Breastfeeding is, without a doubt, the best way to get essential nutrients into your baby. However, there are some mothers whose milk supply isn’t enough to meet the demands of their newborn. The good news is that sometimes the problem lies with how the baby latches on your breast which can be corrected by a professional. If you feel that your milk supply is low and worried that you won’t be able to meet your baby’s needs, here are a few tips that can help you boost your milk production.
- Skip your feeding routines. One of the easiest ways to boost your breastmilk production is to feed your baby when he or she feels like eating. If you notice signs of hunger earlier, offer your breast to see if they will suckle. There is no harm with offering your breast even if you are not sure whether your baby wants to feed. Just keep in mind that the more times your baby feeds, the more milk your breasts will supply.
- Avoid using nipple shields, pacifiers, and bottles unless needed. You will need to stimulate your nipple to help produce more milk. Using pacifiers, bottles, or even nipple shields may stop your baby from drinking from your breast which can reduce your milk production. If your nipples are sore, it may be due to poor latch from your baby. Correcting your baby’s latch can help ease the soreness while increasing milk production.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. Another trick to increasing your milk production is to pay attention to what you are eating. Going for a well-balanced diet can help you get the nutrients you need to keep your milk production steady. Go for vegetables, fruits, lean protein, and whole grains.
- Drink plenty of water. Breastfeeding your baby is a lot of work and can dehydrate you if you are not careful. Drinking ample amounts of water in the day not only helps you stay hydrated, alert, and more focused throughout the day, it also helps with your milk production.
- Pay attention to your baby. Keep in mind that your baby knows when he or she is hungry. Setting up a feeding routine isn’t really a good idea because your newborn knows when he needs to feed. It’s a survival instinct and one that you should pay attention to if you want to increase your breastmilk production.
- Check your baby’s latch. Babies need to breastfeed which means you don’t have to nipple feed them yet. What’s important is that your baby latches onto your breast correctly so he can access your milk. If you are not sure how to do this, ask a lactation consultant to help you out.
These are just a few tricks on how you can boost your milk production. Keep in mind that you don’t really need to switch to formula if your baby isn’t getting enough milk. The more you breastfeed your baby, the better your milk production will be.
