Become a DayOne fan on Facebook
Subscribe to the DayOne Blog FeedMost Comments
- Top 5 Ways To Increase Your Milk Supply
- Battling Morning Sickness
- Babies Learn From Each Other
- Understanding Your Baby’s Temperament
- Nutrition for Postpartum Recovery and Breastfeeding
- How Parents Play With Baby
- Dental Health and Your Pregnancy
- Donating Breast Milk
- Postpartum Care for Mom
- Postpartum Depression or Baby Blues?
DayOne Member Benefits:
Top 5 Ways To Increase Your Milk Supply
It seems we are hearing more and more moms concerned about not having enough milk to feed their baby these days. There are many effective strategies for helping women increase their milk supply but first we need to determine if there truly is a concern about your milk supply. Is your baby gaining about an ounce a day in the first 3 months and half of an ounce a day for months 4 to 12? Do your breasts soften after the feed? Is your baby peeing and pooping appropriately (at least several poops a day for the first 6 weeks and at least 8 wet diapers a day)? If so, you have enough milk and don’t need to work on increasing your supply.
If you find your baby isn’t gaining enough weight or isn’t peeing or pooping enough, here are some suggestions for increasing your supply.
- Breastfeed more frequently. Most newborns feed anywhere from 8 to 12 times a day. If you have been feeding less than 8 times a day, offer your breast anytime the baby shows signs of hunger. Frequent emptying of the breasts signals the breasts to make more milk.
- Use a breastpump to help stimulate your supply. Consider renting a hospital grade pump such as Medela’s Symphony for a week and try pumping after as many feeds as possible. 10-15 minutes of pumping is appropriate- it is the frequency of the pumping that will help the most, not the duration. Remember, nurse first, then pump. You may not collect much milk but you are pumping to stimulate supply, not collect milk.
- Consider taking a supplement designed to increase your milk supply. Many women have found herbal supplements such as Fenugreek, and the herbs in supplements like Mother Love’s More Milk Plus or Go-Lacta tremendously helpful in boosting their supply. They don’t replace frequent feedings but are a good addition.
- Take a “nursing vacation”. Since the reality is that you won’t be getting much of anything else done if you are feeding 8-12 times a day, plan on 48 hours where you can stay in bed with the baby and feed all day. Ask your partner to wait on you with food and lots of water and just stay in bed for a few days. Skin to skin contact has been shown to increase prolactin, the hormone that helps with milk production, so curl up with your naked baby on your chest in bed. It is remarkable how effective this tool is in jumpstarting your supply.
- If you have tried the first four tips and aren’t seeing an improvement in your supply, consider making an appointment with a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). Many times there are things we can spot when we observe a feeding or assess the mom and baby that could be contributing to the low milk supply. Lactation consultants are there to support you in your efforts, so utilize them!
At the end of the day, it is important to keep in mind that a baby needs to be fed and if you don’t have enough breastmilk, formula or donor breastmilk are options to make up the difference and support your baby’s growth and development.
January 02, 2012 - 5:58:45 PM PDT
branded items says…
It is really challenging to breastfeed. There are a lot of unexpected things happening all over you. Make sure that you take a lot of rest, when you have the time, grab it right away.
February 13, 2012 - 12:38:26 AM PDT
mobile DVR says…
Very useful sharing! I discovered the resources of this post are very handy for women who are feeding their kids. I hope suggested suggestion will be helpful for women to increase milk supply. Thanks
March 04, 2012 - 2:48:24 AM PDT
Major Mangubat says…
Seriously worthwhile post. Spend interest
March 13, 2012 - 3:08:34 AM PDT
Nathan says…
Very meaningful sharing just for every mother whose are suffering for lack of milk to provide their newborn child. Hopefully your provided suggestions are admired by all. Thanks mate.
http://www.felixinvestments.com/
March 28, 2012 - 8:35:34 PM PDT
Adam Ghilchritst says…
Ha, this is the post which seems to me very helpful for every mother. I hope every mother whose are suffering due to lack of milk supply will follow these top 5 tips. Thanks mate.
http://er247plus.com/
March 29, 2012 - 9:16:31 AM PDT
Pharmf568 says…
Hello! dakgacb interesting dakgacb site! I’m really like it! Very, very dakgacb good!
March 29, 2012 - 9:18:42 AM PDT
Pharma242 says…
Very nice site!
March 31, 2012 - 10:18:39 AM PDT
Robert Jakson says…
Just amazed to know how’s increase milk supply. Hope your ideas very well for me though. Thanks a lot! http://www.seocompanyseomarketing.com/
April 06, 2012 - 5:01:19 AM PDT
Alex Ferguson says…
Really this post will play a good role to all mothers as well. I hope every person will appreciate your ideas as well. thanks mate.
http://bestadjustabledumbbells2012.com/
April 08, 2012 - 1:03:02 AM PDT
Lucy Martin says…
Awesome and fantastic pick up of milk supply process….!!! This milk is so much important and helpful for our baby. All of us should follow these five rules for our baby. Thanks a lot for your wonderful sharing.
http://www.showbd.com/
April 24, 2012 - 2:52:32 AM PDT
conference gifts says…
It is imperative for mothers to feed their babies with breast milk. I will recommend moms to read this post, as a lot of them struggle in producing enough milk for their babies. This post has been very helpful and informative!
April 28, 2012 - 9:19:49 PM PDT
Andrew Morris says…
A child first need best feed from his mother. So to increase mother milk supply that top five ways is effective.Sector 9Thanks for best sharing
May 05, 2012 - 2:44:43 AM PDT
Willam David says…
It is universal that children have no other alternative without mother milk. These 5 ways to increase mother milk supply are really effective and useful. I think every mother require to learn these five milk supply ways knowledge.Thanks:)
May 08, 2012 - 12:55:42 AM PDT
http://www.stress-familyhealth.net says…
It was amazing. Your thought process is wonderful. The way you tell about things is awesome. i always wait for your posts.
May 12, 2012 - 12:36:21 AM PDT
Pharmg690 says…
Hello! bafeeed interesting bafeeed site! I’m really like it! Very, very bafeeed good!
May 12, 2012 - 12:37:23 AM PDT
Pharmk115 says…
Very nice site! cheap viagra
May 16, 2012 - 1:08:30 AM PDT
Lucy Moul says…
Breast feeding is the best option for the infants. It is the purest and highly healthy for the baby so the enough supply of it must be required. Thanks for your examined formula to increase the availability of breast-milk.
http://www.justuno.com/