Increase Milk Supply

If you need to increase milk supply and aren't just relying on formula alone, can I just say good on you for breastfeeding to begin with. Formula is a quick solution which is not going to give your baby as much nutrition.  Every drop of breast milk you can create for your baby is an extra bit of antibodies and immune function that they wouldn't have otherwise had!

If I am worried about increasing a new mother's supply in my practice here are the top three things I recommend:

My Top 3 Tips to Increase Milk Supply

• Get acupuncture - find someone who is used to dealing with new mothers and see them. I have found this exceptionally useful for all the mothers I've sent for increasing their supply
• Talk to a naturopath about taking Fenugreek. This herb has great research to show it's efficacy. Many chemists will also have pill versions of this too, but naturopaths will have a stronger version
• Either breastfeed or pump every hour you are awake for 48 hours. It takes 48 hours for your breasts to change how much they are making.  Putting in a big effort for a few days will really help you out. it doesn't have to be for very long, even ten minutes of pumping or feeding will be helpful.

If you do decide to follow my advice to increase milk supply and you need to use a breast pump, a way of making things easier is to realise that once you've sterilised, if you rinse your pump and store it in the fridge between pumping sessions you won't have to sterilise again until the next day.

Another thing that is helpful for this type of pumping is having your sterilised bottles in the fridge with your pump.  The general aim is to use the least amount of bottles without putting warm milk in with cold

• On your first and second pumping for the day replace the pump and bottle into the fridge.
• When you go back for your third pump pour the cool milk from your second pump into the bottle of cool milk from your first pump.
• Use the second bottle for your third pump.
• Once you've finished your third pump replace the pump and bottle in the fridge and allow the third pump's milk to cool.
• When you start your fourth pump pour the third pump's now cool milk into the first bottle.

Some of the mothers I see are very upset that they can't get much milk out with breast pumping and I want to reassure you that if you are getting out milk after your baby has fed, there is not going to be as much as if you were at work and they hadn't fed.  Even if you only get 30mL/1 ounce that is still more than your baby would have had if you hadn't done any pumping.

If you are getting out less than this even if your baby is not feeding, rest assured that you are still providing your baby with antibodies and useful immunity specific to your environment. Even one bottle a week is better than none so if it feels right to you, keep up the good work, but only to a level that is working for you as a family member.

My most important piece of advice:

 Stress won't help you increase milk supply. If you are finding the whole thing extremely stressful weigh up all your options and see what is best for you.  I encourage you to call on all favours for cleaning and cooking from those around you, don't worry about housework if it's not necessary (because really, if your carpet isn't vacuumed for a month, it will still clean up when it is next done!)

Other pages you might be interested in:

Breast Pumping

Breast Pump Reviews

Breast Milk Storage

Failure to Thrive