First things first- it’s important to make note that many lactating parents think they might have low milk supply! Babies might be said to show hunger cues every hour, and they complain their breasts don’t feel heavy like they did when their milk first came in. It is important to know that milk naturally regulates around 12 weeks postpartum, and that supply gradually decreases as the evening approaches (for support with newborn feeding cues and effective feeding, check out my Newborn Packages). If you have been diagnosed with low milk supply, or are looking to increase your supply in the early days, here are some tips to help!
Feed often (and at night!)
Offering the breast frequently, as often as every two hours during the day can increase milk supply significantly. Making sure to feed in the night, especially in the early morning hours when prolactin levels are highest, will jump start milk production in the upcoming days. Feeding skin to skin is ideal as it promotes oxytocin release!
Empty the Breast
Breastfeeding is a supply and demand system. The longer milk sits in your breasts, the less milk you make. A factor in milk called FIL increases and slows milk production the longer it remains in your breasts. So, it is so important to efficiently remove milk to decrease the FIL factor. The more you feed, the more oxytocin you produce, which stimulates prolactin, the milk making hormone.
If your baby is sleepy in the first days of life, you can hand express or pump to stimulate milk production, and protect your growing supply.
Power Pump
A great way to increase milk production! Power pumping essentially simulates cluster feeding, which tells your body to make more milk. Breast milk production is a supply and demand system, so power pumping can help by emptying the breasts multiple times over an hour.
How to Power Pump
Start by pumping for 20 minutes! Take a 10 minute break, then pump for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes. Repeat another 10 minute pumping session, and you have completed an hour of power pumping! Don’t worry that you don’t pump much milk during this hour. The goal is to increase the demand, which tells your body to make more milk in the upcoming days! You can power pump as needed to boost supply.
Galactogogues
Natural Galactogogues
There are many natural milk-boosting products available on the market. Some of the most commonly used natural galactogogues are blessed thistle, fenugreek, brewer’s yeast, fennel, moringa, and oats. You can obtain these from any retailer without the need for a prescription. Their effectiveness is dose dependent, and user dependent. Some lactating parents have success using these, while others have none.
Pharmaceuticals
If you are diagnosed with low milk supply by your healthcare professional, and all other methods are in place to ensure proper breast stimulation, a prescription for medication to help boost your milk supply may be written. In Canada, the most commonly prescribed medication is Domperidone. Domperidone is a drug primarily prescribed to treat nausea and vomiting; however one of its side effects is lactation. In a low milk producing individual, Domperidone can increase milk supply. It may or may not increase supply enough to sustain growth of a child, so supplementation may still need to be in place.
Feeding Assessment
A feeding assessment by a trained professional can help with discovering the root cause of low milk supply. As a registered nurse and breastfeeding specialist, I perform thorough assessments including a full history, physical examination of the breasts, and the feeding infant. All this information can help point to physiological or physical reasons contributing to low supply. Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, preeclampsia, hypertension, hormone imbalances, or who don’t have enough glandular tissue are all at risk of not producing enough milk, and need careful monitoring.
Babies who have tethered oral tissues (lip and/or tongue ties) can make milk transfer difficult, resulting in poor weight gain, and lower milk production from not emptying the breasts. As part of my assessment, I complete an oral examination with the consent of the parents. If there is cause for concern, I can make the appropriate referrals.
Tried everything but still feel like you don’t have enough milk? Check out my Feeding Package to have an assessment done, and get more tips to increase low milk supply
