Low milk supply is a somewhat common breastfeeding problem and women often assume they are suffering from it when they are not! Low milk supply is caused by a number of things including stress, breast and nipple shape, inadequate stimulation, hormone changes and health issues such as PCOS. Thankfully, it is relatively easy to overcome with a little patience!
How do I know if I have low milk supply?
- If your baby continues to lose weight for more than two weeks.
- If your baby has frequent wet diapers but few poo filled ones.
How do I prevent low milk supply?
- Relax! Stress is the number one cause of low milk supply.
- Check your baby’s latch. If the baby is not latching on properly you may not be receiving enough stimulation for increased supply.
- Reduce pacifier use and increase breast use.
- Avoid nipple shields. They reduce stimulation and stunt supply.
- Avoid mint, parsley and other foods
How can I treat low milk supply?
- Eat a healthy diet before giving birth to help begin building up a healthy milk supply. Make sure it includes calcium, fruits and veggies, complex carbs and lean meats.
- Relax. Remember stress affects not only your body and milk supply, but your baby as well.
- Take a baby vacation. Spend a few days just laying in bed with your baby letting them feed whenever they seem hungry.
- Try different feeding positions, and try skin to skin feeding which can encourage longer feedings.
- Breastfeed or pump as frequently as you possibly can so that your body begins to produce more milk. Think supply and demand.
- Let your baby nurse until they are finished, and then switch sides. Don’t rush them. Let them fully empty both breasts.
- Avoid letting your child use artificial nipples if you have low supply. Even if they just need comfort, offer a breast as this will stimulate production.
- If your baby is not interested in feeding as frequently as you would like, use a pump. Aim for 8-12 pumpings or feedings a day, minimum.
- You can try herbal teas such as Mother’s Milk Tea, you can try fenugreek capsules (do not try if you are diabetic), and Blessed thistle.
- Drink lots of water and stay hydrated!
- Use breast compression techniques to encourage let-down and increase milk supply.
- Use warm compresses against the breast.
- Oatmeal has iron which may help improve milk supply.
- Do breast massage before and after feedings to help stimulate production.
- Seaweed has lots of iron which helps to boost production.
