Author: Phr. Lim
Many mothers do understand the benefits of breastfeeding. However, some barriers for example low milk production has became a challenge for mother to perform breastfeeding. Mothers and family members are encouraged to get the right information to avoid failure in breastfeeding.
I am going to share some tips here.
How do the breasts make milk?
Breast milk is made by the "milk glands" in the breasts. During pregnancy, these glands get ready to make breast milk.
After a mother gives birth, hormone changes signal the breasts to produce milk. Initially, mother produces only a small amount of yellowish milk called "colostrum." After 2 to 3 days after childbirth, mother will produce more milk.
What are the reasons of having low milk production?
Most healthy mother can make enough breast milk. Each time a baby feeds and empties the breasts, the body makes more milk.
However, if a mother is under stress, sick, tired, taking certain medicines, malnutrition, smoker, having wrong breastfeeding technique or supplementing the baby with other food may lead to low production of breast milk.
How to increase breast milk production?
First of all, mothers need to take balance diet and nutrition, have sufficient rest and mentally prepared for breastfeeding.
Secondly, it’s important to understand the concept of supply= demand. A sleepy baby or inappropriate breastfeeding posture may lead to less breast milk being removed. Mothers can consider to use breast pump to remove excessive breast milk. This “remove more milk” can stimulate milk production.
Breast milk is digested quickly compared to formula milk. Therefore breastfed babies need to eat more often.Sucking effort by baby is the best stimulus to breast to produce more breast milk. Avoid pacifiers and bottles when possible.
What if still have low milk production?
Don't worry. Speak to your pharmacists, doctors or nurses. There are supplements which are safe to boost milk production, such as fenugreek, black cumin oil, lecithin etc. Speak to us to know more about it.
If these natural supplements do not help, doctors might prescribe some medications to stimulate milk production, such as Domperidone or Metoclopramide. These medicines if taken according to the instruction, it is most likely going to help to increase milk production.