Helping milk come in
Low Milk Supply | WIC Breastfeeding Support
Many moms worry about low milk supply, but most of the time your body makes exactly what your baby needs, even if you don't realize it. There are also ways to tell if your baby is getting enough milk. If you aren't making enough, there are ways you can build your supply. And your WIC breastfeeding staff is always there to help!
Am I Making Enough Milk?
First, look for these signs that your baby is getting enough milk. For example, pay attention to the number of wet and dirty diapers and your baby's weight gain.
Things you should NOT worry about:
- How your breasts feel. Your breasts will feel softer and less full as your milk supply adjusts to your baby's needs. This does not mean you have low supply.
- If your baby nurses for shorter periods of time, such as only 5 minutes on each breast.
- If your baby's feeds are bunched together. This is called cluster feeding and happens when your baby starts nursing more often and for longer.
This can happen in the evenings or because of growth spurts.
- Not getting much milk when you express. Your baby is much more effective than a pump or hand expression at getting out milk. Find tips to help you pump.
If you are still concerned, talk to your baby's doctor about their growth.
Causes of Low Milk Supply
While most moms make plenty of milk, some do have low milk supply. This might happen if you:
- Limit your baby's breastfeeding sessions. Remember, the more you feed on demand, the more milk you make.
- Give your baby infant formula instead of breastfeeding.
- Introduce solid foods before baby is 4-6 months old.
- Take certain birth control pills or other medicine.
- Don't get enough sleep.
- Drink alcohol or smoke.
- Have had breast surgery.
Talk to your doctor if you have hepatitis B or C, herpes, or diabetes. These conditions may also affect milk supply.
Increasing Your Milk Supply
Breastfeeding frequently—especially in the first hours, days, and weeks—is the main way to increase your milk supply. Your body will make milk to meet your baby's demand.
Try these tips to help you make more milk:
- Breastfeed every time your baby is hungry. In the early weeks, your baby will eat 8-12 times every 24 hours. It's best not to put your baby on a strict feeding schedule. Follow your baby's cues, and let your baby tell you when it's time to eat.
- Make sure your baby is latching well.
- Offer both breasts at each feeding. Let your baby finish the first side, then offer the other side.
- Empty your breasts at each feeding.
Hand express or pump after a feeding to draw out all the milk and signal your body to make more. - Avoid bottles and pacifiers in the early weeks. Feed your baby from your breast whenever you can.
- Get plenty of sleep, and eat a healthy diet.
- Pump or express your milk. Pumping or expressing milk frequently between nursing sessions, and consistently when you're away from your baby, can help build your milk supply.
- Relax and massage. Relax, hold your baby skin-to-skin, and massage your breasts before feeding to encourage your milk to let down.
- Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, eat well, drink enough fluids, and let others help you.
Consider Charting Your Progress
Record how often your baby is breastfeeding, for how long, and on which sides. If you are supplementing with infant formula, record how much your baby is getting and decrease the infant formula as your milk supply increases.
WIC breastfeeding staff can help you determine how much infant formula your baby needs.
Still Have Questions?
Contact your WIC breastfeeding expert. They can talk to you about supply concerns and give you tips to increase your supply to meet your baby's needs.
13 Ways To Help Milk Come In Faster After Birth — Milkology®
The first few days postpartum are SO overwhelming (and sometimes scary!)
You’re in charge of a new little human that you only just met, you’re surviving on little-to-no sleep, and you’re waiting (not so patiently) for your milk to come in.
Your milk “coming in” is actually not a great term, because (to get technical) you’ve actually been producing milk since the 2nd trimester of pregnancy!
Remember: you’ve got colostrum ready to go.
It’s just that colostrum comes out slowly and in small amounts. But you’ve gotta trust your body… your baby’s tummy is tiny and the colostrum is specifically made by your body to be the perfect food for newborns to tie them over until your milk transitions.
Your milk “coming in” is actually when colostrum transitions from a thicker, yellow fluid to a more voluminous, whiter, “mature” milk.
