Many times, we hear as mothers that as the time passes and our babies get bigger that our milk will not be enough for them or that it really is not food so we should start solids early. Both doctors and experienced moms know those are blatant lies. There is nothing better for your child than your breast milk. It holds all the nutrients babies need for their proper growth up until 2 years old. It is important to know how to increase breast milk supply.
Sometimes even the most experienced of moms might think her milk supply is running low, that the baby’s hunger is not being satisfied even if he stays on the breast for quite some time, starts to stop gaining weight, is not getting enough diapers and looks overall unhappy. That mother is right to start worrying about her milk supply or if her child is getting enough milk from his suction.
How to Increase Breast Milk? Proper Latching
The first thing you should check is that your baby has a proper latch on the breast. It might look good to other people but if it hurts or you do not feel your breasts emptying after a feeding session, your baby might not be properly latched on. Keep trying to offer the breast to your baby until it does not hurt anymore or call a board certified lactation consultant so you can get a hold on the right way to latch your baby onto your breast.
Feeding on Demand
Once you get a hold of the correct way to latch, you should consider greatly feeding on demand. Nursing is all about supply and demand so if you are worried about the supply it is only logical to pay attention to the demand. Bonding with your baby is the best way to know when to feed her and learning her hunger cues so your milk supply catches on to the baby’s feeding rhythm.
Avoid Bottles to Increase Breast Milk
Another thing is to avoid things like bottles and pacifiers that could cause nipple confusion on the child, formula that will stop the baby from being hungry and not challenge the breast enough to produce breast milk or a strict feeding schedule when your baby doesn’t decide how much milk she’s getting or if her hunger is not satisfied at the moment.
Remember you are the only one who can be there for your baby and the bond between mother and child is unbreakable. Breastfeeding is the best way to ensure your child will be healthy and will get all the correct nutrition. Breast milk is the perfect food nature has for us. Remember these basic tips and you will be well on your way to understanding how to increase your breast milk supply.
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