Many young breastfeeding mothers worry about their milk supply. For various reasons (stress, fatigue, high blood loss during childbirth, fragments of placenta remaining in the uterus, medical problem, etc.), it can indeed happen that we notice insufficient milk production during breastfeeding. This is also sometimes explained by poor sucking by the baby or insufficient stimulation of lactation. Without this milk flow, the baby may not gain enough weight and become dehydrated. In his diapers, we then find little stool and urine. When you no longer have breast milk to breastfeed and you notice a drop in lactation, fortunately there are tips to follow for successful breastfeeding.
You can in fact easily put in place some good reflexes to get the milk coming in as well as good habits to breastfeed well and ensure that your baby is well satisfied.
How to avoid running out of milk for breastfeeding?
Stay well hydrated and take care of your diet
A good hydration is the basis of good lactation. So make sure you drink very regularly and take a large glass of water with each feeding. To promote breast milk production, balanced diet is also essential. This includes foods rich in protein, iron, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy products are recommended.
Certain foods can also stimulate lactation. This is the case of oats (which promote the production of oxytocin) and fennel (to stimulate the production of estrogen and prolactin). Moreover, we often find the latter in organic breastfeeding herbal teas. However, we can also rely on cumin and/or star anise as an infusion to counter any lack of milk. Additionally, these plants are excellent for digestive health. Finally, barley malt in non-alcoholic beer or brewer’s yeast also stimulates prolactin, a hormone essential for the production of breast milk.
Monitor your newborn’s sucking while breastfeeding
A baby who breastfeeds well will promote lactation. For the position and use or not of a nursing pillow, you are quite free. However, you must not forget to check that your baby is sucking properly. Indeed, with breasts tense and hard due to the flow of milk, it can be difficult for a little one to suck properly. You can then express a little milk to soften your breasts a little and make feeding easier. Do not hesitate to take your nipple between your thumb and your other fingers so as to direct it towards your baby’s palate when he opens his mouth. Then, place your baby firmly against you in this position (areola against the roof of the mouth).
Well positioned, his chin should be against your breast and his lips are curled. If he sucks well, he will then make rapid sucking movements at first, then more intensely with swallowing sounds. Furthermore, once the first painful milk surges of the first few days have passed, you should not feel no pain. If this is not the case and it is not related to cracked nipples, take the time to replace it correctly.
Three tips for better milk production
First, try to increase skin-to-skin contact with your baby, both before and after feeding. This simple gesture allows you to stimulate oxytocin, the hormone that promotes the flow of breast milk. In addition, by smelling the smell of milk, your child will feel stimulated and will be able to resume breastfeeding at any time.
To improve lactation, you can also breastfeed baby as often as possibleif necessary every one to two hours without letting him cry. See it a bit like the law of supply and demand. If your baby doesn’t nurse, your body won’t feel the need to produce enough milk for him. This is the reason why milk production can also dry up when we switch to industrial milk. Not only is the bottle easier to take and requires less suction, but the breast also receives less stress and will therefore produce less.
Double expression thanks to the breast pump
Expressing milk by hand or with a manual or electric breast pump allows you toincrease lactation and drain the breastswhich will at the same time stimulate them. After a milk supply, you can use double expression to express more milk in less time. For example, you can use your breast pump just after or an hour after feeding. At first, you may get small quantities which will increase over time. In all cases, regular expression (eight to twelve times a day) will increase the quantities of breast milk obtained. Moreover, don’t forget the night sessionbecause at this time, your prolactin levels are at their maximum, which optimizes production.
Offer breastfeeding on both breasts
Do not hesitate to alternate between your two breasts if you can. Once he has emptied the first, and he begins to swallow and “fuckle” less, offer him the second after having burped him, even if it means returning to the first later if you wish. When production is particularly low, some women practice for several days the “super alternation” until it increases naturally, allowing them to return to simple alternation. This practice consists of alternate the right breast and the left breast several times during the same feeding (up to four or five times).
Other little tips to know when you don’t have enough milk
In addition to other tips, consider practice breast compression to prolong the flow of milk while you breastfeed. During feeding, if you notice that baby is starting to swallow less, surround the base of your breast with your free hand and gently compress it with the thumb on one side and the other fingers on the other side of your breast. Attention, it should not be painful and you should stay away from the areola. Furthermore, you can apply hot water compresses before breastfeeding for milk production.
And most importantly: know how to rest and take care of yourself
Fatigue and stress are two factors that can significantly impact milk production. Your state of health is really not to be taken lightly. So don’t feel guilty about delegating your household chores to another person, letting a loved one cook your meals for you or taking naps during the day if you don’t feel in good shape. Good rest will reduce breast engorgement. ! Also make sure to take time for yourself and relax. If necessary, do breathing exercises, yoga, or any other activity that will help you de-stress.
To avoid worrying unnecessarily about running out of milk and to receive personalized advice, do not hesitate to consult your midwife, a lactation consultant or a breastfeeding specialist. Your healthcare professional will be able to reassure you, advise you on taking galactagogues (in particular medications or galactogenic plants) and show you the right actions if necessary. And if, on the contrary, you produce a lot, check out our ideas for using breast milk in unusual ways.