Best tips to increase breast-feed supply
A pregnant woman cherishes when their baby arrives in the world. For nine months, they were waiting for this miracle to happen, and finally, it did. Now is the time to bond with your little munchkin.
One of the best ways for women to bond with their babies is through breastfeeding. Through breast milk, you are providing your baby with all the nutrients it needs.
Unfortunately, not many new moms are well-versed on the subject. They are not sure how to breastfeed properly. Also, their breast milk supply becomes low, which is unfortunate and leads to using formula milk.
If you are a new mom or mom-to-be looking to increase your breast milk supply, read these tips.
Learn about breastfeeding
The best way to breast-feel your child well is to learn about it. Many hospitals now provide a consultant with a lactation consultant before the baby arrives. Even after the birth, you get help from them.
Taking it before helps you prepare your body better. You can also join breastfeeding groups which can help you learn about this a great deal.
New moms can check out blogs, like https://inshapemummy.com/, which can help them prepare recipes helpful in increasing breastmilk supply.
Skin-to-skin contact is necessary.
As mentioned above, skin-to-skin contact with the baby helps with milk production. The doctors allow for skin-to-skin contact between the mom and baby soon after the birth. It is for this purpose only.
Following the birth, you should continue this. Also, try to feed your baby every two hours or when you notice signs of hunger, like lip puckering. It will take a bit of time for the baby to latch properly to you, but it will happen.
So, don’t give up if the milk production isn’t optimal in the first few days. Keep trying, and it will happen.
Pump in between the feedings
Another way to increase breastmilk supply is to pump in between the feedings. Get a good quality pump for the purpose. You should pump when the baby is sleeping after feeding. Or pump when you have milk left-over after feeding and more.
Store the milk in the freezer and warm it up in a baby bottle warmer and feed the baby. It keeps the milk supply running and gives you time to rest or do chores as another person feeds the breast milk to the baby through a bottle.
Make lactation cookies
Many women swear by lactation cookies which you can find online or in stores. You can even make it home as they are quite simple to make.
The ingredients used in these cookies are known to increase breastmilk supply, so it will do no harm to try them. Most of these herbs and foods have galactagogues, known for their effect on breast milk.
The best ingredients for lactation cookies are wheat germ, whole oats, flaxseed meal, and brewer’s yeast.
Add these foods to your diet.
Apart from lactation cookies, you should think about adding a few food items to your diet. They can help increase breastmilk supply. They are:
- Water helps you hydrate, which is essential for healthy milk production. Keep drinking water at intervals. Do not have a lot of water in one go.
- Almonds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. They are great for nursing mothers, and you should try to include them in your diet. Either eat them after soaking or roast them for a savory snack.
- Unripe papaya, barley, sweet potatoes, bitter gourd, asparagus, and more food help in lactation too.
Make lifestyle changes
A few habits like smoking or stressing, or being tired can decrease the supply of breast milk in women. So, if you are suffering from this, try changing your habits.
Try to sleep whenever you get time with a new baby. Quit smoking (this should happen as soon as you conceive), manage stress, and more to ensure your body is well enough to produce milk.
Do not give up after a few tries. The more skin-to-skin contact you will have with your baby, the more milk the body will make. Also, try the other tips, like eating healthy foods that are good for lactation. And, of course, talking to a lactation consultant is another tip to try.
