It was a day of learning for me last Saturday. As I mentioned in one of my posts, I was excited to go to the How To Increase your Milk Supply workshop of Medela Moms. That morning also, I received a text from Abbie that there was a La Leche League Meeting on that same afternoon and the topic was baby-led weaning. I was also so excited to learn more about baby-led weaning, since I want to try it out with Zeeka.
How to Increase your Milk Supply
I got to learn a lot of things from the How To Increase your Milk Supply workshop. Among those that I remember are the following:
– The pituitary gland signals the body to produce and release prolactin and oxytocin into the mother’s bloodstream.
– All of us are capable of producing breastmilk (even men!)
Ways to increase and maintain breast milk supply:
1. Check your lifestyle
Eat healthy and live healthy. Try to avoid cows milk (if you really want milk, try soy milk). Also, avoid fast food and junk food. Sweets hamper milk production. Try to drink at least 3 liters of water every day. Get as much sleep as you can.
2. Be happy and stress free!
3. AVoid nipple confusion. It is advisable to direct breast feed up to 6 weeks.
How do you know if baby is experiencing nipple confusion?
– Baby pushes the nipple out with tongue
– During cup feeding babys tongue doesnt come out
– Baby cries at the breast even after comtinuous attempt within a 4 hour period
– Baby latches and unlatches breast very intermittently
4. Use Galactagogues
– You can take malunggay capsules, fenugreek, lactation treat and tea
– The side effect though may be constipation, so you have to increase your intake of fiber and water
5. It is possible to relactate. If you need help, there are already tools that can help you do so!
6. It is important that you bond with the baby and touch the baby.
7. There is also no need for a breast massage when you have plugged ducts. What you can do is do clockwork massage and apply hot compress. You can also do the combing massage or do manual expression if you feel breasts are engorged. The best is actually have baby suck on your breasts.
All in all, the best way to maintain breast milk supply is really to continue to breastfeed. Continue creating that demand and you will in turn create ‘supply’.
Good luck in keeping at it! Hurray to breastfeeding!
Love lots,
Mommy Ginger
