Information for families Increasing Your Breastmilk Supply

During the first few days and weeks, frequent stimulation of the by breastfeeding or by using a pump is essential to establish an abundant breastmilk supply. If Use a breast pump you find your milk supply is low, try the following recommendations. If you are • Use a hospital grade breast pump with a consistent, you will likely see an improvement double kit within a few days. Although it may take a • Pump after feedings or between feedings month or more to bring your supply up to • Rest 10-15 minutes prior to pumping. Eat meet your baby’s needs, you will see steady, and drink something gradual improvement. You will be glad that • Apply warmth to your breasts and you put the time and effort into massage before beginning to pump breastfeeding, and so will your baby!! • Try “power pumping.” Pump for 15 minutes every hour for a day; or try More breast stimulation pumping 10 minutes, resting 10 minutes, pumping 10 minutes and so on, for an hour • Breastfeed more often, at least 8 or more times per 24 hours Condition your let-down reflex • Discontinue the use of a pacifier • Try to get in “one more feeding” before you • relaxing music go to sleep, even if you have to wake the baby • Imagine your baby, look at pictures of • Offer both breasts at each feeding your baby, smell baby clothing or baby • “Burp & Switch”, using each breast twice or powder three times, and using different positions • Always pump in the same quiet, relaxed • “Top up feeds” Give a short feeding in 10- place; set up a routine 20 minutes if baby seems hungry • Do slow, deep, relaxed breathing; relax • Empty your breasts well by massaging your shoulders while the baby is feeding • Assure the baby is completely emptying care your breasts at each feeding. • Reduce stress and activity. Get help Avoid these things that are known to • Increase fluid intake reduce breastmilk supply • Eat nutritious meals; continue to take prenatal vitamins • Smoking • Back rubs stimulate nerves that serve the • Birth control pills and injections breasts (central part of the spine) • Decongestants, antihistamines • Increase skin-to-skin holding time with • Severe weight loss diets your baby; relax together • Mints, parsley, sage (excessive amounts) • Take a warm, bath, read, meditate, and empty your mind of tasks that need to be done Herbs, foods and medications Keep records

• Eat a bowl of cooked oatmeal daily • It is important to keep a daily log with the • Brewer’s yeast 3 T daily, increase by ½ number of pumping sessions, amount obtained, teaspoon daily until results are seen (or amount you are having to supplement your equivalent in capsules) baby, and 24 hour totals - this amount is more • Fenugreek preparations help many important than the pumped amount at each women increase supply. Doses of 3-5 session. This will help you see your progress capsules (580-610 mg), three times per day over the days. are commonly recommended. Discuss this • Keep in touch with your healthcare provider with your physician. Avoid fenugreek if you so he can monitor your progress and modify are diabetic, hypoglycemic, asthmatic or your advice as necessary. allergic to peanuts or other legumes. Fenugreek is available at most vitamin Retained placenta shops or health food stores. Taken as directed, it may cause a faint maple body • If you are not seeing improvement and you odor. That is to be expected and means are still having vaginal bleeding after 2 weeks, that the herb is doing it’s job. To read more discuss the possibility of retained placental about fenugreek, go to fragments with your healthcare provider. Small http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i- bits of the placenta can secrete enough breastfeed/herbs/fenugreek/ hormones to prevent the milk from coming in. • Blessed thistle or other herbs or beverages such as Mother’s Milk Tea taken Low thyroid as directed on package. A reliable source of herbs and herbal blends is MotherLove • Have your healthcare provider check your Herbals and Gaia Herbs. thyroid levels. Low thyroid can affect milk • cookies. By searching the supply. If you have been taking thyroid internet and you will find sources for medication, have your levels rechecked after packaged cookies and recipes to make your delivery. You may need your thyroid medication own. adjusted. • Prescription medications sometimes help increase milk supply. Metaclopromide If supplementation is recommended (Reglan) has been used with limited success. Domperidone has been used with • Determine the amount needed with your more success but is not available in the healthcare provider United States. Discuss the use of • Pump after the feeding prescription medications with your • Offer the supplement in a way that won’t healthcare provider. interfere with breastfeeding Provided for you by Lactation Education Resources 2017. • First choice method is using a tube or syringe May be freely copied and distributed. Please be aware at the breast that the information provided is intended solely for general educational and informational purposes only. It is • Second choice is a cup, spoon neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for • Third choice is paced bottle feeding professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of • Wean your baby off the supplements gradually your healthcare provider for any questions you may have regarding your or your ’s medical condition. Never to challenge your breasts to make more milk disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking Other resources it because of something you have received in this information. •http://www.lowmilksupply.org/