I like to say in this my small corner of the internet, that it is important to keep the goal in mind. Ensuring you and baby are safe. Making sure you have the supply you need so that baby is hitting her growth milestones. These are vitally important.

Should we follow all the tips we get from our various communities, probably not. But we can study them, do our own research, and consult with professionals to be sure we are making the right decisions for US.

The goal of this post is to think aloud.

If I needed to increase my milk supply and someone suggested Blue Gatorade, or BodyArmor, or some other hack. How would I go about choosing if I should follow the advice or not?

Making that choice requires answering a few important questions.

Can Blue Gatorade Help Increase Breast Milk Supply?

There is an endless supply of blogs, online comments, forums, and mama groups who swear by this drink. So many moms have attested to drinking Gatorade to increase their supply, and seeing results within a short period of time.

Based on this alone, the answer to our first question would be a clear yes. Blue Gatorade CAN help increase milk supply.

How does it work?

Now, I have spent time with a lactation consultant either on a course or on a one-on one session. I know the ‘pillars of lactation’:

• Frequent compression/stimulation and draining the breast
• Lots of hydration and the right nutrition
• Enough glandular tissue
• Active hormones and hormonal receptors
• Clear milk ducts and nerve pathways

So, how this particular hack fit into the pillars? Is it the hydration? If so, should I just drink water? Are there nutrients that have hormonal impact?

These are the questions to think about.

Do the ingredients in Blue Gatorade boost lactation?

Gatorade contains electrolytes (potassium and sodium), sugar and water. That’s pretty much it. Could these ingredients help a mom produce more milk?

Water

Well duh!

Breastmilk itself is 75% – 85% water. While being dehydrated does not reduce production of breastmilk, it may lead to less frequent feedings. Which lead to less frequent stimulation and draining of the milk ducts and causes lower milk production.

Every medical professional will also tell you the importance of staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy diet.

I have heard of some moms who do not like to drink water. In this case, I can imagine getting your hydration from Gatorade or any other acceptable drinks.

Eat well. Drink water. Got it. Nothing to do (specifically) with Gatorade yet.

Potassium and Sodium

The Potassium content could have some impact? I guess? Maybe for moms with a potassium deficiency?

Electrolytes like potassium and sodium are important for nutrition.

The great thing is that the body has a fantastic ability to adapt to varying amounts of electrolyte intake. The body’s electrolyte requirement is also affected by your body temperature and activity level.

What this boils down to is that the scientific evidence suggests that unless there is a severe potassium deficiency, you are unlikely to get increased milk production from drinking Gatorade (Source).

Again, this is not to say you shouldn’t drink it. Its just not contributing much to your body.

Boosting Calories

Whenever you nurse your baby as a breastfeeding mother, your body uses up energy and burns more calories than it usually does. Replacing those calories is important to maintaining your own health and keeping your milk production at acceptable levels.

Does this translate into drinking 1–2 bottles of Blue Gatorade?

The way I would think about this point is based on the NIH Guidance

• On average, moderately active women need 2,000 to 2,200 calories a day
• In addition to the above, breastfeeding moms need an extra 450 – 500 calories a day

Again, calories are not the goal. Proper nutrition is.

What happens if you don’t get enough calories, you are likely to lose weight. It becomes more of a concern if the caloric deficit is combined with poor nourishment. For example certain diets may require taking vitamin supplements.

Blue Gatorade ingredients do not help milk supply

To summarise, the ingredients in Blue Gatorade don’t appear to play a big role in lactation. This means that the ingredients alone likely do not explain why breastfeeding moms everywhere love this hack.

So why are moms relying on this drink to increase milk supply?

The Placebo Effect

The placebo effect refers to the phenomenon where, if you believe a substance will cause an effect, it can!

This is a real thing! It has been well researched and is recognized by the medical and scientific communities. Placebos work. Could this be the secret to the effectiveness of Blue Gatorade in improving milk supply?

