Increasing Low Supply Increasing Increasing Low Milk Supply Increasing Low Milk Supply • Breastmilk stays in a baby’s stomach about 1-2.5 • Breastmilk stays in a baby’s stomach about 1-2.5 • Breastmilk stays in a baby’s stomach about 1-2.5 • Breastmilk stays in a baby’s stomach about 1-2.5 hours so they want to breastfeed every 2-3 hours. hours so they want to breastfeed every 2-3 hours. hours so they want to breastfeed every 2-3 hours. hours so they want to breastfeed every 2-3 hours. Most babies have a strong need to suck to self-soothe Most babies have a strong need to suck to self-soothe Most babies have a strong need to suck to self-soothe Most babies have a strong need to suck to self-soothe or need to be held by their mom to feel secure. or need to be held by their mom to feel secure. or need to be held by their mom to feel secure. or need to be held by their mom to feel secure. • It is normal and healthy for babies to cluster feed • It is normal and healthy for babies to cluster feed • It is normal and healthy for babies to cluster feed • It is normal and healthy for babies to cluster feed (breastfeed for a few hours in a row). They do this when (breastfeed for a few hours in a row). They do this when (breastfeed for a few hours in a row). They do this when (breastfeed for a few hours in a row). They do this when they need more calories to help them grow. This is they need more calories to help them grow. This is they need more calories to help them grow. This is they need more calories to help them grow. This is called a growth spurt. This is not a problem to fix. It is called a growth spurt. This is not a problem to fix. It is called a growth spurt. This is not a problem to fix. It is called a growth spurt. This is not a problem to fix. It is a time to let your baby breastfeed as much as they a time to let your baby breastfeed as much as they a time to let your baby breastfeed as much as they a time to let your baby breastfeed as much as they want. Cluster feeding will last long enough for you to want. Cluster feeding will last long enough for you to want. Cluster feeding will last long enough for you to want. Cluster feeding will last long enough for you to make more milk that has more calories. It can take a make more milk that has more calories. It can take a make more milk that has more calories. It can take a make more milk that has more calories. It can take a few days to one week. few days to one week. few days to one week. few days to one week. • Babies can be fussier in evenings and nurse more • Babies can be fussier in evenings and nurse more • Babies can be fussier in evenings and nurse more • Babies can be fussier in evenings and nurse more frequently at that time. Sometimes that is because you frequently at that time. Sometimes that is because you frequently at that time. Sometimes that is because you frequently at that time. Sometimes that is because you have less milk in your at night. This is normal. have less milk in your breasts at night. This is normal. have less milk in your breasts at night. This is normal. have less milk in your breasts at night. This is normal. • As babies get older they get much better at getting • As babies get older they get much better at getting • As babies get older they get much better at getting • As babies get older they get much better at getting your milk out so time is shorter. your milk out so breastfeeding time is shorter. your milk out so breastfeeding time is shorter. your milk out so breastfeeding time is shorter. • If your goal is to only breastfeed, try to not supplement • If your goal is to only breastfeed, try to not supplement • If your goal is to only breastfeed, try to not supplement • If your goal is to only breastfeed, try to not supplement with formula. Feeding your baby formula without with formula. Feeding your baby formula without with formula. Feeding your baby formula without with formula. Feeding your baby formula without pumping your breasts will create low milk supply. pumping your breasts will create low milk supply. pumping your breasts will create low milk supply. pumping your breasts will create low milk supply. • Breasts can become softer after your milk supply has • Breasts can become softer after your milk supply has • Breasts can become softer after your milk supply has • Breasts can become softer after your milk supply has adjusted to your baby’s needs. adjusted to your baby’s needs. adjusted to your baby’s needs. adjusted to your baby’s needs. • Some women get very little when pumping. The amount • Some women get very little when pumping. The amount • Some women get very little when pumping. The amount • Some women get very little when pumping. The amount of milk that you can pump is not an accurate measure of milk that you can pump is not an accurate measure of milk that you can pump is not an accurate measure of milk that you can pump is not an accurate measure of your milk supply. A baby with a healthy suck of your milk supply. A baby with a healthy suck of your milk supply. A baby with a healthy suck of your milk supply. A baby with a healthy suck empties your much more efficiently than any empties your breast much more efficiently than any empties your breast much more efficiently than any empties your breast much more efficiently than any pump. It is very common for pumping output to pump. It is very common for pumping output to pump. It is very common for pumping output to pump. It is very common for pumping output to decrease over time. decrease over time. decrease over time. decrease over time.

