Tips to Increasing Production of Breast Milk

The stress and anxiety that comes with being a new mom is not fun and is often increased when your breast milk production is low. There are many reasons why your breast milk production decreases, but that doesn’t mean you can’t increase your breast milk production, even after it’s almost gone. Below are some tips to producing more breast milk.

Express Milk as Often as Possible

The most natural way to increase your milk supply is to breastfeed or pump as often as possible. The more you express, the more your body thinks that it needs to produce. This is a simple way to trick your body into producing more, giving you the ability to stockpile milk before you have to return to work, or school. The body is a pretty amazing thing and if it thinks the baby is feeding more often, it will begin to increase milk production to accommodate the baby’s “growth”. This method also helps when your breast milk supply has decreased to almost nothing—you can continue to pump and gain your production back. You have to be consistent and stick to a strict schedule until you get it back to the amount of breast milk your baby needs.

Supplements

Don’t be ashamed to try breast milk supplements to increase your production. It is very important that you consult with your doctor if you or your baby have any allergies. I used supplements even when my breast milk production wasn’t decreasing because I wanted to maintain it as I tried to lose baby weight and cut back on calories. I opted for all natural supplements just because I was a super cautious first time mom and I didn’t want to transfer any negative ingredients to my baby—though many professionals told me I was being a little over cautious. Either way, there are breast milk supplements in the forms of lactation teas and other drinks, lactation cookies and snacks, breast milk vitamins, etc. Just find ones that you like and try them out. I had great success in using breast milk supplements.

Eat

This is a very important aspect of keeping your breast milk production high. Just eat! If you aren’t getting enough calories, than your body has a hard time producing milk—give it the ingredients it needs to make the breast milk! This may be hard for some people, as babies tend to determine what mom can eat a lot of the time. My baby had a slight case of reflux, so it was suggested for me to eliminate soy and milk products from my diet—which is in everything! But you can’t let that stop you from getting the recommended calories and foods each day. Remember, your baby eats what you eat and if you aren’t eating, how can they? Eat up and watch as your breast milk production increases.

Seek Help from a Lactation Consultant

If you are struggling with your breast milk production, you should feel comfortable reaching out to a lactation consultant. Your doctor or the hospital will have references for you so you can call a couple and find one you like. Remember, this is a personal experience and one you should enjoy—the bonding with your baby—it’s okay not to just pick any random lactation consultant. These professional lactation consultants really know what they are doing and can offer some great advice and strategies for you to increase your breast milk production or help you find alternatives. They will also have resources for breast milk banks and donation centers and how to transition into formula.

To all you lovely moms out there, just remember that every body is different and there is no one-size-fits-all fix for increasing breast milk production. You have to find out what works best for you, your baby and your lifestyle. And it’s okay if you can only breast feed for a day, a week or a month. As long as you love your baby and make sure they are getting the nutrition they need, than that’s all that matters! Good luck on your journey—it is yours and nobody else’s!