baby eats. So, if your breasts feel relaxed, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t producing enough milk, it just means that you’re in better sync with your baby.
Not producing for the pump- Pumping is less effective than a baby sucking. So you may find that you’re not producing as much milk as expected.
Ways to increase your milk supply.
If you are having trouble producing milk, there are great ways to increase your supply.
Breastfeed more frequently
Breastfeeding should happen with regularity, especially during the early newborn days. Most babies will need to eat about 8 to 12 times a day. Some may even need to eat more frequently. The more regularly your baby suckles at your breast, the more likely your body is to produce an increased amount of milk.
This might mean limiting the bottle for a while. We know, less sleep for you. But it’s a great way to naturally increase your supply.
Pump between feedings
In the early days, with newborns eating so slowly and so frequently, it can feel overwhelming just to take care of basic necessities (eating, showering, sleeping). But pumping in between feedings is a great way to increase your milk supply.
Pumping stimulates the breasts in much the same way that nursing does. As the breast receives this stimulation, it lets your body know that it needs to produce more milk. Try pumping each side for 15 minutes every 2 hours if you can.
With that said, don’t push yourself. Lack of sleep can negatively affect you and your milk supply. Consider trying once or twice a day if it works for you.
Offer and empty each breast
Every time that your baby eats, you should let them drain first one breast and then the other. Even if you feel that your baby got enough to eat after the first side, always offer the second breast just in case they are still hungry.
And, if they don’t want the other, PUMP! Remember, you’re training your body to produce the milk the baby will need.
Food and supplements
What you eat plays a big role in your milk supply, so try to incorporate items that are good for nursing. You can purchase lactation cookies and snacks at the store, but there are plenty of other ingredients that you might want to supplement in your diet, including:
Alfalfa
Blessed thistle
Brewer’s yeast
Fennel
Fenugreek
Spirulina
Other supplements that can help improve milk supply include garlic and ginger, though these should be eaten in moderation. Too much of either ingredient could lead to a fussy baby and some may not like the strong taste that does transfer into the milk supply.
You might also try eating a bowl of oatmeal once a day, as this is a simple and inexpensive way to enhance your milk supply.
Get enough sleep
If you have a newborn at home, you already know that sleep is a valuable commodity. And the stress of having a new little one at home can cause your body to produce more cortisol. That, combined with lack of sleep, can make you feel more tired than ever before. And, exhaustion is one of the most common reasons for low milk supply.
My Sweet Sleeper is a company dedicated to helping families get the sleep they need…safely. If you are struggling to adjust to life with a newborn or are dealing with sleep regression, consult with us to learn more about how we can help you come up with a good bedtime routine and schedule so that you can rest easy and even enhance your milk supply all at the same time.
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