If you're a breastfeeding mum, then the most important thing that's on your mind day in and day out is whether you produce enough milk to meet the rising needs of your newborn.
A lactating mother's breast milk production depends on a lot of factors such as how often she feeds the baby, whether she's eating right or not and whether she is taking a lot of fluids. Here are a few tips to help increase your breastmilk supply.
- Active suckling: A mother’s body produces milk in response to her baby’s suckling. The mum who allows frequent suckling, easily increases the supply of milk with the increase in the hormone, prolactin. During the initial week post birth, the lactating mother may experience pain and discomfort in her nipples as her infant nurses. This shouldn’t deter her from breastfeeding as it may affect the supply.
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Stay hydrated: Consuming adequate liquids will keep you hydrated and enable you to produce milk effectively. Drinks like sodas, coffee or tea are to be taken in moderation, as large amounts of caffeine can dehydrate the body, thus decreasing breastmilk production
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Eating right: Eating healthy throughout the day will maximize the energy you have as a new mum and make up for the calorie loss that happens during breastfeeding. Certain foods also aid in boosting milk production naturally.
- Skin to skin contact: Studies say that maintaining a skin to skin contact with your baby not only helps the baby's development, it also boosts the breast milk supply. It also increases the circulation of the feel good hormones in the mother's body, reducing stress which can have an affect on your breastmilk supply also.
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