Increasing Your Milk Supply

By: Helen Anderson (IBCLC)

Mother doing breast feeding electronic for her baby milk stock

Worried about your milk supply? You’re not alone, all but a few moms stress about their supply at some point in their breastfeeding journey. It is normal to feel short on milk when your baby is going through a growth spurt or adjusting to a new schedule (think going back to work or teething). If you experience low milk supply, think of it as a bump in the road, not a stop sign and add a few new skills to your pumping and nursing routine. There are many things you can do to boost your milk production, adding a few of these techniques can have a significant positive impact on your milk supply.

First things first – examine your lifestyle and current nursing/pumping routine.

• The most common reason for low milk supply is not nursing or not pumping often enough or long enough to empty the breasts. When breasts stay full or are not emptied completely, your body gets the signal to make less milk.

• Ineffective or short pumping sessions can leave too much milk in the breasts, causing a drop in production.

• Painful pumping can inhibit your let-down. Make sure your pump parts fit your body and don’t turn the suction up too high. Use a nipple balm to sooth and heal sore nipples.

• An olive oil based balm like Milkies Nipple Nurture can be applied before pumping if friction is causing discomfort.

 

• Drink water, rest and relax. Dehydration, fatigue, and stress can also have a negative effect on your milk supply.

• If you are taking oral birth control pills, the estrogen in the medication can decrease your milk production. If you see a drop in supply, switch to a non-hormonal, barrier method like condoms. Cold medicines, nicotine and alcohol can also cause your supply to decrease.

To maximize your supply, do these things:

• Ditch the binky and put your baby to breast if fussy

• Breastfeed or pump 8-12 times in every 24 hour period

• Eat nutritious meals and increase your water intake

• Try to reduce your stress, ask family and friends for help. Be specific about how they can help. For example – ask a friend to wash, fold and put away some laundry or pick up items on your grocery list.

• Offer both breasts at each feeding and allow your baby to nurse until he or she shows disinterest. Change positions and holds to empty each breast more completely.

• Use a double electric pump. Talk to your insurance company or WIC clinic to find a pump that works for you – at no cost.

• Spend as much time as possible skin-to-skin with your baby. Strip your baby to only a diaper, place him or her against your bare chest. Men (or non-nursing parents) can do skin-to-skin too – it creates a stronger bond, keeps your baby warm and shares your partner’s good bacteria with your baby.

• Add a breastfeeding supplement to your daily routine, Milkies Nursing Blend combines nutritional support with milk boosting herbs like fenugreek.

• Empty your breasts often and completely. The best way to do completely empty your breasts is with breast compression and hands-on-pumping. These related techniques can increase your milk production up to 50%.

• If your baby is sleeping more than 4 hours, wake him or pump.

• Schedule a Babymoon! Take a day or two to stay home to pump and nurse. Focus on your baby, nurse on demand and pump after each breastfeeding session. Your body will get the “Make more milk” signal!

• Use breast compression while breastfeeding. It will keep your baby awake, reduce nipple pain, plugged ducts and more completely empty your breast.

How to use breast compression while nursing:

Use breast compression when your baby is breastfeeding. Latch your baby in a position that allows you to get a free hand; a breastfeeding pillow can be helpful here. Encircle your breast with thumb on one side and remaining fingers on the other and squeeze when your baby is nibbling but not drinking. Stop squeezing and rest your hand when baby swallows. Breast compression helps your baby gets to the fatty hind milk, stay awake at the breast and reduces sore nipples, mastitis and plugged ducts. It’s a simple technique, watch a video here.

 

Use hands-on-pumping to pump more milk and keep your supply strong. Start pumping with a double electric pump and hands-free pumping bra, use both hands to place steady pressure on the milk ducts at the base of the breast, up from your nipple. Full milk ducts feel hard, continue to pump and message for 2 minutes after you cannot feel any more hard spots, and milk has stopped dripping as you pump. Watch a wonderful video of hands-on-pumping here.

Always keep the number of a lactation consultant nearby or call your hospital or WIC office for help if you think your milk supply is decreasing. Find a breastfeeding support group or La Leche League meeting in your area for more social support at breastfeeding.

Chat with Helen live about milk supply & manual breast compression on the Breastfeeding Mama Talk Facebook page on December 13th, at 2 p.m. Pacific Standard Time! Everyone who participates in the chat is automatically entered to win some free products from http://www.fairhavenhealth.com !