Milk Production: How To Increase It

Many mothers complain that their milk production is not large enough to meet their baby’s needs. During the breastfeeding period, women therefore often choose to use home remedies to increase their milk production .

However, these remedies are often ineffective, and the solution is actually much simpler than most people think.

If you would like plenty of milk from the first day of your baby’s life, just follow the advice below:

The first hours after your baby’s birth

Your milk production begins during the first hours after your baby is born.

Once the first hours after your baby’s birth has passed, your baby will sleep soundly for a period of 6 to 12 hours. During this time, it will be difficult to get your baby to grab your breast.

But with patience you will be able to feed your newborn.

How to increase your milk production

Feed your baby day and night. This is the best recipe when you want your breasts to produce enough milk.

During the first week of your baby’s life, your baby should be breastfed at least 8 to 10 times a day. This means that you have to breastfeed all the time, both during the day and at night.

Here are some tricks

• Make sure your child is holding on properly. If your baby does not grasp properly, it not only means that you will have insufficient milk production, but there will also be other problems such as the appearance of cracked nipples or milk accumulation. The first thing you need to do to make sure your baby grips properly is to find the right position for your baby. But what is the right position? Your baby’s neck should not be twisted and her mouth should be at the same level as your nipple.

• Place your baby on a nursing pad. This allows you to rest your baby at your nipple and the mouth will thereby grip the breast properly. The baby should take your entire nipple in its mouth. Her lower lip should face outwards and you should not be able to hear clicking sounds when she is breastfed.

Let your baby guide you

• Let your baby complete the first breast before giving her the second. This is the only way you can make sure your breasts are emptied properly. It is important to ensure good milk production. It is also the way to ensure that your baby gets the most nourishing part of the milk supply. At the beginning of each breastfeeding, the milk may be less concentrated and it will help calm your baby’s hunger. While your baby continues to suck on the same breast, she will reach your breast’s fatter milk. This milk has a higher fat and vitamin content to nourish your baby.

• Let your baby get milk whenever she wants. Forget your watch and let your child guide you. Each child follows their own rhythm. Some babies get hungry every two hours, while others will be fed at less regular intervals. Also keep in mind that some babies empty each breast in 5 to 10 minutes, while others need much more time.

Breastfeeding offers many and great benefits

• Breast milk substitute, glucose solution, etc. Yes or no? If breastfeeding is established properly from the start, then your breasts will produce enough milk to meet your baby’s nutritional needs. Another form of nutrition is unnecessary unless the doctor has given the green light for this. Breast milk substitutes or glucose solutions sometimes achieve the opposite of what you are looking for. Your baby drinks less and less breast milk, and it takes your body as a sign that it needs to reduce your milk production.

• Avoid using a pacifier. You should avoid giving your baby a pacifier for the first 10 days and until your breastfeeding is well established. That way, you will avoid confusing your baby. The way your baby sucks on a pacifier is different from the way she sucks on your breast. If you give your baby a pacifier prematurely, then she may try to suck on your nipple as if it were a pacifier, and her technique will therefore be ineffective.
• Breastfeeding offers great benefits. Among other things, it calms your baby. Therefore, keep in mind that your baby may not always be hungry when she wants to breastfeed. A few minutes of skin-to-skin contact may be enough to make her feel safe and calm.

Massage and rest

• Rest and eat healthy. Try to maintain a balanced diet of around 2500 calories, depending on your body. You also need to make sure that you get as much rest as you can so that you can restore your energy level. It is normal for mothers (and fathers) to be awake much of the night during the baby’s first few weeks. It is therefore important that you get as much sleep as you can during the day and that you utilize it when your newborn is sleeping.
• Ask for a massage. It is relaxing to get a massage and it is also a good technique to make your milk flow more easily. Ask your partner to massage your back with circular motions around your spine and repeat the movement up the back. You can sit down while getting a massage.

You should contact your family, your doctor and your friends when you need it. They should be your support network when you are in doubt or experiencing difficulties when it comes to breastfeeding and your milk supply.

Ask questions in breastfeeding groups where you can participate if you like. Let others help and accompany you, and then you will notice that things get a lot easier.