MOST women’s breast milk will transition from colostrum to mature milk about 2-5 days after birth. For some women, it can take even longer.
You might be thinking… “Is there anything I can DO to speed up the process?!”
Yes… yes, there is! Here are a few helpful tips on how to make your milk come in faster…
(this post may contain affiliate links)
How To Help Milk Come In Faster After Birth1. Try to take advantage of the golden hour.The golden hour is the first hour after birth when your baby is awake, alert, and usually ready to latch. If possible, try to latch your baby as soon as possible.
Even if you’ve had a c-section, you can request to breastfeed in the recovery room.
Babies usually get tired a couple hours after birth… so attempting to breastfeed early on is a great idea!
Your baby CRAVES to be skin to skin with you and absolutely looooves it! It’s the most natural place for them to be and most closely mimics what it was like in the womb. (warm, comfy, hearing your heartbeat)
Skin-to-skin enables your baby to breastfeed more often because they’re close to the breast and can smell your milk. Plus, skin-to-skin boosts the milk-making hormones and reduces newborn crying.
The more you can be skin-to-skin with your baby after birth, the better! It speeds up your milk to come in because you’ll naturally breastfeed more often. (the key to speeding up the process!)
3. Room In With Your BabyRooming in the same room with your baby in the hospital will ensure you’re breastfeeding on demand through the day, and night, and so you never miss a moment to respond to their hunger cues.
Speaking of hunger cues…
4.
Recognize Hunger CuesBreastfeed on demand and respond to your baby’s hunger cues before they get too fussy.
Don’t worry about breastfeeding too much. (that’s not a thing!) Remember this: you can’t overfeed a breastfed baby, but you can UNDERFEED them.
5. Nurse On Demand Around the ClockA baby that nurses frequently will often bring in mom’s milk faster. The more you breastfeed, the more your breasts will produce… simple supply and demand!
Your newborn will need to feed every 2-3 hours around the clock… this translates to about 8-12 nursing sessions every 24 hours. And breastfeed every time they display a hunger cue… even if you just nursed them an hour ago!
If you and the baby are separated or baby isn’t latching well, you can hand express or pump to stimulate the breasts, get colostrum out, and help milk to come in.
(note: hand expressing is more effective for colostrum removal than pumping) Learn it!
The more milk you remove, the more milk you’ll make. Hand expressing your colostrum can help speed up your milk coming in. And whatever colostrum you get out you can feed to your baby with a syringe.
Video on how to hand express
7. Breast MassageYou can incorporate breast massage and compressions while your newborn is nursing to ensure you get a lot of colostrum out.
Or you can use THIS handy little tool which uses vibration to encourage milk removal.
8. Expect a fussy baby
Like we said earlier, babies usually get sleep a couple hours after birth. But it seems like on day 2 (curing the night specifically), babies usually WAKE UP and the only thing that makes them happy is breastfeeding and cluster feeding. This is normal, and expected. Your baby will want to be nursing a ton and that’s actually a good thing! It’ll help signal your body to ramp up milk production and help your colostrum transition to mature milk faster.
Days 3 and 4 postpartum might be a fussy time for them too. Put them to the breast whenever they display a hunger cue. Just keep feeding, your mature milk is on the way!
9. Wake your baby to feed if necessary
If your baby is sleeping through nursing sessions, you may need to wake them up. (especially if you had a medicated birth) You never want a newborn to go more than 3 hours without a feeding.
Related article: Baby Sleeping While Breastfeeding? 27 Ways To Keep Them Awake!
While drinking extra fluids won’t increase your milk supply, being hydrated WILL decrease it. So you want to make sure you stay hydrated. Keep a water bottle nearby and drink whenever you think of it.
My midwife actually recommended drinking THIS after birth because it helps replace lost electrolytes during delivery.
11.
Eat WellDid you know breastfeeding moms require an extra 500 calories per day? Making milk is hard work!
Make sure you don’t deprive yourself, especially as you’re recovering from birth. Eat a well-rounded diet and focus on fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Also, a lactation cookie can’t hurt!
