Increase Breast Milk – It’s Time to Get to Work

In another post on this blog, I discussed some of the various causes of low breast milk supply.  You may want to read that post first, and then return here.  What is interesting is that low supply can happen early on or even several months after you seem to have everything established.  Just remember that this is something that takes a bit of patience, but with consistent effort, you should be able to increase your milk supply.

The following will give you ideas on how to increase breast milk supply:

1. Stimulation! Stimulation! Stimulation!  Remember that it is a supply and demand system.  It is the stimulation of your nipples that tells your brain and body to make more milk.  You’ll want to nurse your baby frequently such as every two hours during the daytime.  You may even want to wake up your baby at nighttime if your baby is sleeping for long stretches (four or five hours at a time).
2. If your baby falls asleep during nursing, or is a “lazy” nurser, try waking your baby up by removing his/her clothes and allowing more skin-to-skin contact.  I also found it helpful to change my son’s diaper or burping him when he would begin falling asleep so that it would wake him up again.
3. Do not use bottles or formula, especially in the early weeks of breastfeeding, if you want to increase breast milk.   If your healthcare professional, however, advises you to supplement because of concerns with your baby’s weight gain or ill health, I suggest you speak to a lactation consultant about alternative supplemental feeding methods other than bottles.
4. Limit the amount or length of your outings away from your baby, especially in the first weeks.  Your milk supply is not yet established, and although  breast pumps are handy to have, they are still not as effective at stimulating milk production as a baby is.
5. Ensure that your baby has a good latch and is suckling effectively in order to ensure you increase breast milk supply.  A DVD that has good reviews is: Nature’s Way: Video Guide to Breastfeeding
6. Take good care of yourself.  Make sure that you are eating a healthy breastfeeding diet, getting enough fluids, and getting some quality rest periods.
7. Pump your breasts after feedings.  You can rent or purchase high-quality, electric pumps – the type that are used in hospitals.  Keep records of how much breast milk you are collecting each time, so that you can see if it’s increasing.  Continue to pump for up to five minutes after the last few drops of milk.  See the following website, Shop for Medela Breastpump Parts and Accessories at Nursing Mother Supplies., which sells two very good pumps.  I had a Medela one.
8. Nurse longer.  Allow your baby to spend more time at the first breast before switching your baby to the next breast.  This will also help your baby to gain weight by getting more of the hindmilk, which is higher in fat and calories.  If, however, you have a premie, underweight, or unwell baby, you need to consult your healthcare professional as extending nursing sessions could tire out your baby, and therefore supplementation may be called for.  When your baby gets stronger, you will be able to nurse longer.  Until this time, use a hospital-grade pump after feedings.
9. Point 8 might not work to increase breast milk if you have a baby who falls asleep early on in the feeding.  You may want to switch your baby to the second breast as soon as he/she starts to slow down in sucking.  Then once your baby starts to slow down on the second breast, return to the first breast, and then eventually back to the second breast.
10. Get help for sore or cracked nipples if that is interfering with your ability to increase breast milk supply.  This usually involves correcting latch.
11. Consider herbs that may increase breast milk production, such as Fenugreek Seed

There are ways to increase breast milk.  It does involve some work, patience, and time to increase the supply, but it is well worth it in the end!

Here is a great (Unrelated) website of having your children’s impressions done (kinda cool):  Baby Impressions