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24 ways to increase the production of breast milk

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 18.10.2021
 
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Not all mothers have enough breast milk after childbirth. Many of them are few because of stress, malnutrition, or a small amount of fluid that the mother uses. How to increase the amount of breast milk?

trusted-source[1], [2], [3], [4]

The main reasons for lack of milk in moms

A quarter of young mothers complain of a lack of milk in their breasts. These problems need to be corrected at the initial stage, so that problems with swelling of the breast do not develop into mastitis or inflammation of the mammary glands.

The main causes of lack of breast milk - malnutrition, improper pumping, improper use of fluid during the day. The most important for a mother who gave birth to a baby, in the first days to express enough milk. This is a very simple secret: the more milk your mother expresses, the more it comes.

After the mother gave birth, her body actively produces hormones that stimulate the production of milk. In particular, the hormone prolactin. The weight of the breast glands also increases, each of them begins to weigh about 700 grams each. This means that the breast milk in each of them now contains up to 200 ml.

Moms should know that the ability to breastfeed in them persists on average from five to 24 months. At the same time, milk in the mammary glands is formed from 600 to 1 kg 300 grams throughout the day. Most milk is produced in the first or second week after childbirth. Then the amount of milk in the breast of the mother becomes stable, and this allows the baby to get it in sufficient quantity.

Here are 24 simple ways to increase the amount of breast milk

  1. Feed your baby often. Frequent breastfeeding is the key to increasing the amount of milk. Normally the baby is fed every 3 hours from 06.00 am to 00.00.
  2. Let the baby both breasts during feeding.
  3. If you are an opponent of the exact mode of breastfeeding, apply a free schedule. Watch your baby get hungry, and then start breastfeeding.
  4. Use breast massage, especially in cases where feeding is still painful for you.
  5. Breastfeed your baby even at night. Night feeding is a good way to increase the volume of milk.
  6. Use a breast pump for feeding.
  7. If your food is low in calories, the baby will not eat up, and you will need a lot more milk to feed it. Pay attention to your diet: it should be porridge, vegetables, fruits, cottage cheese, sour cream and milk. If the diet is difficult to calculate, consult a gastroenterologist who will help you with this.
  8. Make sure that the baby takes the breast correctly. He must grasp the nipple to the very areola. If it is difficult for you to determine the correctness of feeding, contact your doctor.
  9. Feed the child not only sitting, but also lying in bed. This will help you relax and allow the baby to suck for longer periods of time.
  10. Do not sleep on your stomach at night. This can compress the breast and prevent the production of milk.
  11. Avoid pacifiers and nipples for as long as possible
  12. Avoid taking birth control pills while you are breastfeeding, as this reduces the production of breast milk.
  13. Do not smoke.
  14. Drink plenty of water, especially immediately before feeding.
  15. Limit the amount of caffeine you drink.
  16. Try to relax when you feed, and not rush.
  17. Apply a healthy diet with lots of protein.
  18. If your child needs additional feeding, consider using an additional feeding system with a pacifier or supplementary feeding so that your child can eat normally.
  19. Spend the weekend in bed with the baby and feed it as much as possible.
  20. Try to drink tea with milk - this is an excellent way to increase the amount of milk.
  21. Do not diet on breastfeeding.
  22. Eat a bowl of oatmeal every morning. Some mothers believe that oatmeal helps increase the amount of milk.
  23. Talk to your doctor about prescription medications, such as Cerucal, to increase the amount of milk.
  24. Avoid decongestants and antihistamines because they can reduce the amount of milk.

Remember that any amount of breast milk that your child drinks is very good for his health and immunity.

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