Lactation cookies contain galactagogues (foods that help milk supply). One of my favorite tips for pregnant mamas is to make and freeze some lactation cookies for postpartum. I encourage moms to bring some with them to the delivery room. Lactation cookies a great way to ensure you’re getting that extra 500 calories in a day and they’re easy to eat, one-handed snacks!
This is my favorite way to make lactation cookies ahead of time because you simply add butter, 2 eggs, and then bake!…
Buy on Amazon
12. Avoid Pacifiers
Although you might choose to use a pacifier later on, try to delay giving it to baby until you’re milk is well-established (about 4 weeks postpartum).
Your baby has a natural desire to suck and any suckling they do away from the breast is a missed chance for breast stimulation (and bringing your milk in faster!).
13. Connect with an IBCLC
IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants) are the best of the best for troubleshooting and support.
Most hospitals have them on staff so ask to see one when you’re in the recovery room. Ask them any questions you have and be sure to have them observe you and your baby breastfeeding to make sure baby is breastfeeding well
What triggers breast milk to come in?
After birth, when the placenta separates from the uterus, there will be a sharp drop in the hormone progesterone. This triggers the breast to ramp up milk production.
So no matter if you have a vaginal birth or a tummy birth (c-section), rest assured your milk WILL come in! (it’s just a matter of when)
Things that may delay your breast milk to come in after birth:A lot of bleeding after birth
Infection or illness with fever
Previous breast surgery
Strict or prolonged bed rest during pregnancy
Having a c-section or a traumatic birth experience like a long labor or a lot of interventions
Being a first time mom.
Studies show 1st time moms often have a slight delay in milk production.Certain medical conditions (diabetes, thyroid conditions, pre-eclampsia)
Stress
A high BMI (above 26-30)
Having any retained placenta fragments (your progesterone levels won’t drop to trigger milk production)
Being separated from baby or baby having a poor start to breastfeeding (remember: the more milk you remove, the more milk you’ll make… so you’ll need to get hand expressing or pumping to stimulate your breasts as soon as possible)
Try not to stress! Continue to breastfeed/hand express/pump as necessary and keep removing milk. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or if your baby isn’t having enough wet/dirty diapers.
Our 3
Fav breastfeeding products⭐1. To get more milk out.
Frida Mom’s Lactation Massager is a cool little gadget that helps baby get more milk out during nursing and helps you express more milk when pumping.
⭐2. To boost supply and tone up postpartum. The protein powder Milk Dust is specially made to nourish and tone postpartum bodies (and contains milk boosting ingredients too!) Get 10% off Milk Dust using the code MILKOLOGY at checkout
⭐3. To soothe your nips. This nipple balm. (seriously, it’s the best).
Related Post:
35 Veteran Breastfeeders Give Their Best Advice To Newbies
BreastfeedingStacey Stewart
Breast milk production | Baby's needs
Did you know that the amount of breast milk adapts to your baby's needs? In this article, you will learn amazing facts about breast milk production in the first days, weeks and months.
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Your body is capable of producing breast milk for your baby at every stage of development. Understanding how milk production “turns on”, what happens to milk when you feed your baby, and why production adjusts to his needs as he grows, will help you start this amazing process in the right way.
Day one: milk production at birth
The baby is usually ready to breastfeed from birth. When he grabs the breast and begins to suck rhythmically, the milk-producing cells “turn on” and the formation of the first breast milk, colostrum, starts. 1 Try to feed your baby as much as possible in the first hour of his life, and then as soon as he shows interest in feeding. This will help lay the foundation for good milk production later on. 2
The first days: the arrival of milk
At this stage, your body's level of progesterone, the
pregnancy hormone, which begins to fall after the placenta comes out, is reduced, and the hormones responsible for milk production - prolactin, insulin and hydrocortisone - are included in the work.
