Breastfeeding is good for both you and your baby in many ways. Breast milk gives your baby all the nutrients he or she needs, helps fight off infections with antibodies, and protects against allergies, asthma, and obesity. It also keeps your child from getting cancer, and it lowers your chances of getting breast and ovarian cancer. It can also help you feel better and less stressed.
But breastfeeding isn’t always easy, especially at first, and it can be hard to make enough breast milk. People worry a lot that they aren’t making enough breast milk even though they produce enough to store in zip lock breastmilk storage bags. It’s hard to know how much breast milk you’re making and how much your baby is getting at each feeding.
Home Techniques to Boost Production of Breast Milk
Do you worry that you are not producing enough breast milk for your baby? The easiest method to tell is to observe whether or not your baby is making wet and dirty diapers on a consistent basis, whether or not he or she is swallowing during feedings, and whether or not he or she feels full, tired, or content after eating. The pediatrician will also measure your child at each visit to monitor their development. Don’t be embarrassed to seek help and talk about your alternatives if you’re worried about your breast milk production.
Insufficient food and fluid intake, exhaustion, high-stress levels, and nursing infrequently or for short periods of time are among the most common causes of low supply, and addressing these issues is often the first step in increasing supply at home. To help you produce more breast milk, here are five suggestions:
1. Drink Plenty of Water
If you are dehydrated, your body will not produce milk. Breastfeeding mothers need an additional four to eight glasses of water per day, on top of the eight glasses per day suggested for adults. You can achieve this by drinking a glass of water with each meal and breastfeeding session.
2. Eat a Nutritious Diet
You can make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need by sticking to a healthy eating plan like the anti-inflammatory diet. Fruits and vegetables, whole grains like brown rice, omega-3-rich foods like salmon and flaxseeds, and veggie proteins should all feature prominently in your meal plans.
3. Breastfeed Often
Baby feeding is a supply-and-demand system. This indicates that your milk supply will increase proportionally with the frequency and duration of your baby’s sucking. An expert in lactation can advise you on the best positions and methods for breastfeeding your child. If you want to boost your breast milk supply, pumping can assist.
4. Sleep Whenever Possible
Try to get eight hours of sleep every night and a few naps during the day when the baby is napping. The recovery process from pregnancy and childbirth, including the production of breast milk, is aided by getting plenty of rest.
5. Check Out Some Natural Ways to Help You Breastfeed
A traditional way to get more milk is to eat a bowl of oatmeal every day. This is also good for you. Some people who believe in natural health also swear that herbs like fenugreek and wild asparagus can help make more milk. Even though these agents have been used for a long time, there have only been a few studies on how safe and effective they are for humans. Before giving your baby any supplements, you should talk to his or her pediatrician.
