How to increase low milk supply

Tips to increase breast milk supply

It becomes worrying for mothers when they are not able to meet the needs of their babies which affects their growth and strength gradually. The breast milk finishes quickly or the mother does not have enough breast milk to feed the baby properly. The baby is left hungry crying all day and making the mother more stressful. This also happens when the baby has developed proper sleeping cycles and the mother gets busy with her daily routine at work. The baby is separated from his mother due to her continuation of the job which also affects the quantity of breast milk that her baby needs.

Reasons for low milk supply while breastfeeding

Lactation experts say that a small number of new mums have difficulty producing enough breast milk due to medical reasons. New mothers who worry about this get panicked if their baby reduces weight. Some of these reasons why there is a drop in breast milk are:

Some women have insufficient milk ducts in their breast which causes them to produce a low quantity of milk.
Hormonal or endocrine problems such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes, thyroid or other hormonal disorders.
Excessive blood loss during birth.
There has been a breast surgery done before to enhance or reduce the breast size for any medical or cosmetic reasons, or there might have been a nipple piercing done or other breast traumas. This might damage the milk-producing ducts in the breasts which reduces the milk supply.
Most mothers consume birth control pills but do not realize the fact that these pills lead to hormonal imbalance and affect milk production in the breasts.
There are many mothers who now train their babies to sleep soundly at night and do not feed them in the middle of the night. This greatly affects the milk supply.

Tips for Increasing Your Breast Milk Supply

1. Take enough rest

Make sure you take enough rest and sleep to boost your energy level. Sleep is important for both, the baby to grow and the mother to increase the milk supply.

2. Water intake

Make sure you drink a lot of water every time you breastfeed or pump. You need to drink a glass of water after every round.

3. Increase pumping

One of the best ways is to pump milk between the feedings. You should pump between feedings when you feel that you have milk leftover after breastfeeding or the baby has missed a feeding.

4. Warm compressing the breasts

Make sure you massage your breasts or warm compress them before breastfeeding for a continuation.

5. Breast more often

Breastfeeding on demand triggers your breasts to produce milk. The more you breastfeed, the more milk your breasts make. Breastfeed often and let your baby decide when to stop feeding.

6. Do not give pacifiers

Do not give pacifiers to your baby. If you want them to suck then breastfeed them which increases milk production.

7. Lactation food

Eat foods that boost lactation and have the ingredients which increase the milk supply. Such foods are fenugreek, oatmeal or oat milk, fennel seeds, garlic, etc. Read more about nutrition during breastfeeding here.