Breastfeeding your baby offers multiple benefits for your child, but it may also produce many concerns for you. Because there's no way to measure how much milk a breastfed child receives, many mothers worry that their babies are not drinking as much milk as needed and that their milk supply is inadequate.
According to La Leche League International, if your baby is thriving, then there's no need to be concerned about a poor milk supply. However, if your baby isn't gaining weight properly, then you can take several steps to increase your breast milk levels.
Step 1
Offer the breast to your baby more frequently. According to La Leche League, your milk supply is influenced by how often your baby suckles. When you suckle your infant frequently, it sends a message to your body to produce more milk. In response, your body will increase your milk supply. Dr. Sears suggests nursing your baby every two hours during the day and adding an additional feeding during the night to boost your supply.
Step 2
Massage your breasts. Breastfeeding Basics notes that gently massaging your breast as the baby feeds from it can improve the release of high-calorie hindmilk from the milk glands.
Step 3
Express breast milk by pumping. You can further stimulate milk production by pumping your breasts with a high-quality electric breast pump 10 to 15 minutes after feeding your baby. Mayo Clinic notes that pumping after breastfeeding might help increase milk supply even if no milk is actually produced at that moment.
Step 4
Drink plenty of fluids. Consuming ample fluids can help boost your milk production. Remember to drink water, juice and/or milk throughout the day, but don't force yourself to drink when you're not thirsty. Mayo Clinic advises to avoid drinking coffee, soda and other caffeinated drinks as they can make the baby irritable or interfere with his sleep.
Step 5
Take an herbal supplement. Certain herbal supplements are well-known to promote the production of breast milk. Such substances are known as galactogogues. The most commonly used herbal galactogogues include fenugreek, blessed thistle, and red raspberry. According to Baby Center, fenugreek can increase milk production by as much as 900 percent. However, before taking any herbal supplement consult your doctor as natural substances can still negatively impact your health.
Step 6
Discuss taking prescription medication with your doctor. In special circumstances, your doctor may prescribe a medication called metoclopramide (Reglan) to increase your milk supply. Usually, this medicine is prescribed to mothers of hospitalized premature infants who have unsuccessfully tried to augment their milk supply through all other methods.
Things You'll Need
- Electric Breast Pump
