How Can You Increase Milk Production?
The amount of breast milk that women produce depends on how often the baby drinks and how effective it is while doing so. When the baby is breastfed, this action triggers two hormones: oxytocin and prolactin. But what can you do to increase milk production?
The first thing to know is that prolactin is the hormone responsible for milk production. In addition, the more the baby drinks, the more milk the mother’s breasts will produce.
The second hormone, oxytocin, causes muscle contractions in the breasts that cause milk to flow through the milk ducts and out of the nipple when the baby is breastfed. This is called a let-down reflex.
In some cases, the mother may not be able to produce enough breast milk to satisfy the baby’s insatiable appetite. However, there are several ways to increase milk production.
How can you increase milk production?
There are some tips to keep in mind when developing and maintaining a healthy supply of breast milk. This allows you to build a strong and healthy supply or increase it naturally.
1. Help the baby latch on properly
The milk production by the mother may be completely fine and in sufficient quantity, but the baby may not latch on properly. As a result, he cannot suck the amount of milk he needs.
In this case, the most important factor for improvement is helping the baby latch on correctly when feeding. For example, a midwife can guide you to position the baby in the best way so that he can drink under the best conditions.
2. Use chest compression
Breast compression is a technique used to help the baby drink more breast milk while breastfeeding. It is also a way to get more milk from the breast when using a breast pump.
It consists of holding the chest with one hand that you place against the chest wall. Then you need to press it firmly with your fingers, but without causing pain. When the baby starts to suck, release the breast so that the milk flows through it.
3. Make Lifestyle Changes
You may not realize it, but some of your daily habits can affect your milk production. Things that can disrupt the supply of breast milk include:
- to smoke
- taking birth control pills
- stress
- fatigue
So don’t hesitate to increase milk production naturally by making some changes to your daily routine!
4. Respect meal times and do not bottle feed
Your body produces more breast milk when you breastfeed the baby. Skipping feeds or bottle feeding the baby instead of breastfeeding will not let your body know that you want to increase milk production. The supply actually decreases unless you express.
5. Breastfeeding with both breasts
During the first weeks, breastfeeding on both sides with each feeding will help to accumulate a greater supply of breast milk. You just have to make sure to switch the breast you start with every time you feed your baby, as the first breast usually gets more stimulation.
If you always start on the same side, that breast will produce more milk and grow larger than the other. After the first few weeks, when you’re comfortable with the amount of breast milk you’re producing, you can breastfeed on both sides or on one side during a feed.
6. Eat well
While it’s possible to have a full supply of breast milk for your baby while on a poor diet, it’s definitely a good idea to try to eat a little better while breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding and the production of breast milk require a lot of energy. Develop and maintain a healthy supply of milk and nourish your body with a balanced and healthy diet.
You can even add some foods to your daily diet that help increase milk production, such as oats, vegetables, and almonds. This will naturally help you get those extra calories you need.
7. Drink water
Breast milk is 88% water, so if you don’t drink water after every feed, your body will quickly become dehydrated.
Finally, remember that in order to produce more breast milk, it is very important that you have healthy habits. With the above advice, most breastfeeding mothers manage to increase milk production to feed their babies.
