Tips For Increasing Your Milk Supply
Here are my 10 tips for increasing your breastmilk supply and keeping both mother and baby happy and healthy during your breastfeeding relationship:
Ditch Any Feeding Routines
Feed your baby when he or she appears to want the breast. You can also prevent an upset, crying baby if you pick up early hunger signals crying is a late hunger signal. Offering the breast even when you’re not sure what your baby wants does no harm. Remember, the more your baby feeds, the more your breasts will supply. When in doubt, get the boobs out!
Check Your Latch
Your baby doesn’t nipple feed, he breastfeeds. Make sure he has a wide open mouth and the nipple is going towards the back of his mouth. You can watch some helpful instructional video clips at nbci.ca. Hire a lactation consultant, ideally an IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant the gold standard in lactation care) to check your latch if you’re not sure. A lactation consultant can diagnose any issues and give you valuable peace of mind. Please try see one before you self-diagnose with low supply or start using formula. GPs are not trained in such lactation care and often may not be able to give you the help you need.
Avoid Dummies/Pacifiers, Nipple Shields And Bottles Unless Absolutely Necessary
The less your baby is on your breast, the less your nipples are being directly stimulated, so the less milk he or she will get. Check out our article on what you need to know before using dummies/pacifiers. Check with a lactation consultant before you decide to get a nipple shield your sore nipples could be due to a poor latch, so correcting the problem first is important.
Trust Your Baby, Not The Clock!
Of course your baby knows what he needs, his brain is wired for survival. The clock is wired for well, the time. If your baby is taking a while to feed, let him! I’ve never seen a cow in the paddock with a watch on we are the only species that considers the time when feeding our young.
Ditch Or Avoid Formula Top-Up Feeds
As mentioned above, the less you breastfeed your baby, the less milk your breasts will make. The more formula you give, the less milk you’ll have
Make Sure You’re Eating A Healthy, Balanced, Diet
Making sure you’re eating enough nutritious food to produce sufficient breastmilk. Going on a diet is not recommended unless its specifically breastfeeding friendly you need more calories than a non-breastfeeding woman. Make sure you’re getting plenty of leafy greens, good fats (avocado, chia seeds, eggs, salmon), fresh veggies in a range of colours, protein (keeps you full), nuts and seeds.
Be Available To Your Baby 24×7 If Possible
Babies thrive having 24×7 access to their mothers. Being able to breastfeed (from your breasts not a bottle) anytime is optimal for your baby and breastmilk supply.
Make Sure You’re Drinking Plenty Of Water
Breastfeeding makes for thirsty work, and your body will suffer if you’re not drinking plenty of water to the tune of constipation, haemorrhoids and nasty anal fissures. When you don’t drink enough water, your energy, concentration and focus also suffers.
Get Help Sooner Rather Than Later
My best advice to you as a new mother would be to make sure you reach out for help as soon as you can. Don’t struggle in silence or give up on yourself. Breastfeeding troubles can quickly spiral out of control and result in a dash to the supermarket for some formula, when in many cases, it’s not needed at all. Just some good old fashioned advice and support.
No matter if you call a breastfeeding helpline, source a lactation consultant or purchase some good breastfeeding books as a precaution (see the list in the article below), know that help is available and make yourself familiar with them in case the need arises.
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