“Am I producing enough milk?” This is a very common question and often baffles mothers who are breastfeeding. This often leads to tension in mothers and some even panic that they are not being a good mother. Well, first of all, it’s not your fault, secondly it is a very common issue and lastly; it is an issue which has solutions. Most often, this worry arises when mothers feel that their breasts ‘do not feel full’ or the milk is not leaking. However, both these observations imply that your milk supply has adjusted itself to the baby’s needs. So, stop blaming yourself, relax and try to find out the causes and what you can do to overcome the problem instead of stressing yourself out which can also result in low secretion of milk.
For most women, it is the delivery of the milk that is the actual issue and not the production. However, if your baby is not gaining enough weight, feels hungry, you could be on the other side. There are quite a few low milk supply causes and we are listing the below for you:
Apart from these, waiting too long to start breastfeeding or not breastfeeding enough can also impact breast milk supply/ Women who supplement breastfeeding in earlier stages can also see some effect on breast milk production. Though many women worry about low breast milk supply, insufficient breast milk production is rare. Research has it that most women make breast milk which is greater by about 1/3rd of the milk their babies drink.
If you are worried about producing less than required milk, the biggest indications would be given by your baby.
You can read more about signs that your baby is getting enough milk here.
Often mothers complain about low milk supply at night. Well, this is because your hormones work its best in the morning and towards the evening they tend to slow down and absolutely drop down by night. It is expected that your doctor will make you aware of this situation and guide you to use breast pump during this time.
Many women complain that a low milk supply during breastfeeding makes your baby a little bit irritated because he is not getting enough to fill his stomach. The situation is also bound to put you under stress. However, you should know that babies do have something like a ‘cluster feed’, which is they feed frequently for some hours in a day, and that generally happens in late evenings and nights. This will render your letdown reflex a bit slower owing to a slower hormonal response.
To avoid low milk supply at night, try taking some rest in the afternoon when the baby is sleeping and have a nutritious lunch followed by a healthy snack in the evening. Cuddle your baby to increase the breast milk supply as well.
The experts will say that pump as much as you can. If you are solely dependent on pump then you will be advised to pump often. At the same time it is important that you keep in mind not to overdo it. Pumping in the middle of the feeding and after feeding even for smaller durations can help to boost breast milk supply. 2 hours or so should be ideal. If you feel the need you can maximum push it for another hour but not more than that. Here are some tried and tested tips on pumping breast milk.
Most importantly, keep in mind that low milk supply is not no let down. Studies say that every one in three women go through this and they raise healthy babies. Moreover, there are numerous options to cope with this crisis which are medically safe both for you and you baby.
You have to know that the glands secrete milk when there is demand, the more the baby feeds, the more milk your breasts produce. Frequent nursing sessions stimulate milk supply, so it is important to keep feeding your baby so that your body identifies the need and produces milk. Every bottle of juice, formula or water sends the signal to the body that the milk is not required, and then the body gradually decreases the milk production. Here are few important tips to help you increase the breast milk supply:
The important thing is to identify the signs that you are producing less milk, if the delivery is not the issue. You baby will not gain weight as expected and he will be hard to soothe because he will be irritated of not getting enough milk. Once you identify them, consult your doctor. Improved breastfeeding skills generally work for a majority of the mothers but if nothing seems to work, there could be some serious health problem. Always remember, nursing is a simple demand and supply job!
Happy Nursing!
Milia in Newborn Babies – Causes, Types, Symptoms, and Treatment
Startle Reflex in Babies – Causes And Treatment
Breathing Problems in Babies – Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment
Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum in Newborns – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Vomiting in Babies – Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment
Laryngomalacia in Infants – Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment by Dr. Srikanta J T
Get regular updates, great recommendations and other right stuff at the right time.