Milk supply is a top concern for breastfeeding mothers. Many women worry they don’t produce enough milk for their baby, but having a low milk supply is actually very rare.
As long as baby is gaining weight and has plenty of wet and dirty diapers each day then they’re getting enough milk and there is no reason to worry.
Understandably, women look to increase their milk supply not because baby isn’t getting enough but because they want to build up a freezer stash before returning to work.
If you’re looking for easy ways to increase your milk supply fast follow the tips below.
15 Tricks To Increase Your Milk Supply
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Breastfeed Exclusively
If possible, to establish a healthy milk supply, mothers should exclusively breastfeed for the first two weeks.
This means avoiding giving baby a bottle or pacifier in order to develop a strong nursing relationship.
Your breasts will make the amount of milk that your baby takes in a nursing session. Pumps do not drain your breasts as effectively as your baby does.
This means you’ll be pumping less than your baby would nurse, resulting in a lower milk supply than your baby needs.
Nurse On Demand
Often mothers make the mistake of feeding on a schedule when it is actually better for your milk supply to nurse baby whenever they want.
The more you breastfeed the more milk you will make.
Instead of a schedule, look for baby’s hunger cues. Chewing their fingers and toes, smacking lips, turning head from side to side.
Your baby knows when they’re hungry, the clock doesn’t.
Pump During/After Feedings
Once you’ve established a healthy milk supply by breastfeeding exclusively and nursing on demand you can start increasing your milk supply to make more milk than baby needs.
The best way to do this is to pump from one breast while baby nurses from the other. You can also pump from the breast baby nursed from when they’re done nursing. You can also pump in between feeding as well.
Don’t Skip Feedings
While it may be tempting to have your husband give baby a bottle, skipping feedings tells your body to produce less milk.
You won’t lose your milk by skipping a feeding every now and then to get a break but if you do it too often it will hurt your milk supply.
Warm The Breasts
When it comes to increasing milk supply finding the time is what stops most women from succeeding.
Pumping takes time and let’s face it, that’s something us moms don’t have a lot of.
You can speed up the process by using a warm pack like this one. The heat helps to encourage milk let down and relieves plugged ducts.
Get Enough Sleep
Your body needs energy to produce milk, so if you’re not getting enough sleep then your milk supply may suffer.
I know all too well that getting enough sleep as a new mother isn’t easy. It also gets a little annoying being told to “get enough sleep” when your newborn makes that next to impossible.
Try your best. If I can give you any advice sleep, or at least lay down, when your baby sleeps or naps.
When my baby napped I used that time to clean my house and looking back it just seems so ridiculous.
Your baby is only a baby for a minute. Focus on taking care of baby and yourself during that short time.
Once your baby is sleeping through the night you can keep a clean house again, but for now most of the housework can wait.
Drink Lots Of Water
Breast milk is 88% water so it is very important for breastfeeding mothers to stay hydrated.
You should aim for a gallon of water a day to keep up your milk supply.
It seems like a lot but moms find it a lot easier when they keep a water bottle with them. I like how this one can track how much you drink because otherwise I would forget.
Eat Enough
Breastfeeding mothers need around 500 more calories a day than non-breastfeeding women. That means you should aim for 2000 to 2500 calories a day.
Consuming less than 1800 calories a day can put your milk supply at risk.
Eat when you’re hungry and choose a variety of healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats.
Keep Taking A Prenatal Vitamin
Just because you aren’t pregnant anymore doesn’t mean you should stop taking your prenatal vitamin.
We don’t always get all the nutrients we need to maintain a healthy milk supply from today’s foods. Your prenatal vitamin can help fill the gap.
Eat Oatmeal
Oatmeal contains an abundance of nutrients making it a superfood for breastfeeding mothers. One of which is iron.
Women will low iron are at risk for low milk supply and often fix this problem by eating oatmeal often.
Power Pump
Like I mentioned before, the more milk you take out the more milk your body will make. So women often increase their milk supply fast by power pumping.
Power pumping is pumping in a series of ten minute sessions over the course of an hour. Ten minutes pumping, ten minute break, and so on.
This method is very effective at restoring your milk supply if you’ve experienced a drop.
Use Essential Oils
Essential oils can be applied to the breast to help increase milk supply. These include clary sage, basil, and geranium.
Mix a few drops of essential oil with olive oil or coconut oil and apply to the breast, avoiding the nipple.
Apply 1-2 times daily and see an increase in milk supply within 3-4 days.
Take Fenugreek
Fenugreek is an herb with a long list of health benefits, one of which is increasing a nursing mother milk supply.
Fenugreek can increase a nursing mothers milk supply within 24-72 hours. Once you reach an adequate level of milk production you should be able to stop taking it and keep your milk supply as long as you continue nursing or pumping.
Drink Mother’s Milk Tea
Another way to get your fenugreek for increasing milk supply is to drink mother’s milk tea. It also contain fennel which is good for increasing milk supply.
See A Lactation Consultant
If you’ve tried these tips above and believe you still have a low milk supply then you should see your doctor and asked to be referred to a lactation consultant who can help identify any problems leading to a low supply.
What have you used to help increase your milk supply? Has anything you used not worked? Share your experience in the comments below.
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