How to Increase my Milk Supply
If you are worried about your supply, going back to work or would just like to have a little stash built up for some date nights or emergencies here are some tips to increase milk supply!
By Kelsey Martin
Whoever said don’t cry over spilled milk must have never breastfed a baby. That milk is liquid gold! When I was breastfeeding my first child I was working full time and pumping 2-3 times while I was away from him. I was a “just enough-er” so I was only pumping enough milk to get him through the next day at daycare.
It was unbelievably stressful as I had to plan all my meetings around pumping. If something took longer than expected, I might only get 2 pumping sessions in and that might not get me enough milk for him for the next day. One day I cried as I dropped my son off at daycare because I knew I didn’t have enough to get him through the day. I planned to pick him up early, but told his provider that his infant pacifier should help him until I arrive if he gets fussy.
Oh boy did my son love his newborn pacifier! Luckily, he made it through the day, but I wish we would have had the ingy bingy band to help make life for his provider easier! She complained that the infant pacifier keeps falling out and this pacifier wristband – the ingy bingy band – would have helped with just that! This pacifier wristband attaches to any infant pacifier or newborn pacifier and keeps it right where they instinctively turn for comfort anyways – their hands – allowing them to self-soothe much younger then they can with a pacifier clip.
Although we made it through that day, I wish I would have tried harder to increase my milk supply. Learn from me and be proactive about your milk supply! As long as your baby is gaining weight properly you most likely are making enough for your baby to thrive. However, low supply is a real issue for some women! Some reasons for this are correctable and some are not (ex: prior breast surgery pcos, or thyroid issues). Some women have issues with milk supply dropping, especially if they work outside the home and have limited availability for pumping. If you are worried about your supply, going back to work or would just like to have a little stash built up for some date nights or emergencies here are some tips to increase milk supply:
1) See a Lactation Consultant: They may be able to help you with your baby’s latch, flange sizing on pumps, or other areas that can help your milk flow better without having to change anything else!
2) Nurse on demand or power pump! This is probably going to be the best way to boost supply. The more your nipple is stimulated the more milk you are going to work. Demand=Supply!
3) Supplements: Supplements can also help boost supply but should be used in conjunction with nursing on demand and pumping more. Lengendairy Milk is a great, natural and trusted brand: https://www.legendairymilk.com/. Whatever you choose do your research and make sure it is fenugreek free as this can cause GI issues for mom and baby!
4) Food: Certain foods such as oatmeal, whole grains, and apricots are said to boost milk supply. You don’t need expensive lactation cookies although as long as they have safe ingredients they are okay to try. No matter what you choose this will only work if you are increasing your nursing or pumping sessions!
It’s an exhausting process mama, but you got this!