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Disclaimer: The information in this post is for educational purposes only. I am not a doctor. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. None of the opinions are meant to diagnose or treat any disease or illness. You should always consult your healthcare provider.


6 Tips on How to Increase Breast Milk Without Supplementing

6 Tips on How to Increase Breast Milk without SupplementingHave you ever wondered how to increase breast milk without supplementing? There are several things that you can do to increase your breast milk. The most important thing to remember is that most of the time supply equals demand.

1. Nurse more frequently

Putting your baby to breast more often signals your body to make more milk. Feed your child on demand and let them nurse even if they seem like they’re only doing it for comfort. Don’t cut out any feedings (obviously).

2. Pump after feeding

If you’re able to, try pumping for a few minutes after baby is done feeding. Don’t force your baby to stop feeding; let them signal when they’re done. You probably won’t be able to get much breast milk at first, but if you keep it up, you will see an increase.

3. Try fenugreek

A third tip on how to increase breast milk is to use fenugreek. Fenugreek has a long history of being used to help increase a mother’s milk supply. It is not recommended to take it while you are pregnant, as it can cause contractions. Make sure that both breasts are being drained, either through nursing or pumping, or else your supply will diminish.

4. Eat foods that are lactogenic (milk increasers)

There are lots of foods, such as oatmeal, apricots, and salmon that are thought to naturally help increase milk supply. Click here to see one of our pins on Pinterest about the top ten. Lactation cookies, muffins, bread, or whatever can be another yummy way  to increase your milk supply. Here’s a pin for a recipe for lactation muffins, and here’s a pin for lactation bread.

5. Stay hydrated

A critical thing to know about how to increase breast milk is hydration. This cannot be stressed enough. If you become dehydrated, your supply will go down. Make sure you are drinking enough water for yourself and for making milk. You’ll find that you’ll have to drink more. Keep a bottle of water near wherever you sit and nurse most often or grab yourself a drink while you’re nursing your baby.

6. Get support

I cannot emphasize how important it is to have good support while breastfeeding. Even if it’s just your husband, an online group, or a website like BreastfeedingPlace.com, get in touch with others who have been there done that, are where you are, or are going to be where you are, or just flat out want you to do your best. It’s a huge help, especially at those times that you feel like throwing in the towel.

There you have it. These tips on how to increase breast milk supply will get you started in the right direction, but just remember that you may not see an immediate increase. It may take some time, so be patient! As always, we ladies here at BreastfeedingPlace.com are here to help and encourage you on this journey you’ve chosen to take, so if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.


Melissa Mendez is the blogger behind Cloth Diapering Again, her blog about cloth diapering, parenting, and going green.  She is married to an amazing man, with whom she has three children.

 

Trackbacks

  1. […] who worry about their milk supply and whether or not their baby is getting enough milk. Aside from practices like constant nursing, skin-to-skin contact, and relaxation, there are many nursing mothers that use lactogenic herbs to increase breast milk supply. Herbs […]

  2. […] An imbalanced thyroid can cause milk supply problems. Personally, I have noticed a dip in supply when I am hyper and when I am hypothyroid. If levels get far enough away from normal, milk can all but dry up. Thankfully, in most cases, milk supply returns to normal or near normal levels once hormone levels are adjusted. (Read about increasing your milk supply during these times: “6 Tips on How to Increase Breast Milk Without Supplementing.) […]

  3. […] As a doula I am constantly being asked for ways to increase milk supply. There are a ton of anecdotal ways to try to do this. […]

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