How to Increase Breast Milk Supply
It has been said that breast milk is still the best milk for babies. This is why I definitely plan to breastfeed my third baby after child birth. However, I have this concern that I might not be able to provide enough milk for my baby due to low breast milk supply. From my past experience in breastfeeding my first two children, I was only able to breastfeed each of them for one month because it seems that my baby was not getting enough milk. So I turned to formula milk.
Now, I am more determined to continue breastfeeding my child for as long as two years. But the question is: what do I do in order to increase breast milk supply? I have done some research and I have found a few basic steps that any mother who plans to breastfeed can do to ensure adequate and continuous supply of breast milk.
Eat a balanced diet with extra calories a day.
First and foremost, any breastfeeding mother should make sure she eats the right amount of food. The right diet should include foods rich in carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. If you are hungry, get a fruit instead of junk or fast food. You should also eat more than what you usually eat because breastfeeding requires an extra 500 calories daily. A breastfeeding mother should not yet think of going through a weight loss program or getting on a restricted diet for it may affect breast milk production and may leave one to be weak.
Drink plenty of fluids.
It does not necessarily mean water. It can be juice, milk or soup. Drinking lots of fluids will help you replace the fluids lost in breastfeeding. It is recommended to drink at least one gallon of water daily. Soup will also increase breast milk production.
Take supplements or continue to take prenatal vitamins.
There are herbs such as Fenugreek which can help increase breast milk production. It is also important that you get the necessary nutrients your body needs as you nurse your baby. One of this is to continue to take multivitamins or the vitamins you have taken while you were pregnant.
Eat oatmeal daily.
There are studies that indicate that eating a serving of oatmeal a day can increase breast milk supply. Others even suggest eating two servings daily.
Get enough rest and sleep.
It is very important that you take care of yourself as you breastfeed your baby. The best way to accomplish this is to take enough rest because lack of rest affects breast milk supply. Nurse your child frequently at regular intervals. It has been found that a baby’s sucking can stimulate hormones to produce breast milk. The more your baby demands for milk, the more the supply will increase. Have a regular interval for nursing your baby of at least two hours interval.
Express milk in between feedings.
This is another way to stimulate your body to produce more milk. Even after your baby has breastfed, you can still pump to increase supply. You can do this an hour after breast feeding. Purchase an effective breast pump for this purpose. Find someplace where you can relax. Then store your expressed milk in the fridge and give it to your baby while you are away for grocery or for work.
Massage your breasts.
Another means to stimulate breast milk production is by massaging your breast when you are not breastfeeding or pumping. You can do this when you are taking a bath or it is possible to do it even during feedings. You can do this by yourself or ask your partner to do it for you. In this way, your breasts will increase its supply of milk.
Avoid or lessen exposure to stress factors.
It has been proven by research that stress can decrease breast milk production. Thus, it is recommended that you should keep away from stressors or to at least lessen things or activities that cause you stress. If it is the household chores that cause you stress, then hire a maid whether part-time or full-time. Have a baby sitter come once in a while. Find some time to relax. Assign some tasks to your husband or to another family member. De-stress yourself so you can focus on one thing that is important to you and to your baby.
Avoid cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine.
These are substances you should avoid for the meantime that you are breastfeeding because it can get to your milk and to your baby’s body. Remember that what you take also goes to your baby.
Ask a breastfeeding consultant.
If you have followed some or all of these steps and nothing seems to work, then it might be good to consult a lactation or breastfeeding consultant on other possible things you can still do to increase breast milk supply. Or they may help you do things properly.
These steps have been proven by many breastfeeding moms. So if these worked for them, these will also work for you. Happy breastfeeding, Mom!
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Try Fenugreek tea. Didnt work for me but sure did for my friends.
When I was breastfeeding and I started gettting low milk supply, the pediatrician told me just to quit breastfeeding. Luckily someone told me to try out a herbal lactation tea called Breastea. I ordered it from the internet at breastea.com. It made an amazing difference in my milk supply. Before to long I was able to stop supplementing with formula.