Tips For Moms To Increase Milk Supply

Many moms who breastfeed may worry that their baby isn’t getting enough milk. Tracking wet and dirty diapers and your baby’s weight are great ways to ensure your baby is thriving.

Libby Milch, MSN, RN, IBCLC, lead lactation consultant at Franciscan Health Indianapolis, shares proven ways to increase your milk supply.

Best Ways To Increase Breast Milk

Breastfeeding is a supply-and-demand relationship. To increase the milk supply, new moms should consistently put demand on the breast. It’s also important to stay hydrated said Milch, by drinking plenty of caffeine-free fluids.

“Caffeine isn’t a great thing to have a lot of,” Milch said. “But mom can definitely have a coffee in the morning. It’s all about balance.”

Moms should try to eat enough and regularly while breastfeeding. Milch says there are no real restrictions on the types of foods to eat but good nutrition is important.

Breastfeeding Supplements And Products

While various supplements and traditional herbs might claim to assist with breastfeeding, their effectiveness is not well-documented. It’s important that every mother is assessed for her specific needs and health history and that you talk to your healthcare provider before beginning a new supplement.

When To Start Pumping

If you are breastfeeding or pregnant and plan to breastfeed, Milch offers details on when moms should expect to start pumping or hand-expressing their milk.

NICU Moms And Pumping

If you have a baby who spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and you plan to breastfeed, you’ll likely start pumping right away. This is because your breast needs consistent stimulation to signal that it should produce milk. Plus, if your baby has health issues or was born pre-term, they may not latch right away.

Full-Term Baby Moms And Pumping

Depending on your pumping goals, if you want to exclusively pump and bottle-feed your baby, you’ll start pumping after delivery. If you’re planning to pump when you return to work or when you need to be away from your baby, Milch recommends you start pumping around 3-4 weeks after delivery.

“Whenever you start pumping, be consistent,” Milch said. Pump both breasts for 15 minutes after the baby’s first feed of the day to help build up your freezer milk supply. “If you pump after every morning feed, that tells your body to make more milk.”

When To Introduce A Bottle To Your Breastfed Baby

If you plan to breastfeed when you’re with your baby and have someone else bottle-feed in your absence, it’s important for your baby to master proper deep-latching techniques early on. Once you start pumping around 3-4 weeks postpartum, a different caregiver or your partner should introduce the bottle, helping your baby adapt to the artificial bottle nipple.

After those first bottle feeds, make sure to return your baby to breastfeeding. This helps avoid any latch issues that could result from the bottle-feeding.

Factors That Affect Milk Supply

If you can’t see, touch, smell and hear your baby, the body tries to slow milk production. This is an evolutionary mechanism. Moms who return to work and pump during the day often experience a dip in supply the first week or two. This is normal; your supply should return to typical levels once your body adjusts.

Moms with fertility issues, including moms over 35 or those who have endocrine conditions like thyroid problems or PCOS, often face breastfeeding challenges due to hormone imbalances, Milch said.

C-Sections And Breastfeeding

Labor and delivering situations like induction, C-sections or prolonged Pitocin use can delay milk production.

“While not a barrier to breastfeeding, these factors may make it challenging,” Milch said. “If you had a C-section, your breastmilk may not come in quickly and you may need to micro-manage your baby’s feeds the first weeks of life.”

Milch recommends talking with a lactation consultant – especially if you had an unplanned C-section.

Stress And Breastfeeding

Stress can negatively impact milk supply, and Milch explained that families with babies in the NICU often face increased stress.

“Limited physical contact and visual interaction with the baby can disrupt the maternal hormones that affect breastfeeding,” she said.

Gestational Diabetes And Breastfeeding

Milch explains that babies born to moms with gestational diabetes usually don’t face significant breastfeeding issues. However, these babies tend to be large and oftentimes mom’s labor is induced around 37- or 38-weeks’ gestation.

“Any time a baby is born less than 39 weeks, they can be poor feeders at first because of challenges working for the breast milk,” Milch said.

Breastfed Babies Feeding Schedule

“Full-term babies will usually feed on demand 8-12 times in a 24-hour period,” Milch said. “They don’t follow a pattern and tend to be hungry at night, especially in the first months.”

Babies often “cluster feed,” meaning they’ll feed several times close together during one period of the day. This is normal and works to help build the milk supply.

Understanding Increased Baby Feeding

If your baby is consuming more than usual, it’s often a sign of a growth spurt. Milch advises “The only time to would worry is if the baby isn’t gaining weight.”

If that’s the case, talk with a lactation consultant immediately to ensure effective latch and milk flow.

“A good latch should not be painful,” Milch said. “Many women believe breastfeeding should hurt at first and that is not the expectation.”