Mostly all nursing mothers worry about whether their infants are getting enough milk at one time or the other during lactating period. Generally, breast milk that a baby takes is not something that we can measure, but we can definitely check the adequacy of the milk supply. If the milk supply is not sufficient, then this article can help you. There are several natural ways through which you can you can fulfill the milk requirements of your cutie pie.
It is a very rare situation, where a very small percentage of mothers who can not produce enough milk, despite their constant efforts to increase the milk supply. The situation is even more unusual where a mother is not able to produce milk at all. So, a mother can always produce some milk to feed the baby and meet the requirement through supplementing with formula milk.
The two important causes of low milk supply are considered to be poor latching by the baby on the mother’s breast and the scheduled feeding. These issues can be easily tackled to increase the milk supply. .
Diet do not help much in production of breast milk or to say increasing the supply of breast milk but still there are ways which affects it. The easiest way to increase the breast milk production is to ensure that baby is positioned properly, sucking effectively and doing it for longer period of time. If baby nurses at breast for longer period, more milk would be produced.
Ways to Boost Milk Production
Feeding your baby through your milk supply is a demand and supply process. The more your baby feeds on your milk, the more milk production will be there. The following lines throw light on how to boost milk production to fulfill your little one’s nutrition:
1. Eat Good Calories
While lactation, a mother should consume a minimum of 1800 calories in a day. Fluid is very important during feeding period as milk constitutes mainly of water. Breast milk quality and quantity can be enhanced by keeping the following points in mind:
- Opt for good sources of calcium: It is good for your baby’s strong and healthy bones. So, calcium rich foods such organic dairy products, green leafy vegetables and fishes like salmon and sardines should be consumed during lactation
- Fruits and vegetables: Different varieties of vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber should be eaten
- Complex carbohydrates: Choosing complex carbohydrates over processed carbohydrates is a healthier option. Complex carbohydrates include whole grain breads, pasta brown rice and beans
- Lean meat: Fatty cuts are unhealthy if you consider the health benefits of lean meats. So, fish and thin skinless chicken breast, low fat dairy products and tofu can provide you with ample nutrition and hence, enhance the milk production
2. Herbal Supplements
- Some herbs such as blessed thistle, fenugreek and red raspberry help increase the milk production
- Always consult your doctor before taking these herbs as they may not suit you sometimes
- Doctors prescribe metoclopramide, a drug to increase the milk production as the last option
3. Expressing Milk Frequently
- Express milk through a breast milk pump as it allows you to store breast milk when your little one does not demand it and the other reason, expressing milk also helps stimulate more milk production
- So, you need to invest in a good quality pump to ensure good supply of milk as it is not easy to express with just a normal pump
- Try to pump immediately after nursing or after 5 to 10 minutes of feeding and pump both breasts at the same time as it helps twice the milk production and also stimulates to produce more milk
- Pumping should be done at least eight times in a day to quickly increase the milk supply
4. Reduce Stress
Stress interferes with milk production. So, try to relax before breastfeeding or pumping session. You can reduce the stress by the following ways:
- Play some soothing music
- Watch some beautiful pictures that produce happiness in you
- Spend some happy moment with your little one
- You can also apply some warm compress on the breasts or massage them before breastfeeding or pumping
5. Nurse Frequently
Allow your little one to feed frequently and as long as he wants. This is because more milk is produced when they are stimulated. 8 feedings in a day are considered to be ideal. So, you can go ahead with this count or more.
6. Skin to Skin Contact
Allowing your baby to have contact with your skin stimulates milk production. Undress your baby while feeding, covering his back with a blanket so that he does not get cold, allows him to feed longer and thus helps produce more milk.
The above are a few easy ways to boost milk production in a lactating mother. One thing along with the above methods to be kept in mind is that pacifiers should be avoided or used least as this ensures your baby’s sucking needs are met with your breasts only. Hope these methods will help you in providing more nutrition to your little one.
