Dear Doc | Producing more breast milk for baby

Q Dear Doc, I am frustrated and need to know what I can do to make more breast milk. I have tried everything I was told. I put baby on the breast, I try to express, and still the baby cries for more and I have nothing more, and I have to give formula. Is something wrong why I don’t make enough? Are my breasts too small? I have heard that there are foods to take to increase breast milk, but don’t know what they are. Also, is there any medication that I can take to make more milk?

 

A Many mothers worry that they are not producing enough breast milk for their baby; you are not alone. Data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention shows that approximately 75 per cent of new mothers start off breastfeeding their babies, but then stop within the first few months, either partially, or completely. One of the most common reasons for this is the worry about insufficient milk production.

For many women, their milk supply is just fine. However, if you do need to increase your breast milk production, there are ways to do it.

Is your milk production really low?

Low breast milk production is rare. Most women make more than one-third more milk than their babies need, according to the Mayo Clinic.

There are many reasons, other than insufficient milk, that may cause your baby to cry, fuss, or seem distracted while breastfeeding, but it’s unlikely to be due to your milk supply. It could be as a result of teething, gas pains, or even just being tired that causes fussiness. Babies are also more easily distracted as they get older. This can interfere with feedings and cause them to pull away when you are trying to breastfeed.

Also, as your baby gets older, they feed more efficiently. This means that even though feedings are shorter, they will be getting more milk in less time.

As long as your baby is gaining weight as expected, and needing regular diaper changes, then you are probably producing enough milk.

Regular check-ups with your child’s paediatrician will help determine if your milk supply may be low or if your child is undernourished.

 

Causes of low milk production

There are several factors that can cause low milk production, such as:

Emotional factors

Anxiety, stress, and even embarrassment can interfere with milk let-down and cause you to produce less milk. Creating a private and relaxing environment for breastfeeding and making the experience enjoyable and free of stress can help increase breast milk production.

Medical conditions

Some medical conditions that can interfere with milk production include:

– Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure

– Diabetes

– Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

Certain medications

Medications that contain pseudoephedrine, such as sinus and allergy medications, and certain types of hormonal birth control may lower breast milk production.

Smoking and alcohol

Smoking and drinking moderate to heavy amounts of alcohol can lower your milk production.

Previous breast surgery

Not having enough glandular tissue because of breast surgery, such as breast reduction, cyst removal, or mastectomy, can interfere with lactation.

How to increase breast milk production

You can try the following things to help increase your breast milk production. If they are going to work for you, they should begin working within a few days.

1. Breastfeed more often

Breastfeed often and let your baby decide when to stop feeding.

When your baby breastfeeds, hormones that trigger your breasts to produce milk are released. This is called the ‘let-down’ reflex. The let-down reflex is when muscles in your breasts contract and move the milk through the ducts, which happens shortly after your baby begins breastfeeding. The more you breastfeed, the more milk your breasts make.

Breastfeeding your new baby eight to 12 times a day can help establish and maintain milk production.

2. Pump between feedings

Pumping between feedings can also help you increase milk production. Warming your breasts before pumping can help make you more comfortable and pump easier, too.

3. Breastfeed from both sides

Have your baby feed from both breasts at each feeding. Let your baby feed from the first breast until they slow down or stop feeding before offering the second breast. The stimulation of having both breasts breastfed from can help increase milk production. Pumping milk from both breasts simultaneously has also been found to increase milk production and result in a higher fat content in the milk.

4. There are other foods and herbs that may increase breast milk production, according to the Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation. Some, such as fenugreek, have been found to take effect in as little as seven days. These foods and herbs include:

– garlic

– ginger

– fenugreek

– fennel

– brewer’s yeast

– blessed thistle

– alfalfa

– spirulina

If you are still worried that your baby isn’t getting enough milk or feel that your baby is undernourished, speak to your doctor. If your milk supply is low, supplementing with formula may be an option. Speak to your doctor before supplementing feedings with formula to avoid accidental early weaning.

Also, if low milk production is the problem, or if you are having other trouble with breastfeeding, try to remember that as long as your baby is well-fed and getting the nourishment they need, breast milk or formula, or both, are fine.