Probably.

In simple terms, the most likely explanation for why women around the world see an increase in their milk supply after drinking Blue Gatorade is not because it contains electrolytes or some other ingredient. It is because they truly believe it will increase their milk supply!

Are the Gatorade Sports Drinks safe?

While it is always important to discuss with your lactation consultant before making any changes to your diet or food, blue Gatorade can be considered safe when consumed moderately by breastfeeding moms.

I do not have any major concerns here. Gatorade has been on the market for decades and is a massive brand. The quality of production is likely very high, and consistent.

We have also seen that the ingredients are very basic, so not a lot to worry about in terms of safety.

What this means is that if you choose to include Gatorade into your diet (in moderation), it is not likely to do any harm.

In fact, I’ve seen some claim that Gatorade can help reduce engorgement by serving as a compress for sore nipples. This is not something I have given much thought or seen anyone try, but the point is that the drinks are safe… apparently for a variety of uses.

When should mama (pumping or nursing) avoid using the Blue Gatorade Drinks?

As we have seen, the Placebo Effect can be effective. And some may choose to use Gatorade as their preferred source of hydration if they dont like to drink water.

But, are there instances where the risks of using these drinks may outweigh the potential reward of an increase your milk supply?

If you have any concerns about your health or the health of your baby as regards the artificial coloring in the drinks, feel free to address these concerns with a medical professional before consuming this or any other food or drinks.

Additionally, if you have an allergic reaction to corn, soy, or wheat, then you should avoid Gatorade drinks as it contains these ingredients.

Does the ‘blue’ color of the Gatorade Drinks matter?

This is an odd one. I have not seen any research discussing the blue coloring as a factor in milk supply. in any way whatsoever because there is nothing special about the ‘blue’ in the blue Gatorade drink.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why mamas may feel they are not getting breast milk supply they need. It can be frustrating. And I understand why we all want to get tips about what works from others in our shoes or who have gone through what we are going through.

Although Blue Gatorade is recommend a lot as a way to boost milk supply, there is just no real basis for these drinks to help improve milk production.

The main ways that Blue Gatorade likely helps is by keeping you hydrated, and through the Placebo effect.

The post Does Blue Gatorade Help Increase Milk Supply? appeared first on Breastfeeding Confidential.

Body armor has not been scientifically proven to increase milk supply or lactation strength. However, many of the ingredients as well as the high calorie count might support lactation. There are also many verified testimonials and support posts from breastfeeding moms who claim this sports drink has helped their milk supply.

We often say here that the breastfeeding experience will vary from mom to mom. We also say frequently that when thinking about milk supply, the number one metric to consider is whether or not baby is gaining weight as she should. If baby is gaining weight, then she is getting all the milk she needs and you should not be too bothered about your milk supply.

But as we all know there are exceptions.

For years, healthcare providers have hammered on the importance of food and diet choices, and hydration to lactation success. These days, I would guess that most moms are doing their best to eat right and stay hydrated. But what is a mom to do when you just need a little boost? Maybe you need a short term boost to increase your frozen milk stash ahead of a trip or maybe baby’s appetite is increasing and you need some help to keep up.

Read more: 15 Natural ways to increase milk supply

Whatever the reason, we have all heard some of the claims out there about the experiences of different moms who swear by one drink or the other. Oatmeal, certain brands of coconut water, and many others are said to help improve milk supply. One of the more controversial myths or claims among breastfeeding mothers in terms of “drinking” is whether or not the body armor drink increases breast milk supply.

And in this article, we will be looking critically into it.

Does Body Armor Drink Increase Milk Supply?

To answer, I would say a tentative Yes. The body armor drink MAY increase milk supply.

To be clear, Body Armor has not been scientifically proven to increase milk supply or lactation strength, but my personal experience and a couple of verified testimonials and support posts from other breastfeeding moms have been able to affirm the wonder-working prowess of this milk-reviving sports drink.