208.625.5091 • kh.org 208.625.5091 • kh.org 208.625.5091 • kh.org 208.625.5091 • kh.org 1.12.2021 1.12.2021 1.12.2021 1.12.2021 Potential causes for low milk supply: Potential causes for low milk supply: Potential causes for low milk supply: Potential causes for low milk supply: • Supplementing with formula without pumping • Supplementing with formula without pumping • Supplementing with formula without pumping • Supplementing with formula without pumping • Baby prefers a bottle once they drink from one • Baby prefers a bottle once they drink from one • Baby prefers a bottle once they drink from one • Baby prefers a bottle once they drink from one • Pacifiers and shields • Pacifiers and nipple shields • Pacifiers and nipple shields • Pacifiers and nipple shields • Feeding baby on a schedule • Feeding baby on a schedule • Feeding baby on a schedule • Feeding baby on a schedule • Sleepy baby who doesn’t breastfeed for 15+ minutes • Sleepy baby who doesn’t breastfeed for 15+ minutes • Sleepy baby who doesn’t breastfeed for 15+ minutes • Sleepy baby who doesn’t breastfeed for 15+ minutes at feeding times at feeding times at feeding times at feeding times • Stopping a feeding based on a schedule and not paying • Stopping a feeding based on a schedule and not paying • Stopping a feeding based on a schedule and not paying • Stopping a feeding based on a schedule and not paying attention to baby still wanting to breastfeed attention to baby still wanting to breastfeed attention to baby still wanting to breastfeed attention to baby still wanting to breastfeed • Offering only one breast per feeding • Offering only one breast per feeding • Offering only one breast per feeding • Offering only one breast per feeding • Small or late preterm baby • Small or late preterm baby • Small or late preterm baby • Small or late preterm baby • Health problems with mom (anemia, , • Health problems with mom (anemia, hypothyroidism, • Health problems with mom (anemia, hypothyroidism, • Health problems with mom (anemia, hypothyroidism, retained placenta, postpartum hemorrhage) retained placenta, postpartum hemorrhage) retained placenta, postpartum hemorrhage) retained placenta, postpartum hemorrhage) • Breast surgery, breast injury, methods, • Breast surgery, breast injury, birth control methods, • Breast surgery, breast injury, birth control methods, • Breast surgery, breast injury, birth control methods, smoking tobacco, inverted or short shafted smoking tobacco, inverted or short shafted nipples smoking tobacco, inverted or short shafted nipples smoking tobacco, inverted or short shafted nipples (prevents baby from getting a deep ) (prevents baby from getting a deep latch) (prevents baby from getting a deep latch) (prevents baby from getting a deep latch)

Increasing your milk supply: Increasing your milk supply: Increasing your milk supply: Increasing your milk supply: To increase milk supply you need to remove all the milk in To increase milk supply you need to remove all the milk in To increase milk supply you need to remove all the milk in To increase milk supply you need to remove all the milk in your breasts every 2-3 hours around the clock. The goal is your breasts every 2-3 hours around the clock. The goal is your breasts every 2-3 hours around the clock. The goal is your breasts every 2-3 hours around the clock. The goal is to empty breasts 8-12 times every 24 hours. to empty breasts 8-12 times every 24 hours. to empty breasts 8-12 times every 24 hours. to empty breasts 8-12 times every 24 hours. • Make sure baby is breastfeeding in a good position and • Make sure baby is breastfeeding in a good position and • Make sure baby is breastfeeding in a good position and • Make sure baby is breastfeeding in a good position and a deep latch. a deep latch. a deep latch. a deep latch. • Breastfeed every 1.5 to 2 hours during the day and • Breastfeed every 1.5 to 2 hours during the day and • Breastfeed every 1.5 to 2 hours during the day and • Breastfeed every 1.5 to 2 hours during the day and at least every 3 hours at night as long as you hear baby at least every 3 hours at night as long as you hear baby at least every 3 hours at night as long as you hear baby at least every 3 hours at night as long as you hear baby drinking. drinking. drinking. drinking. • Switch sides 3 or more times during each feeding. This • Switch sides 3 or more times during each feeding. This • Switch sides 3 or more times during each feeding. This • Switch sides 3 or more times during each feeding. This is called switch nursing. is called switch nursing. is called switch nursing. is called switch nursing. • Avoid pacifiers and bottles when possible. • Avoid pacifiers and bottles when possible. • Avoid pacifiers and bottles when possible. • Avoid pacifiers and bottles when possible. • Give baby only breastmilk when possible. If you need • Give baby only breastmilk when possible. If you need • Give baby only breastmilk when possible. If you need • Give baby only breastmilk when possible. If you need to feed baby formula you’ll need to start breast pumping to feed baby formula you’ll need to start breast pumping to feed baby formula you’ll need to start breast pumping to feed baby formula you’ll need to start breast pumping regularly to make enough milk. regularly to make enough milk. regularly to make enough milk. regularly to make enough milk. • Self-care for mom is a must. Rest, sleep when baby • Self-care for mom is a must. Rest, sleep when baby • Self-care for mom is a must. Rest, sleep when baby • Self-care for mom is a must. Rest, sleep when baby sleeps. Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet sleeps. Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet sleeps. Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet sleeps. Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. with lots of fruits and vegetables. with lots of fruits and vegetables. with lots of fruits and vegetables. • Consider pumping and galactogogues. Some • Consider pumping and galactogogues. Some • Consider pumping and galactogogues. Some • Consider pumping and galactogogues. Some galactogogues are fenugreek, fennell, marshmallow galactogogues are fenugreek, fennell, marshmallow galactogogues are fenugreek, fennell, marshmallow galactogogues are fenugreek, fennell, marshmallow root, nettles, cilantro, cumin, brewer’s yeast and ground root, nettles, cilantro, cumin, brewer’s yeast and ground root, nettles, cilantro, cumin, brewer’s yeast and ground root, nettles, cilantro, cumin, brewer’s yeast and ground flax seed. Reference Food, Herbs, Medicine & Drugs flax seed. Reference Food, Herbs, Medicine & Drugs flax seed. Reference Food, Herbs, Medicine & Drugs flax seed. Reference Food, Herbs, Medicine & Drugs trifold brochure from Services if you delivered trifold brochure from Lactation Services if you delivered trifold brochure from Lactation Services if you delivered trifold brochure from Lactation Services if you delivered at Kootenai Health. at Kootenai Health. at Kootenai Health. at Kootenai Health.

208.625.5091 • kh.org 208.625.5091 • kh.org 208.625.5091 • kh.org 208.625.5091 • kh.org