Dealing with Low Breastmilk Supply

How to increase your breastmilk supply within 48 hours with these few easy steps.

Milk production is a demand & supply process. If you need to increase milk supply, it’s important to understand how milk is made – understanding this will help you to do the right things to increase production.

To speed milk production and increase overall milk supply, the key is to remove more milk from the breast and to do this frequently, so that less milk accumulates in the breast between feedings.

OK, now on to things that can help increase your milk supply:

Make sure that baby is nursing efficiently. This is the “remove more milk” part of increasing milk production. If milk is not effectively removed from the breast, then mom’s milk supply decreases. If positioning and latch are “off” then baby is probably not transferring milk efficiently. A sleepy baby, use of nipple shields or various health or anatomical problems in baby can also interfere with baby’s ability to transfer milk. For a baby who is not nursing efficiently, trying to adequately empty milk from the breast is like trying to empty a swimming pool through a drinking straw – it can take forever. Inefficient milk transfer can lead to baby not getting enough milk or needing to nurse almost constantly to get enough milk. If baby is not transferring milk well, then it is important for mom to express milk after and/or between nursing to maintain milk supply while the breastfeeding problems are being addressed.

Nurse frequently, and for as long as your baby is actively nursing. Remember – you want to remove more milk from the breasts and do this frequently. If baby is having weight gain problems, aim to nurse at least every 1.5-2 hours during the day and at least every 3 hours at night.

Take a nursing vacation. Take baby to bed with you for 2-3 days, and do nothing but nurse (frequently!) and rest (well, you can eat too!).

Offer both sides at each feeding. Let baby finish the first side, then offer the second side.

Switch nurse. Switch sides 3 or more times during each feeding, every time that baby falls asleep, switches to “comfort” sucking, or loses interest. Use each side at least twice per feeding. Use breast compression to keep baby feeding longer. For good instructions on how to do this, see Dr. Jack Newman’s Protocol to manage breastmilk intake. This can be particularly helpful for sleepy or distracted babies.

Avoid pacifiers and bottles when possible. All of baby’s sucking needs should be met at the breast (see above). If a temporary supplement is medically required, it can be given with a nursing supplement-er or by spoon, cup or dropper (see Alternative Feeding Methods).

Give baby only breastmilk. Avoid all solids, water, and formula if baby is younger than six months, and consider decreasing solids if baby is older. If you are using more than a few ounces of formula per day, wean from the supplements gradually to “challenge” your breasts to produce more milk.

Take care of mom. Rest. Sleep when baby sleeps. Relax. Drink liquids to thirst (don’t force liquids – drinking extra water does not increase supply), and eat a reasonably well-balanced diet.

Consider pumping. Adding pumping sessions after or between nursing sessions can be very helpful – pumping is very important when baby is not nursing efficiently or frequently enough, and can speed things up in all situations. Your aim in pumping is to remove more milk from the breasts and/or to increase frequency of breast emptying. When pumping to increase milk supply, to ensure that the pump removes an optimum amount of milk from the breast, keep pumping for 2-5 minutes after the last drops of milk. However, adding even a short pumping session (increasing frequency but perhaps not removing milk thoroughly) is helpful.

Consider a galactagogue. A substance (herb, prescription medication, etc.) that increases milk supply is called a galactagogue. See What is a galactagogue? Do I need one? for more information.

How my supply increase in 48 hours with these simple steps.

Here are also some suggestions for triggering multiple "let-downs" per pumping session;

Immediately before you start pumping/nursing:

• Take a warm shower or bath.

• Take a painkiller 30min before your nursing session if you are in pain because pain can cause stress and inhibit let-down.

• Choose a calm and non- distracting place to nurse.

• Listen to music you like.

• Be skin-to-skin with your baby. (If possible)

• Have something to drink (glass of water or some tea).

• Sit in a comfortable chair with arm and back support or nurse lying down.

• Massage your breasts and do some nipple rolls and gentle tugging.

• Moist heat on the breasts should also be helpful.
  

While pumping/nursing:

• Deep breathing or other relaxation techniques.

• Singing or humming.

• Visualizing the let-down.

• The opposite can also be helpful: watch TV, talk on the phone, read a book, etc. – whatever will relax you and get your mind off it.

• Place a heating pad on your shoulders and back.

• Get someone else to massage your back and shoulders before and while you nurse.

• Massage and use breast compression's while you pump.
  

If you're pumping and not with your baby (these may be possible later on):

• Look at a picture of your baby (nursing, if possible).

• Try listening to a tape recording of your baby fussing before nursing and/or feeding sounds or just visualize what he sounds like when he’s ready to nurse.

• Put a sleeper or t-shirt or blanket that baby has worn in a ziplock bag then open it up when ready to pump and smell and touch it."

Double pump for 10-15 minutes after nursing. Empty the breast as thoroughly as possible at each session. To ensure that the pump removes an optimum amount of milk from the breast, keep pumping for 2-5 minutes after the last drops of milk.

These are the basic starting points. If you still have an issue or struggling feel free to pop us a mail and we will try and advise on your specific situation.