However, it is important to note that experiences will vary. How Body Armor works for each person will depend on their own body, how much they consume, and how it is combined with other techniques such as block feeding or power pumping.

How many bottles should a breastfeeding mother consume daily?

I personally drank maybe a bottle of the Orange Mango every day, but I never really felt under pressure as far as milk supply. I can imagine that others may drink it more or less frequently and each person will need to make the right decision for themselves in conjunction with their healthcare professional.

I have read some posts where moms have consumed as many as 2-5 bottles per day. My impression is that this may be a lot. The drink contains quite a lot of sugar in addition to vitamins and electrolytes. Do think about if that level of sugar intake is right for you.

If you are considering relying primarily on this hack to boost supply, then it is important to talk to a professional about what other things you need to consider and also what other options are available.

Order Body Armor Lyte from Amazon

How long does it take for Body Armor Drink to work?

For me, I would take the Body Armor drink for breastfeeding about 4 hours before a pumping session to increase milk supply. But on a general note, the Armor Drink could take between 2 to 6 hours before an increase in milk supply is noticed. Bottom line, your body needs certain nutrition and so long as it gets the nutrients, it will produce milk.

But let us also ponder the source of this ‘miraculous’ increase in milk supply. What are the ingredients of the Body Armor drinks?

What does Body Armor Drink contain?

Based on related articles and a support menu from the sports drink’s website, the armor drink contains a couple of ingredients including :

• Filtered Water,
• Coconut Water Concentrate,
• Pure Cane Sugar,
• Vitamins (A, B3, B9, B6, B12, C, D, E)
• Electrolyte (Dipotassium Phosphate and Magnesium Oxide),
• Natural Flavors and Colors

Source: https://www.drinkbodyarmor.com/product/tropical-punch/

Now that we are done listing out the power menu of the body armor drink, let’s go further and uncork another answer bottle, shall we?

What are the active ingredients contained in Body Armor?

Some of the key ingredients to be aware of as far as Body Armor is concerned are covered below. I have selected a sample to that most likely to support breastfeeding and milk supply are:

Filtered Water

This one is fairly obvious. It has been scientifically proven that breast milk contains 90% water. Tons of studies have also made it clear that hydration is important for milk production. So adding water in whatever form to your diet is a good thing for breastfeeding and milk supply.

Body Armor contains 33.8 Fl Oz of water which will definitely help any nursing mom stay hydrated and help milk production.

Coconut Water Concentrate

Coconut water is very nutritious in its own right. It contains potassium, magnesium, and calcium, has very low calories, and low sugar content. These coconut water constituents (particularly potassium and calcium) are known to boost milk supply and so can help increase lactation.

Dipotassium Phosphate and magnesium oxide

Each of these ingredients is an electrolyte. Electrolytes are known to control and replenish the volume of water in the body (as seen in coconut water too). This is emphatically, this means that with a bottle or more of body armor drink, the rate of milk production in a pumping or breastfeeding mom could increase essentially.

Pure Cane Sugar

If there is one thing to really be careful about with Body Armor, I would say its the sugar. There is a lot of sugar in Body Armor. It contains pure cane sugar which is a natural sweetener and an energy booster.

This is not necessarily a problem for breastfeeding mothers, but do consider if your body can handle 21g of sugar. For context, the American Heart Association recommends no more than 24g a day for most women. Body Armor may be aware of this and they now have a product called Body Armor Lyte which has no added sugar.

Citric Acid

Citric acid is a collagen-producing fluid that is known to build up antibodies, and acts as an anti oxidant to boost hydration. Citric acid also helps in increasing milk supply.

The presence of this precious additive in any preferred flavor of Body Armor Drink comes with an added advantage that could free up the clogged digestive system of pumping or breastfeeding moms.

