Breastfeeding is one of the best things you can give to your newborn baby. Breast milk has all the nutrients a baby needs for healthy development. Unfortunately, sometimes breastfeeding doesn’t go as planned and you notice there isn’t enough milk produced for your baby. Here are the 5 most effective ways to increase your breast milk production.
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1. Don’t stop breastfeeding
This may seem like such an obvious tip, but it really works. Breastfeeding works on a demand-supply basis, which means that the more milk your baby needs, the more milk your body will produce. However, that only works when you feed your baby as often as possible. A newborn should latch onto your breasts every two to three hours without night breaks. And even if you need to introduce the formula once or twice a day to keep your baby well-fed, you’ll need to still breastfeed him as often as possible to stimulate the production of milk.
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2. Consider breast pumping
A breast pump can be a live-saving device for moms who work but don’t want to stop breastfeeding. However, it can also be very helpful even when you are never away from your baby for too long. Using a breast pump between feedings will increase your breast milk production naturally. Additionally, it will give you an emergency supply of breast milk for situations where you cannot breastfeed for some time. Keep in mind that the milk needs to be properly refrigerated to continue being safe for the baby.
3. Try herbal solutions
Nature has a solution for everything, including low breast milk production. If you are noticing that your body is not producing as much milk as needed for your baby and you have already tried every other method, you can add some natural supplements to your diet. The most effective herbal supplements for increasing the production of breast milk include:
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- Spirulina
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Fenugreek
- Fennel
You can consume those herbs as they are, turn them into a breastfeeding tea, or get them in the form of supplements.
4. Wake up your baby
Some babies are naturally sleepy and they will rarely wake up for feedings, but it doesn’t mean that they are full. Plus, rare feedings can also halt your breast milk production. When the baby constantly falls back to sleep when latched to your breast, he won’t stimulate the milk production properly as well. That is why you need to wake up your baby when it’s been more than 3 hours since the last feeding and keep him awake while latched. You can rub his cheeks or feet, unwrap him, or changing his diaper to prevent him from falling back to sleep.
5. Change your own lifestyle
One of the most common reasons for low breast milk production is the mother’s exhaustion and lack of sleep. This is completely understandable when you’re a mother of a newborn, but it can also have more dangerous side effects than a limited breast milk supply. Try to catch sleep whenever possible and maybe ask your family members to help you out with the baby so that you don’t get completely exhausted. Smoking or oral contraception can also slow down the production of breast milk.
Read more: What Is The Best Age To Have A Baby?
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