Methods to Increase Breast Milk Production
In the journey of new parenthood, ensuring the health and well-being of a newborn is of utmost importance. While medical professionals recommend routine checkups for newborns, it's crucial for caregivers to seek medical help if they sense something is amiss with the baby before a scheduled appointment.
One key aspect of a baby's health is adequate nutrition, and breast milk is the ideal food for a baby's first six months. Breastfeeding people need an additional 330-400 calories per day, increasing the overall recommended amount to 2,000-2,800 calories per day. Healthcare professionals recommend exclusively breastfeeding babies for the first 6 months of their lives and supplemental breastfeeding for at least 1 year.
Babies should feed at least every 1-3 hours, and specific symptoms that a person should consult with a healthcare professional include the baby appearing more lethargic than usual, a lack of appropriate weight gain, infrequent stools, and infrequent wet diapers. Signs that suggest a baby is not getting enough milk include appearing sleepy and having low energy, not gaining the typical weight, infrequent stools, infrequent wet diapers, short feeds, and feeding times lasting longer than 30-40 minutes.
To increase breast milk production beyond your baby's demand, effective tips and lifestyle changes include frequent breast stimulation, proper breast massage and compression, staying well hydrated and maintaining a nutrient-rich diet, consuming adequate protein and important micronutrients, getting sufficient rest and managing stress, ensuring proper breastfeeding or pumping technique, considering sunflower lecithin supplements, and pumping after breastfeeding or between feeding sessions.
Frequent breast stimulation by nursing or pumping every 2-3 hours signals your body to produce more milk, as supply is driven by demand. Proper breast massage and compression before and during feeds or pumping can improve milk flow and empty the breasts more effectively, enhancing production. Staying well hydrated and maintaining a nutrient-rich diet, focusing on plenty of water and beverages like herbal teas for breastfeeding moms, eating galactogenic foods such as oats, flax seeds, sesame seeds, almonds (rich in protein, calcium, essential fatty acids) supports lactation.
Consuming adequate protein (65-71 grams daily) and important micronutrients like iodine and choline found in dairy, eggs, and seafood to support milk quality and quantity is also essential. Getting sufficient rest and managing stress, as fatigue and stress decrease milk supply, are crucial. Stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing, yoga, or walking promote oxytocin release which aids milk let-down.
Ensuring proper breastfeeding or pumping technique—for example, using well-fitting breast shields during pumping, avoiding excessive suction that causes pain, and avoiding long stretches without milk removal (no more than 4-5 hours overnight)—is also important. Considering sunflower lecithin supplements if you have clogged ducts, which can help milk flow more easily, is another helpful tip.
If supplementing with formula, pumping after breastfeeding or between feeding sessions to fully empty the breasts and stimulate supply is recommended. If milk supply remains low despite these efforts, consulting a lactation consultant is recommended for personalized help.
These combined lifestyle changes promote effective milk production beyond the baby's immediate intake by maximizing stimulation and supporting overall maternal health. It's essential to remember that medical conditions such as high blood pressure, anemia, obesity, stress, infertility, gastric bypass, hormonal disorders like thyroid disease, endocrine disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes, and insufficient breast tissue can contribute to low milk production. Babies should feed long enough for breasts to soften.
In the realm of women's health, maintaining optimal milk production for breastfeeding is a key aspect of a baby's health-and-wellness. A nutrient-rich diet, including dairy, eggs, and seafood, which are rich in protein and essential micronutrients like iodine and choline, can support milk quality and quantity. Mental health is also crucial, as stress-reduction techniques, such as deep breathing, yoga, or walking, can promote oxytocin release aiding milk let-down. Parenting, specifically breastfeeding, requires special focus on mental health, ensuring adequate physical rest, and managing stress.
