Breast Milk: How to Increase Breast Milk Flow and Production

Before concluding you have a low breast milk flow, you have to be sure it is really low. Some nursing mothers have the feelings they are producing low milk when they are actually not.  If your baby is adding weight while feeding on breast milk alone, then you don’t have any problem with low milk supply.  It is important to note that the way your breast feels or the let-own sensation does not determine whether the milk is enough or the baby.

Another way to access if your breast milk is enough is you can’t use the weight gain method, if the baby is always having a wet and dirty diaper, then the milk is enough for the baby. The rate of milk sucking differs in babies, but most babies suck well and strongly.  As baby increase in age, they suck more milk and the mother needs more milk production. At a point in time, breast milk will not be enough to provide nutrient for the baby and supplement will be required by introducing different baby formula.

You have a low breast milk supply when you get very few drops or no milk when you use breast pumps. Although baby sucks milk better than breast pump. Because some breast pumps do not suck milk efficiently, the use of breast pump cannot be used to measure the level of milk production. Some women with plenty milk could not get much milk from pumping. Do not feel strange when the level of milk production decreases with time.

Causes of Low Breast Milk Supply

When you prefer giving your baby bottle feeding to breast feeding, as your baby feeds directly from the breast, more signal is sent for more milk production. Bottle feeding reduces milk production. Sometimes, the use of bottle affects the way babies suck breast and the efficiency is reduced.

Supplement introduction also reduces the rate of milk production as the baby rate of breast sucking reduces.

A sleepy baby sucks breast less, thus a baby that likes sleeping too much will cause low milk production in the mother.

Stopping the baby from breastfeeding when he or she is not ready, can interfere with the demand and supply of milk cycle.

Baby with jaundice or tongue tie can have difficulty in efficient breast and cause low milk flow in the mother

A nursing mother that has anemia, history of breast injury, hormonal problems can have a low milk supply. A nursing mother that smokes or on certain medication can have a low breast milk production

Lactation Physiology

Milk ejection process follows a positive feedback mechanism. As the baby sucks the breast, it sends signal to the brain that causes the release of oxytocin. Oxytocin is a milk ejecting hormone. As the baby sucks the breast, more Oxytocin is released and more milk is produced and released

How to Increase Milk Supply and Flow

Breast milk production follows an economist rule of demand and supply. To increase your milk flow, you have to ensure constant and frequent milk removal from the breast either through baby sucking or breast pumps.

There are different foods that increase breast milk production like oatmeal, salmon, carrots and fenugreek seeds. Eat good diet as a lactating mother.

 Avoid smoking and alcohol intake during breastfeeding period. Just like the way smoking and alcohol intake is harmful during pregnancy period, it is also harmful during lactation. Nicotine and alcohol can enter the baby system from breast milk and results in some developmental problem of the baby.

Nurse your baby with breast milk regularly and efficiently. The more your baby sucks your breast, the more milk your breast produces. You can give your baby special treat and allow him or her to suck for about 2 to 3 hours on the bed.

Ensure you switch the breast as the baby sucks the breast. Allow him or her to suck on the right breast and then later to the left breast.

Have a good rest. Good sleep is good for a nursing mother. Stress can also reduce the rate of milk production. Have enough rest after stressing yourself. You can involve yourself like in some exercise that relaxes the body, it is helpful. You can partake in breathing exercise. Nursing a baby is not that easy, so please, find time to rest, relax and sleep. It helps not only you but the baby too.

Always check your medications before taking any medication while breastfeeding, ensure your doctor is aware and he or she ensures you of the safety while lactating.

Wear a correct breast bra. Avoid a tight bra as it might compress the breast and affect milk flow. Wrong bra can cause a clogged duct and thus affect milk production and flow.

Have a breast massage as it helps to increase milk flow. It facilitates opening of clogged ducts. It also reduces the risk of having mastitis.

After nursing your baby, you can then use breast pump for some minutes. Ensure you use it on both breast. You can do this for like 10 minutes and then stop.

How to Know it is Lactation Time

It is amazing when baby start crying for food just when the body is ready to feed the baby as well. It actually takes about 2 weeks for the body to adjust to proper feeding routine.

When it is time to lactate, you will start feeling a kind of tingling under the breast, sometimes when the baby cries for food, you feel the sensation in your breast too. Sometimes milk will start leaking automatically. All these shows it is lactation time
Click here to know how to stop breastfeeding a baby at weaning period

Tips for a Good Lactation

• Breastfeed your baby in a quiet place and stay calm and relax while doing so.
• You can wrap a warm towel around your breast to facilitate free milk flow
• Always burp your baby after breastfeeding
• Ensure you breast feed the baby regularly
• Do not miss your breakfast. Some mothers like to burn baby fat fast, and tend to skip breakfast. Lactating period is not the time to diet; you can always do that after you stop breastfeeding. Have a good meal.Click here to check how to have a flat tummy after pregnancy and lactation
• See your doctor if you experience pain in breastfeeding