Pure Carrot Juice Concentrate

Some Body Armor drinks contain pure carrot juice – this may serve as a color additive but also provides vitamins useful for breastfeeding moms.

Carrot juice also has lactation properties that could contribute to increasing milk supply in breastfeeding women.

Natural Flavors

The one thing that separates the Body Armor Drink and makes it a safer sports drink for milk milking women is the use of fruits and their extracts as flavor.

Some available flavors are Berry Punch, Blueberry Pomegranate, Kiwi Strawberry, Orange Clementine, Peach Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical Coconut, Watermelon, etc.

On the sideline, some breastfeeding mothers have also asked comparative questions that border around the differentiating factor(s) between the Body Armor Drink and Gatorade, since Blue Gatorade has similarly been claimed to be great for milk production.

Is the Body Armor Drink healthier than Gatorade?

Yes, the body armor drink is healthier than Gatorade.

Why?

Body armor drinks are regarded as a healthier sports drink due to the availability of a higher Potassium content and a bit of calcium in them as opposed to that of Gatorade.

This is so because the majority of persons require Potassium way more than Sodium or Magnesium, which is one of the major ingredients in the Gatorade drink.

Body Armor’s sugar content is made from a natural source (cane) while Gatorade contains a larger amount that is produced from dextrose (an artificial source).

Conclusion

Finally, lets us conclude by noting that just drinking water will go a long way towards supporting breastfeeding moms looking to increase milk supply.

It is also important to note that there are lots of other healthy options for achieving the same objective.

Read more: Best Breastfeeding Snacks

Remember, breastfeeding is not an all or nothing deal. Even if your milk supply is low, each ounce you can give to baby is valuable.

The post Breastfeeding Hacks: Does Body Armor increase milk supply? appeared first on Breastfeeding Confidential.

Various formulas on the market with different flavor profiles are more likely to be accepted by breastfed infants. Human milk is sweet, so use a sweet formula if possible, but keep an eye on the sugar levels.

So which formula tastes like breast milk? My list comprises the most nutrient-dense and tasty formulas available on the market. Because each infant is unique, be prepared for a lot of trial and error. The following brands have been well-tolerated by nursing infants so you may use any of them.

10 Formula Tastes Like Breast Milk

The best infant milk formulas that taste like breast milk in terms of nutrition and flavor are as follows:

1. Gerber Good Start

One key ingredient that separates Gerber Good Start from other brands is A2 milk. According to some experts, A2 milk has health benefits and is easier for lactose intolerant people to digest.

What does this mean for your child? If you’re concerned about feeding your infant formula because of a delicate stomach or fears over the safety of formula, try Good Start. It is great for babies’ with gas and who spit up often. The probiotic L. reuteri in this formula aids in the maintenance of a healthy digestive system. According to a 2011 study, taking this probiotic might help alleviate colic symptoms.

Gerber’s Good Start formula, also contains 2′-FL Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO), a prebiotic found in breast milk that is key for digestive health. Non-GMO Good Start also has DHA to enhance eye and brain development. Lastly, the product blends smoothly and doesn’t clump like some other brands.

2. Enfamil Enspire Infant Formula With MFGM & Lactoferrin

Enfamil Enspire is one of the most similar baby Formula to human milk, especially nutritionally. Although it often costs a little more than other options, it contains nutrients only found in mother’s milk, making it perfect for breastfed infants. First and foremost, it includes lactoferrin which is found in colostrum. Both colostrum and lactoferrin boost a child’s immune system and digestive function.

This formula also contains MFGM (aka milk fat globule membrane, choline, iron, and omega-3 DHA–all critical elements for cognitive development. If you’re looking for an infant formula that comes as close as possible to breast milk, give Enfamil Enspire a try!

3. Similac Pro-Advance Non-GMO Infant Formula with Iron

Similac’s Pro-Advance formula contains nutrients that have been shown to assist a baby’s health and development. Important ingredients like DHA, vitamin E, and lutein help support brain growth, eye health, and overall physical development.

