A nursing mother wants to provide sufficient milk for her baby. Unfortunately, sometimes she can have problems with production and find that her baby needs more milk than she can provide. If she can pinpoint the exact cause, she may find some solutions that increase her production and keep her nursing child happy.
Feeding Schedule
If the nursing mother doesn't breastfeed every two to three hours, her milk supply will not keep pace with her baby's needs. Try nursing more often. This will increase your milk supply and satisfy your baby better. If you work outside the home and pump at work, pump more often. Use a double pump so you can get more milk out faster. Nursing your baby is more effective than pumping, so nurse as often as you can and pump only when your baby can't be with you. Using a pump may decrease your supply if you don't also nurse as often as you can.
Consider massaging your breasts with a soft baby's hair brush before pumping and think about how much you love your child, while you pump, to express more milk. Consult a trained herbalist or your child's pediatrician if you continue to have problems with low supply.
Stress
Stress can reduce your milk supply. Make time to relax during the day to reduce stress. If you stay at home with the baby, let some chores go and get family members or friends to help you catch up later. Spend time rocking your baby, listening to soothing music and putting your feet up. Your baby will not nurse as efficiently if you are stressed. Some babies may refuse to nurse at all if mom is tense. Take time to relax before your baby wants to feed so both of you are more relaxed.
Nursing at Night
You may get more sleep and suffer less stress at night if the baby sleeps with you. Sleeping with your baby can increase the number of times you nurse during the night, increasing your supply. Using a pacifier to keep the baby quiet may reduce your milk supply if the baby feeds less often. A pacifier may also reduce the suck strength of your baby. Snuggle baby next to you on a nursing pillow and nurse the baby on demand during the night and on weekends. Don't pay attention to the clock. Nurse until one breast is empty; then switch to the other side. Use a bed side car so your baby has a secure place to sleep. The side car attaches to the side of your bed and prevents the baby from falling out of bed. The side car also prevents you from rolling onto the baby.
Dietary Concerns
Take in plenty of calories and water, during the day, to stay well fed and hydrated. Don't try to lose a lot of "baby fat" by restricting your calories. Your weight will drop due to the calories your baby consumes. Keep a glass of water near you all the time and take frequent sips. Your body cannot produce enough milk if you are dehydrated. Consider placing bottles of water all over the house so you remember to drink enough water. Avoid foods that contain sage, which can cause your milk to dry up. Peppermint, spearmint, oregano, lemon balm, chickweed, parsley and jasmine flowers can also dry up your supply. Birth control pills may reduce your supply as well.
Nursing Strikes
Sometimes babies and toddlers will go on strike and refuse to nurse. Something in your diet or a medication may change the taste of your milk. Try to take medications right after you nurse to reduce the amount of drug that may be in your milk. Avoid gassy foods, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and garlic, that may give your baby gas. If the baby won't nurse, pump until you can nurse again.
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