How I can increase my milk supply?
Author: Iren Calista
In this as in all our documents “FAQ” s (common questions) the information presented has been prepared by leaders of the La Leche League and addresses issues of interest to parents of breastfed children. This page presents several points of view and it is possible that not all information is relevant to your family. This information is general in nature and not intended as medical advice or any other kind.
If you have a serious breastfeeding problem, speak directly with a leader of La Leche League . Please consult a health care professional regarding any medical problems as the leaders of the LLL do not practice medicine.
The information comes from different leaders are separated by a horizontal line.
How I can increase my milk supply?
This is a common question. When mothers observe certain normal changes and behaviors, they may assume that the quantity of milk has decreased. This is often a “false alarm”. However, in some cases, the amount of milk from the mother needs to be increased. This FAQ sheet will help you determine if you need to increase your milk supply and explain how.
Sometimes, mothers are unnecessarily alarmed about the amount of milk they produce. May not know the normal process of breastfeeding. For example, when the baby is between 6 weeks and 2 months old, the mother’s body has learned how much milk to produce. Around this time, many women no longer feel “full.” Also, the baby is feeding perhaps only 5 minutes at each feeding. These are not signs that you are decreasing the amount of milk being produced. It simply means that both baby and mom are becoming more adept at breastfeeding .. The mother’s body has adjusted to the requirements of your baby and the baby has become more efficient at getting milk.
Some mothers worry about the amount of milk they produce, if your baby starts to defecate less often. About 6 weeks after birth, there is no colostrum in breast milk. This may mean that sometimes the baby bowel movements will decrease to once a day or even several times a week. This is normal.
Another “false alarm”, which has a direct relationship with age, is that babies will go through several “growth spurt” in the first months of life. Generally, there are about the first two to three weeks, six weeks and three months old, but can happen at any time. These are days when the baby wants to feed longer and more frequently to get more milk the mother has. Follow the step that you mark your baby, leaving him to feed as often as he wants. Keep in mind that crying is a late sign of hunger. Before you mourn, the baby shows signs of wanting the breast, for example by turning his head looking for the chest or put their hands in their mouths. Breastfeed whenever your baby wants to help increase your milk supply faster. Your chest works under the law of supply and demand. The more “tell” the baby to the breast to make more milk, more milk.
Allowing your baby to nurse more frequently for a few days, your body will get the message that more milk is needed for your growing baby. Once the milk has increased, your baby will usually return to your routine.
If, after discarding the “false alarms” mentioned above, I still think you need to increase your milk, get help. If your baby is not gaining weight or losing weight, it is recommended that you contact your pediatrician. Normally, improving breastfeeding technique helps to correct the situation very quickly, but slow growth sometimes can be a health problem.
Here are some ideas that may help increase your milk production. Review them and decide which might work for you.
Contact a leader of La Leche League for more information and support. To learn how to find a leader in your area, see the section on our Leaders Index .
Encourage your baby to breastfeed frequently and for as long as he wants.
Offer both breasts at each feeding. Let him stay in the first breast milk while taking an active role. When you slow down or stop, offer the second breast. “Finish the first breast first” is a good rule. (This rule gives the baby a lot of milk fat-rich milk is available at the end of the sample).
The baby is the one who must finish the feeding .. Fall asleep or be separated after 10 or 30 minutes of active sucking.
Be sure the baby is positioned and properly positioned in the chest, this means that the lips should cover the entire nipple and areola (the darker). A leader of La Leche League can help you make the final adjustments to the position, and suggest ideas to ease pain in the nipples. Breastfeeding should not hurt.
A sleepy baby may benefit from the “breastfeeding toggles”, which means switching breasts two or three times at each feeding. Change sides when the baby loses the intensity of sucking and swallowing milk when less often.
All the baby’s sucking should be in the chest. Limit or avoid using pacifiers or lollipops while you encourage him to nurse more effectively. If you are supplementing their diet with formula, do not give it a bottle, but with a spoon, beberito, or a supplement. These accessories can be viewed and purchased at our Online Store. Contact a LLL Leader for help with the catalog.
This can be a very stressful. Take care of yourself. Pay attention to your needs for rest, relaxation, proper diet and enough fluids.
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