These hormones will help start milk production. 3 Around the third day of your baby's life, milk will begin to come in and you will feel that your breasts have filled up and become noticeably firmer. 1
First month: shaping milk production
During the first weeks, your body will be especially sensitive to the amount of milk produced as it learns to produce the right amount. Prolactin levels increase dramatically each time you empty your breasts, thereby helping shape the lactation process. It also contributes to the maturation of your milk in terms of composition. At this stage, transitional milk is produced and the amount continues to grow. 3.4
For good long-term milk production, it is very important that you are close to your baby during the first few weeks. The more often you breastfeed, the more milk will be produced. This process resembles the law of supply and demand. Each time after emptying the breast, whether it is feeding the baby or pumping, even more milk will be produced.
Remember that it is normal for newborns to eat frequently, perhaps even every 45 minutes, and this does not mean that they are not getting enough milk. Frequent feedings help shape milk production, so feed your baby on demand, not on a schedule.
“In the first few weeks you may feel like you don’t have enough milk because your baby will be feeding all the time, but that’s okay,” says UK mom-of-two Jo, “We tend to think that the baby wants to eat every few hours, but that is not necessarily the case."
Don't forget that babies also breastfeed for comfort. Breastfeeding helps them calm down and adjust to their new life outside the womb. In addition, feeding helps to establish a connection between you.
Stable milk production in the first month
If you follow your baby's needs and feed him as often and for as long as he wants, milk production should adjust. 5
Some mothers try to increase the period between feedings so that the breasts can produce more milk during this time, but this should not be done, as this may have the opposite effect.
2
If you are unable to breastfeed directly for the first two weeks, express your milk to build and maintain your milk supply during this critical period and beyond.
Did you know that feeding your baby extra formula unnecessarily can reduce your milk production? The chest will not receive a signal to increase production, because it will not be emptied. In addition, if the baby sleeps longer after formula, he may miss his usual next feeding time.
This is a kind of “supplementing trap”. After three to four days of formula supplementation, during which the breasts have emptied less, the body will receive a signal that breastfeeding has stopped, and the amount of milk produced will begin to decrease. As a result, the baby will remain hungry and will need additional formula supplementation. And so on in a circle ... As a result, this will lead to really low milk production, and the baby will eat mainly the mixture.
Breast milk production after six weeks
After a month of breastfeeding, post-feeding bursts of prolactin secretion begin to decrease, milk matures, and the body gets used to producing as much milk as your baby needs.
In fact, the chest begins to work "on autopilot." 4 You may also notice at this time that your breasts are softer and your milk flow has stopped.
At this stage, women often have fears of "losing milk".
However, this only means that milk production has been established and now fully meets the needs of the child. It is noteworthy that although the baby continues to grow, he will consume approximately the same amount of milk both at six weeks and at six months. You may notice that the baby began to suckle the breast longer, but less often. On some days he may eat a little less than usual - his appetite changes in the same way as an adult.
Now your body will produce exactly the amount of milk,
as much as your baby needs. Therefore, the more milk the baby
drinks (or you express), the more it will produce.
How does this happen? The reason for this is thought to be the so-called "feedback lactation inhibitor" that controls milk production. The more milk in the breast, 2 the higher the inhibitor level, so a full breast produces less milk than one that has been emptied.
What is the rate of milk production?
Mothers often worry about their milk supply and think about how to increase it. However, if the baby is healthy and growing well, problems usually do not arise.
“I was worried that my newborn daughter was not getting enough milk as she was feeding very quickly and always from one breast even though I offered both,” says Marjorie, mother of two in the UK, “But when I pumped from using a breast pump, I was surprised at how much milk I produced, and calmed down. I just had to keep feeding her little and often.”
Keep in mind, however, that not all mothers are able to express a lot of milk right away. You can also try hand expressing milk and see if there is a change in breast fullness.
If you're worried about your milk supply, read our tips for symptoms of too little or too much milk.
Literature
1 Pang WW, Hartmann PE. Initiation of human lactation: secretory differentiation and secretory activation. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2007;12(4):211-221. - Pang, W.W., Hartmann, P.I., "Lactation initiation in the lactating mother: secretory differentiation and secretory activation." G Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. 2007;12(4):211-221.
