Natural Christian Parenting

Over the course of a nursing career, there may be times when you recognize that your milk supply is not what it was or what you desire. This can be caused by illness, hormonal changes, stress, supplementing with formula, using artificial nipples, or changes in a child’s routine. Fortunately, the milk-making process in our bodies is flexible and adapatable. There are several ways to increase one’s milk supply but you must remember that it is not an instant process. It often takes as long to increase a supply as it does to decrease one.

• NURSE, NURSE, NURSE: The very best method for increasing supply is to nurse more often and until baby has completely emptied the breast. If you are certain that your baby is nursing effectively and has a good latch and suck, simply offer the breast more often; switching from approximately every 3 hours to approximately every 2 1/2 hours, for example. Unlimited access to the breast for baby would be the ideal situation. Additionally, always offer both breasts at each feeding. If you remove more milk, your body will produce more milk. Milk production is an almost purely a supply=demand=supply=demand situation and by extracting more milk, your body is triggered to make more milk.
• INCREASE INTAKE: You can try increasing the amount of milk that baby is taking in while at the breast through switch nursing and breast compression. To use switch nursing, watch baby closely as they eat. The moment they fall asleep, lose interest, or switch to “comfort” sucking, switch sides. A new let-down and fast ejection of the milk will renew their attention and increase the amount of milk they are taking in. Use both breasts at least twice during a nursing session to assure that baby is getting adequate hind milk. The additional fast sucking stimulation will trigger an increase. You can also use breast compression to boost the amount of milk being taken in. This involves stimulating a milk ejection by squeezing the breast after baby has stopped sucking on their own. Dr. Jack Newman, a leading expert on breastfeeding, has a “Protocol to Increase Breastmilk Intake in Babies” which is posted on KellyMom.
• UP YOUR PROTEIN: Milk production needs water, fat and protein. Making sure to keep your water intake up combined with our bodies FABULOUS ability take the fat from itself if its not readily available (yee-haw!), protein may be the thing that’s lacking. Grab a big spoonful of peanut butter or cottage cheese, fish, eggs, etc.
• TRY A GALACTAGOGUE: A galactagogue is a substance that increases milk supply. These should be tried only in combination with the other methods listed. Think and research before trying one. The average nursing mother shouldn’t need a galatagogue to maintain an effective supply. If you chose to use one, there are many out there: both ones that have a proven effect and other’s that are “old wives tales”. They effect production in different ways so you might need to try a few before you find one that works for you. KellyMom is a wonderful resource for dosage and side effect information. The two most common galactagogues are fenugreek, and oatmeal.

Ideally, you’ll never have a supply issue. But if you do, first NURSE, NURSE, NURSE and then try some of these other effective methods.