Are you a first-time mom wondering how you can increase your milk supply, or are you having trouble with your current milk supply? Well if the answer is yes, or perhaps you’re just interested in improving your supply, then you’ve come to the right place. In today’s article, we’ll go over 8 tips that have been proven to help increase breast milk production.
Before we begin, we’d just like to say congratulations on your successful birth! And thank you to Maba Baby, a renowned boutique family care service, for their wonderful tips and services provided to the families of Dubai and the UAE.
In the initial stages of newborn baby care, the stress of not producing enough breast milk can be overwhelming. Many times, novice mothers, and even some who have just had their second child may perceive every cry, whimper, or hiccup from the baby as a sign of not getting enough milk. To make some things clear and help ease your mind a bit, if your baby is content after feedings, has good sleep patterns, and has a good number of wet diapers, you’re likely producing enough breast milk.
Now, how can you boost your milk supply?
1. Take Care Of Your Health By Managing Your Stress Better
Your mental wellness is crucial. If you’re experiencing depression or anxiety, it’s important to seek mental health support from friends, family, or even family care experts such as Maba Baby in Dubai. Maba Baby has a dedicated team of professionals trained in perinatal mood disorders and can give you advice on how to handle your stress and anxiety better.
Stress can hinder the hormone oxytocin, which leads to a drop in milk supply and added stress because you’re worried about feeding your baby properly. It’s easy to be harsh on yourself, we know that being a parent is not easy, but having a supportive network can make a big difference. A lactation consultant can also provide guidance.
Things you can do from home to help relieve stress now:
- Get fresh air
- Ask for help with the baby so you can rest
- Get as much sleep as you can
- Practice relaxation techniques such as listening to calming music or meditation while pumping
2. Nurse On Demand
Encouraging demand feeding while building your milk supply can stimulate your body to increase milk production. The theory is that the more your baby breastfeeds, the more milk you’ll produce. Additionally, putting your baby on a feeding schedule rather than responding to their hunger cues can affect milk supply. Milk storage capacity varies between individuals and is unrelated to breast size. Understanding if you have a larger or smaller capacity can aid in determining the frequency of milk removal needed to maintain supply. To help increase milk supply, offer both breasts during each feeding, even if your baby does not fully nurse from both. More stimulation to the breasts can help boost milk production. If your baby consistently does not nurse from one breast, consider using a manual silicone pump on that side while they nurse on the other.
3. Lactation-Boosting Foods
Incorporate lactation-boosting foods into your diet early in the breastfeeding process. These can be in the form of snacks such as lactation cookies made with galactagogues such as brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, flax seed meal, and whole oats which helps with milk production. You can also seek out alternative food recommendations from the baby care experts in Dubai that you can enjoy as you boost milk production.
4. Ensure Your Baby Has A Proper Latch
Ensure your baby has a proper latch while breastfeeding to establish a strong milk supply. If your baby is experiencing difficulties latching, consult a lactation consultant for assistance. They can assist with proper positioning, as well as address any underlying issues such as a possible tongue-tie or prematurity. Working with a lactation consultant such as Maba Baby can help you improve your baby’s latch and secure your milk supply.
5. Power Pumping
“Power Pumping” is an effective method to quickly increase your milk supply. To do this, pump after every nursing session for 10-20 minutes for 2-3 consecutive days. This stimulates your body to produce more milk by fully emptying your breasts. To perform power pumping, allocate an hour of uninterrupted pumping time, ideally in the morning when your milk supply is typically at its highest. Here’s a pumping pattern you can try out to boost your supply:
- Pump for 20 minutes and then take a 10-minute break.
- Pump for 10 minutes, and take another 10-minute break.
- Finally, pump for an additional 10 minutes.
6. Schedule A Nursing Vacation
Opt for a nursing vacation” to increase bonding and relaxation through frequent skin-to-skin contact with your baby. During this 2-4 day period, dedicate your time solely to nursing and bonding with your baby. Coordinate with a partner or friend to help with household tasks, feeding, and taking care of other children, so that you can focus entirely on nursing and being with your baby.
7. Stay Fed, Stay Hydrated
A busy schedule with a newborn doesn’t change the fact that a nursing mother must prioritize consuming enough food and water to maintain good health and a healthy milk supply. Skipping meals or becoming dehydrated can quickly reduce milk production. To ensure that you’re adequately nourished, carry a snack and a water bottle with you at all times.
8. Speak To A Lactation Consultant
For an expert assessment of low milk supply, consult a lactation consultant in Dubai. They can evaluate your baby’s latch, advise on the most effective nursing position, ensure the proper fit of your pumping equipment, and provide support and guidance.
Final Note:
We hope these 8 tips will help you increase your milk supply. Remember to take good care of yourself and find time out of your hectic schedule to rest your body. If you need extra hands to help you with your household and with your little angel while you rest, our recommendation to you would be Maba Baby in Dubai. They offer professional advice to help you with your parenting struggles and they also have some of the best baby caretakers in Dubai to help make things easier for you.