Prebiotic 2′-FL HMO aids not only your child’s stomach but also their immune system. Unlike other formulas, this contains no growth hormones and is guaranteed not to clump. If you’re looking for a hypoallergenic option, Alimentum or Nutramigen are both great choices.

I debated including Similac in this list. The Similac brand has struggled recently, with some products sadly being in 2022 recalled due to defective packaging. I decided to leave it in, because of I am hopeful that the brand can recover trust and get back to the high quality it always represented.

Read more: How much milk does your baby need.

4. Enfamil A2 Premium Infant Formula

Enfamil A2 premium formula is based on A2 milk, which is beneficial for digestive health. Consider this option if your infant has a sensitive tummy. It’s free of GMOs and includes DHA, which is better for a baby’s brain development.

Your baby is more satisfied and comfortable after every feed when there’s less gas. Because it’s simple to combine and tastes wonderful, breastfed babies will enjoy it.

5. Earth’s Best Organic Dairy Infant Powder Formula with Iron

Earth’s Best is a well-known organic product brand. The infant formula is USDA-certified organic, and is made with non-GMO ingredients.

Earth’s Best combine a lot of great ingredients in their infant formula milk powder. Iron, essential for healthy growth and brain development. DHA and ARA help neuronal, ocular, and brain development. Lactose, whey protein concentrate, and corn syrup solids are other organic ingredients.

The organic, plant-based formula is perfect for infants who are sensitive to cow’s milk. This means that parents who use Earth’s Best formula don’t have to worry as much about gas, acid reflux, or yellow spit-up

6. Nestle Nan 1 Pro Infant Formula Powder

Nestle Nan is a great option for supplementing breastmilk with formula. This baby formula contains 2′-FL HMO and L. reuteri, which have been proven to aid digestion and help reduce infant gas or indigestion-related fussiness. One downside of the Nestle Nan 1 Pro is that it does sometimes clump up, which can be a hassle when compared to many alternatives on the market.

7. Happy Baby Organic Infant Formula

Another organic choice is Happy Baby. The are USDA certified organic and GMO-free. Their products are free from rice, wheat, or corn-derived maltodextrin. The formula also contains galactooligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which nourish stomach microorganisms and aid digestion.

This product is complete with ARA, DHA, and other essential nutrients to promote growth in babies.

8. Enfamil NeuroPro Infant Formula

Enfamil NeuroPro also contains MFGM, which has been found to aid in newborns’ cognitive development and provide infection protection. A 2019 study showed that adding MFGM to formula positively affected babies’ cognition and well-being.

I have heard some moms worry that formula-fed babies are more susceptible to infection or illness. Hopefully this product helps reassure these moms that there are formula options available that might help.

Enfamil is a hypoallergenic and GMO-free cow’s milk replacement with prebiotics and DHA. Vitamin D3, calcium, and taurine are some of the other ingredients. If your kid has a fragile digestive system, try using Enfamil’s gentler formulation.

9. Baby’s Only Organic LactoRelief with DHA & ARA Toddler Formula

Baby’s Only Organic is a great choice if you’re thinking of formula options for your 12 to 36-month-old. It’s free of harmful pesticides, corn and glucose syrup, antibiotics, and other substances.

The firm does not use hexane, a hazardous chemical, to process DHA. This product will be pleasant to your baby’s taste buds and easy on her tummy, reducing fussiness and crying.

10. Pure Bliss by Similac

Similac is great for newborns. So great in fact that it is a staple in many hospital systems. Similac Pure Bliss includes everything your baby needs for the first year. It’s free of antibiotics and palm olein oil. Palm olein oil might contribute to constipation, which can be fatal to newborns.

Palm olein oil has also been shown to reduce bone density and calcium uptake, according to a study conducted in 2006. Pure Bliss includes DHA, ARA, lutein, and vitamin B12. Breastfed infants prefer pure Bliss’s flavor.

