One of the most frequently asked questions from my clients and members of our instagram support forum is “How can I increase my milk supply?” It’s a valid concern considering one of the top three reasons mothers wean is they are concerned about milk supply (1). Today I’m here to give you three easy ways to ensure your milk production will meet baby’s needs!
Ensure efficient breast emptying
Breastmilk is made on a supply-demand chain. Think about a store inventory. If an item is popular, and being regularly removed from the shelves each day, the item will continually be in stock. If the item sits and sits and no one buys it, pretty soon it will be discontinued. The same is true for milk production! The more is removed, the more is made. Sometimes women put their baby to breast frequently, but they are not attached well enough or alert enough to remove milk efficiently. Some great things to look for during latch include a deep attachment (baby drawing in more tissue than just the nipple), lips flared out, and chin touching the breast. Some breast compressions throughout the feeding can also help the infant stay more alert leading to more milk removal. A prenatal breastfeeding class can help boost your confidence with breastfeeding positions, latching, and what to do when issues arise.
Use hand expression as your “insurance policy”
We know through research that many women respond to hand expression better than a breast pump, especially in the early days postpartum (2). We also know that women who use hand expression in the first days after delivery have a better supply down the road (3). So, how do we incorporate it? It can be useful in several different ways! If baby isn’t latching well initially you can use hand expression to express your colostrum and deliver needed calories to baby on a spoon. Even if breastfeeding is going very well early on, you can add some milk supply “insurance” by doing several short sessions of hand expression (aim for 6-12 sessions in 24 hours). These hand expression sessions don’t need to be more than a few minutes long to make a positive impact! Video tutorials are a great way to get the concept of hand expression.
Forget the clock
Many times when we have a new little one, we get preoccupied with time. How long has it been since baby had a messy diaper? How long did he/she sleep for? How long has it been since they fed? When it comes to breastfeeding, although it’s tempting, try not to clock watch too much. Babies will want to feed frequently in the early days. If you can, let it happen and encourage it! The more stimulation in those early days, the better your milk supply will be later.
I hope this is helpful! Come say hi on instagram today and I hope you find my video classes a useful and convenient source of prenatal education. We also have upcoming in-person classes in Highland, UT and Seattle, WA. I firmly believe that “Mama knows best”, I’m just here to offer research based information and options so you can make the best choice for you! A great way to get started is my free download “Top Ten Tips for Breastfeeding Success”.
References
1. Hoover, K.L., & Wilson-Clay, B. (2013). The Breastfeeding Atlas (5th ed.). Machaca, TX: LactNews Press.
2. Morton, J. (2012). The importance of hands. Journal of Human Lactation, 28(3). 276-277. doi: 10.1177/0890334412444930.
3. Morton, J. (2015). Prevention, availability and sustainability: what baby-friendly bedside care for low and high-risk infants must offer. Personal collection of Dr. Jane Morton, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA.
The photography in this post is provided by Lizzy Jean Photography.
Lindsey Shipley, RN, IBCLC is a mom of 2, Registered Nurse, Childbirth Educator and Board Certified Lactation Coach. She owns Lactation Link, a private practice offering breastfeeding support through her classes, website, and online support forum. Lindsey’s goal is to empower women through education to reach their goals, whatever they may be.