2 Kent JC et al. Principles for maintaining or increasing breast milk production. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs . 2012;41(1):114-121. - Kent J.S. et al., "Principles for Maintaining and Increasing Milk Production". F Obstet Ginecol Neoneutal Nurs. 2012;41(1):114-121.
3 Ostrom KM. A review of the hormone prolactin during lactation. Prog Food Nutr Sci .
1990;14(1):1-43. - Ostrom KM, "Review of the role of the hormone prolactin during lactation." Prog Food Nutr Sai. 1990;14(1):1-43.
4 Cox DB et al. Blood and milk prolactin and the rate of milk synthesis in women. Exp Physiol. 1996;81(6):1007-1020. - Cox D.B. et al., Effects of blood and milk prolactin on milk production in women. Exp Physiol. 1996;81(6):1007-1020.
5 Kent JC et al. Volume and frequency of breastfeedings and fat content of breast milk throughout the day. Pediatrics. 2006;117(3): e 387-95. — Kent J.S. et al., "Amount and frequency of breastfeeding and fat content of breast milk during the day." Pediatrix (Pediatrics). 2006;117(3): e 387-95.
Too much milk? Reduced lactation
Sometimes you may feel like you are producing too much milk, especially in the first weeks of breastfeeding. After reading our article, you will find out if you really have too much milk, and what you can do to reduce it.
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Breast milk is very healthy, so it's good to have a lot of it, right? However, this is not always the case. Babies can sometimes have a hard time coping with the rapid rush of milk that usually accompanies excess lactation. And mothers who have too much milk often experience discomfort due to the constant leakage of milk and often suffer from mastitis.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to help in this situation. But before you use them, answer two important questions:
Do I really have too much milk?
Some of the symptoms of over-lactation (listed below) may occur for very different reasons. You should not try to reduce the production of breast milk, if you are not sure that it is the overabundance of it that is the main problem. Otherwise, this can lead to the fact that your baby will produce less milk than your baby needs, especially in the critical first month when production is just being established.
Is being overweight a problem for me or my baby?
If you are sure that you have too much milk, but this does not cause problems for you and your baby, you do not need to do anything. In most cases, everything returns to normal within the first few months. As the baby grows, he will learn to better cope with the rapid flow of milk and will feed with pleasure.
Leakage is not always a sign of too much milk
During the first four to six weeks of your baby's birth, levels of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production, will rise every time you have a bowel movement. In these first weeks, the breast learns to produce milk in the amount that the baby needs, depending on the time of day. Therefore, excessive leakage, rapid filling of the breast, and even splashing of milk during a rush are the norm. 1
At the same time, your baby is learning to suck and swallow milk, so you should not be surprised if he suddenly coughs or chokes when he suckles.
After about four to six weeks, the spikes in prolactin levels will begin to fade and milk production will become more balanced, adjusting to your baby's needs on a supply and demand basis. 2 However, given the many hormonal changes that occur in the body of a young mother, such a restructuring may take some time. In some mothers, milk production is established quickly, in others a little longer.
Behavior of the child, which may indicate an excess of milk
When overproduced, milk is usually released very quickly, especially during the first flush. As a result, the baby may cough or choke at the beginning of a feed, push back, or hold the breast loose in the mouth. The baby may pull away from the chest, frightened by a quick rush, and then cry because he hasn’t eaten. He can swallow milk in large volumes and with a lot of air, and after that he will spit up a lot. Try to be as careful as possible when you help him burp - sudden movements combined with a full tummy can cause the baby to vomit and scare him even more.
At the start of a feed, milk is relatively low in fat and consists mainly of lactose (sugar) and proteins. As the breast is fed and emptied, the fat content constantly increases. In the case of excess milk production, your baby may feel full before he completely empties his breast. This means that he will get a lot of lactose-rich milk, but not enough fat-rich milk that comes towards the end of a feed. Excess lactose instead of a balanced diet can make digestion difficult and cause hard, frothy, and greenish stools.
Oddly enough, in such a situation, the baby may constantly want to eat and behave restlessly between feedings. Despite the high calorie content, the low fat content of milk prevents it from being fully satiated. It is the fat contained in food that gives us a feeling of satiety. What happens if you eat a few dozen rice crackers or a slice of cheese with a cookie instead? You will fill up on cheese faster, as it is more saturated with fats.
