Chapter 9. About Milk Supply
- 3 keys to adequate supply:
- Start skin-to skin contact and breastfeeding as early as possible after birth
- Nurse your baby often, responding to his needs
- Breastfeed correctly – If your baby suckles correctly, it will simulate milk flow
- Maintain a balanced and nutritious diet and stay hydrated. Your body will naturally produce and secrete milk according to your baby's needs.
- A newborn’s stomach is small like a marble. Even though the amount of first milk is small, the nutrients are enough for your baby.
- Remember the 3 keys to successful breastfeeding: (i) Start breastfeeding as early as possible; (ii) Nurse your baby often; (iii) Breastfeed correctly (Please refer to Chapter 4). This will ensure adequate milk supply.
Your breast size does not affect how much milk you can produce. Your baby may just need to feed a little more often. Regardless of their size, your breasts will still produce the milk your baby needs. As long as you feed your baby in response to his needs, your body will produce adequate milk.
- Massage your breasts before pumping. After your first pumping session, rest for 10 minutes and then pump again for 10 to 15 minutes (power pumping).
- Ensure you drink enough water and have adequate rest.
Massage your breasts before pumping. After your first pumping session, rest for 10 minutes and then pump again for 10 to 15 minutes (power pumping).
You can temporarily increase your pumping frequency to match your baby's daily feeding schedule to maintain your supply. Incorporating skin-to-skin contact or cuddling your baby before pumping or throughout the day can help your baby get used to the closeness and stimulate your let-down reflex. Try to stay relaxed and avoid forcing the baby to nurse.
It is also important to identify the root cause of the nursing strike.
If you have been bottle-feeding, you may refer to this video.
We recommend consulting an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) at the hospital where you delivered or Maternal and Child Health Centre for personalized advice.
Taking care of the mother is equally important. Discuss support arrangements and schedules with family members or supportive personnel. Emphasize the supportive role of others. They can help with literally everything else, such as housework, to support the mother.
If mothers are feeling unwell, you may refer to this video.
You are already doing a great job, providing nourishment for your baby with several feedings! Try to relax. Your love for your baby is the most important, regardless of the amount of breast milk.
Relying solely on pumping without breastfeeding directly eight to twelve times a day can indeed make it harder to increase your milk supply. As your baby gets older, try different breastfeeding positions to see if latching becomes possible.
Babies who drink from a bottle, whether it is formula or breast milk, can potentially be overfed. When bottle-feeding, milk tends to flow continuously, making it harder for the baby to control their sucking speed and the amount of milk they consume. This can easily lead to unintentional overconsumption. If you are bottle-feeding expressed breast milk, we recommend using wide-neck bottles and teats with the slowest flow. There is no need to switch to teats with a faster flow as your baby grows older.