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Increasing Your Milk Supply
Sometimes mothers find that their supply of breastmilk cannot meet the needs of their growing baby. I have compiled the following suggestions to assist mothers with increasing their milk supply. Experiment with a couple of different ideas and see which ones work best for you.
1.
More Milk Plus is an herbal combination which helps
increase milk supply. More
Milk Plus contains four herbs: fenugreek seed, blessed thistle leaf,
nettle leaf and fennel seed. These herbs work synergistically (together) to increase a
mother's milk production. The combination is much more effective than taking
fenugreek seed alone. More Milk Plus comes in a liquid form that is
readily absorbed by the mother's body, enabling it to be effective in 24 to 48
hours. More Milk Plus increases blood flow to the breast and aids smooth
muscle contraction to assist with milk release. More Milk Plus is an excellent
choice for someone who had a full milk supply in the beginning and has recently noticed
a decrease in milk production. In order for More Milk
Plus to be *most* effective, it is important to remove milk from the breast
(either by nursing or pumping) a minimum of 7 times in 24 hours.
2.
Many new mothers find
More Milk Special Blend
to be especially helpful
in the early weeks of breastfeeding, or when milk production has been low from
the very beginning. More Milk Special Blend contains an additional herb called
Goat's Rue which stimulates development of mammary tissue and increases milk production
in breastfeeding mothers. More Milk Special Blend now comes in convenient capsule
form, making it easy to take anywhere you happen to go.
3.
Taking Herbal Trace Mineral Capsules in
addition to More Milk Plus or More Milk Special Blend helps to nourish the nursing mother and
support the effort to quickly increase milk supply. It contains Kelp, Dandelion Root and Alfalfa
to help support the special nutritional needs of pregnancy and lactation. Kelp contains an
abundant amount of trace minerals (including iodine) that help support the thyroid gland
and normal structure and function of the breast. Dandelion Root supports all glands that
are associated with digestive function. (Many herbs and foods that increase milk production
also assist with digestion.) And Alfalfa has been used for hundreds of years to support
milk production in lactating women. Herbal Trace Minerals combines all three foods to support
and nourish the pregnant and lactating woman. Herbal Trace Minerals is especially helpful in
building the milk supply when used along with More Milk Plus or More Milk Special Blend.
4.
If you are using a breast pump, it is important to
be fitted for proper size breast shields (also called flanges). When
shield size is too small, moms report soreness at the base of the nipple and
they don't feel like the breast is getting completely drained. Milk volume
problems can be related to lack of good drainage. Medela
offers larger shields for those women who need
them. In my experience as a lactation consultant, I find that roughly 50% of
women need the larger shields for their pumping comfort and efficiency. If you
have questions about breast shield size when pumping, please read the article I
have written on Proper
Fitting of Breast Shields.
5.
Milk production can also be increased by adding
Nature's Sunshine Kelp to
your diet.Taking Kelp in addition to More Milk Plus or More Milk Special Blend helps to support the process of
lactation. The iodine found in kelp supports the normal structure and function of the breast
(especially during lactation). Kelp is a rich source of iodine and many other trace elements. It
is frequently used to aid thyroid function (which in turn helps regulate milk production). Pregnant
and lactating women double the need for iodine as they pass along iodine through the placenta and
breastmilk to the developing baby. The iodine in kelp is easily assimilated by the body and goes
directly to the thyroid gland to support metabolism and to the breast to support milk production.
6.
Find ways to relax. Hormones produced by
stress can block the release of oxytocin (a hormone necessary for milk
release). Low levels of oxytocin inhibit milk release and mothers find that
milk cannot easily be removed from the breast by a pump or the baby. Activities
that encourage relaxation will help your milk supply. Try taking a soothing hot
bath, reading a magazine, taking a walk, praying, or having a massage. If you
need something quick to relieve stress, Distress
Remedy has been used by many mothers for it's calming effects. Distress
Remedy is a homeopathic tincture that has been successfully used to assist
with the milk ejection reflex. Place 10 to 15 drops of Distress Remedy
under the tongue prior to nursing or pumping. Distress Remedy can also be added to a glass of water and
sipped for 30 minutes. Distress
Remedy has a sweet taste and is pleasant to take. Distress Remedy
can be taken up to 4 times per day (and works great with children too!).
7.
Stress, depression and fatigue can have a negative impact on milk production.
According to recent research, prolactin levels are lower in moms who are
stressed. Since prolactin is the primary hormone involved in milk production,
moms with low prolactin levels experience a decrease in milk production.
If stress is contributing to your low
milk production,
Nutri-Calm
is a vitamin and herbal
combination designed to help the body combat the physical, mental and emotional
effects of stress. It contains healthy
doses of B-vitamins plus calming herbs that aid in relaxation and encourage
restful sleep (without causing drowsiness). By helping you relax, Nutri-Calm
enables greater milk production especially when taken along with More Milk Plus.
8.
A decrease in milk supply before starting your period
each month may be due to a drop in blood calcium levels prior to ovulation
and during the two weeks following ovulation. This problem can be corrected by taking Calcium/Magnesium. The magnesium in the supplement enhances the
absorption of calcium, balances hormones, and keeps milk production from
fluctuating. Nature's Sunshine Calcium/Magnesium
contains extra vitamins (boron and zinc) in a base of herbs for optimal absorption
of the calcium. This supplement can
also reduce uterine cramping and premenstrual discomfort such as water
retention. Nature's Sunshine
Calcium/Magnesium supplement is also a great addition to the diet if mom
needs to avoid to dairy products. It is
easy to digest and assimilate!!
9. A delayed milk ejection reflex after several months of pumping at work can be helped by switching to the Medela SoftFit Breastshields . Milk supply can be enhanced by using a soft shield which massages the breast and aerola while you pump.
10.
Nurse often during the night. Prolactin is the
milk-making hormone. Maternal prolactin levels peak between 1
and 5 A.M., while you are asleep. Take advantage of these high prolactin levels
by nursing more frequently at night to help stimulate your milk supply.
Prolactin also rises after you take a short nap during the day.
11.
Take care of yourself. Drink more water,
get more rest, and try to relax while pumping or nursing. At work, listen to
your favorite music, read an entertaining book, or look at a picture of your
baby while you pump.
12.
If your baby is sleeping through the night,
try drinking a large glass of water before you go to bed. You will probably
wake up in a few hours to go to the bathroom and this is a wonderful opportunity
to pump for 15 minutes to collect some extra milk or wake up your baby and
nurse! Your prolactin levels are higher while you are asleep, so your body
makes more milk at night. Be sure to drink a glass of water when you pump or
nurse during the night. Your body will think your baby is going through a
growth spurt!
13.
Eat healthy snacks such as yogurt, cheese,
almonds, veggies and fruit throughout the day. Some mothers find that
an afternoon snack of a protein drink or a protein bar gives them a source of
energy for the long stretch until dinner.
14.
Increase the frequency of pumping sessions.
For working mothers, try getting to work 15 minutes early and add one pumping
session before starting work. Pump for 15 minutes, 4 times per day instead of
15 minutes 3 times per day.
15.
Are you taking birth control pills? Some
women have found that even the "mini-pill" (progestin only) can have
a negative effect on their milk supply.
Janet Talmadge, BA, IBCLC
Lactation Innovation, Naperville, IL
Web site: lactationinnovation.com
(630) 357-0028
Changing the world, one healthy breastfed baby at a
time!