However, all these symptoms can be caused by completely different problems, such as reflux, allergies, or even vice versa, insufficient milk production.
An excess of breast milk can indeed cause these symptoms, but only if they are accompanied by excessive weight gain. Children usually dial around 900 g per month, but in the case of an excess of milk, they can gain much more, often almost twice as much. 1 If you feel like you are having too much milk but your baby is gaining weight normally, contact your lactation consultant or your healthcare provider.
Symptoms that may indicate an excess of milk in mothers
Mothers with an excess of breast milk often experience swelling and tightness in the breast, which constantly seems full. 3 As already noted, the leakage of breast milk in the first six weeks does not indicate its excess. However, if this continues at every feeding and after this period, it may be that the problem is in the overabundance.
A baby cannot always empty a full breast, so when there is an excess of breast milk, blockage of the milk ducts or periodic bouts of mastitis often occur.
However, these problems can also be caused by other reasons.
How to reduce milk production
If you have found that you have too much breastmilk and this is causing you concern, here are a few simple things you can do to help. For some mothers, they are enough.
- Try feeding in a relaxed position. Reclining or lying down feeding will allow the baby to better control the process. In this position, the baby sets the rhythm of feeding himself and can always raise his head to take a break if the milk is released too quickly. Don't forget to put a towel over to soak up spilled milk.
- Release pressure. If full breasts make you uncomfortable, try expressing some milk by hand or with a breast pump, but try to express as little milk as possible. Every time you empty your breast, you send a signal to her to produce even more milk. Therefore, pumping provides short-term relief, but with prolonged use, it can only aggravate the situation.
If you need to express and store milk to feed your baby when you are not around, it is best to address the problem of excess production first. - Try bra pads. If you have milk leaks, put special pads or pads in your bra to collect milk* to keep your underwear dry. If your milk leakage is moderate and already decreasing, or your breasts leak slightly during pregnancy, ultra-thin disposable pads will help you feel confident in any life situation.
- Avoid teas and lactation supplements. If you have been drinking teas, eating special biscuits, or taking supplements to improve breast milk production, this should be stopped now to resolve the problem.
Breast Watch to Reduce Milk Production
If all of the above fail, you can try a technique called breast watch to better control your milk supply. However, before trying this method, check with a lactation consultant or healthcare provider.
On breastfeeding, you feed your baby on demand, but only on one breast for four hours.
The second breast during this time is strongly filled. Since breast milk contains what is known as a "feedback lactation inhibitor", due to overfullness, the body sends a signal to that breast to slow down milk production. This is a natural way to protect the breast from endless filling.
This technique must be applied for 24 hours, changing breasts every four hours. If the milk does not become less, try increasing the duration of the "watch" to six hours.
Complete emptying and “breast duty” technique
If after another day there is still a lot of milk produced,
you can try another version of this technique, which is recommended in cases of extreme overabundance. It is called "complete emptying and duty of the breast." 3
In this method, both breasts must be completely emptied in the morning with an electric breast pump and breastfeeding should be started immediately. The flow of milk will be weaker and allow the baby to eat calmly. In addition, he will get more fat-rich milk, which comes at the end of feeding, which means he will feel more full.
After that, you can continue the "breast watch" for four hours, as described above. If that doesn't help, try increasing the interval to six, eight, or twelve hours the next day, depending on the extent of the problem. Before using this technique, be sure to consult with your doctor.
You may not need to completely empty your breasts after the first use of this technique, but some mothers have to do this once or twice. Improvement usually occurs within the first two days or a little later, but in no case should "breast watch" be used for more than five days.
Literature
1 Morbacher N. Breastfeeding answers made simple. Amarillo TX , USA : Hale 2010. - Morbacher N., "Simple answers to questions about breastfeeding." Amarillo, TX, USA: Publishing Hale Publishing "2010.0088 et al . Blood and milk prolactin and the rate of milk synthesis in women.