Conclusion

Which formula tastes like breast milk? Finding breast milk-tasting formulas might be tough, especially when purchasing online. Some babies are also more picky than others; if this is the case with your little one, be prepared to test different brands before finding one that works for you.

Breastfeeding is fantastic for babies, but it is not the only available path to ensuring baby is getting the right nutrition. When comparing components and brands, consider your baby’s digestive issues – for example, some parents have discovered that their babies prefer ready-to-feed formula to powdered infant food. The modern baby formula are better than ever, so you’ll still be giving your child the best possible start.

The post Which Formula Tastes Like Breast Milk? 10 Options appeared first on Breastfeeding Confidential.

One of the most common questions I get from breastfeeding moms is what to do when one breast produces more milk than the other. Moms want to know if this is normal and if they should be concerned about it. 

Having an uneven breast milk supply is actually more common than both breasts producing the same amount of milk (Source).

Some women affectionately call their lower producing side their slacker boob or milk dud. 

I’ll go over the possible reasons for this common phenomenon and what, if anything, you should do about it.

There are two common reasons that one breast produces more milk than the other.

One explanation has to do with mom. The other reason is because of the baby. It’s also often probably a combination of the two.

Let’s dive a little deeper into both possible causes for why one breast makes more milk.

Uneven Milk Supply Due To Mom

• One breast might have more of the breast tissue that is responsible for making milk. Humans are not perfectly symmetrical. One foot is usually larger; one arm may be a bit longer. Most women start out with one breast that is slightly larger than the other. Some might have a significant difference in the size of their breasts. In addition to making bra sizing a challenge, it can affect how much milk each breast can make.
• Milk might flow faster on one side. 
  • This might be a natural occurrence due to having more nipple pores on one side.
  • A mom might have a difference in how forceful her let-down is on each side.
  • A history of having any kind of breast surgery potentially can impact milk flow. Some breast surgeries can cut milk ducts. Scar tissue can also affect flow.
  • Even a breast biopsy has the potential to alter milk flow.
  • An injury to the breast or having chest tubes at any point in a person’s life can affect flow.
• Radiation therapy for breast cancer can affect milk production (Source).
• Some women have nipples that are shaped differently from each other, or one is larger than the other, and a baby may find one is easier to latch onto, or they prefer the feel of it in their mouth. This is very common when one nipple is flat or inverted, and the other nipple is protuberant.
• Most women have one side that they feel more comfortable nursing on. They may unwittingly be offering that side first more often. 

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Uneven Milk supply Due To Baby

• Many babies show a preference for one breast over the other.
  • This may be because the milk flows at a rate more to their preference. 
  • If one side flows faster, they may prefer that. They also may like a slower flow. 
  • Your baby may feel more comfortable the way they are positioned on the preferred side.

Spending more time on one breast means more stimulation on the higher producing side. This is one of those things that becomes a cycle. The baby prefers one breast and spends more time on it. That breast gets more stimulation and may produce even more milk. The lower producing side gets less stimulation, and supply decreases. Baby gives the slacker boob even less time and stimulation.

It is hard to tell whether a baby causes a difference in milk production because they have a preferred breast or they end up preferring one breast because of the uneven milk supply.

There are two primary reasons why a mama worries about one breast taking on the lion’s share of milk production.

Usually, a mom’s primary concern is whether their baby is able to get enough milk to grow normally.

If your baby is getting what she needs, you don’t need to stress, even if one breast barely produces milk. 

If your baby is growing at an average rate, then she is getting the amount of milk that she needs. 

The other reason a mother frets over uneven supply is it can result in lopsided breasts. Some women won’t care, even if the difference is significant. Other moms might find the difference cosmetically unappealing.

One breast producing more that results in a much larger breast also could cause physical discomforts for a woman. Common complaints are neck, back, or shoulder pain.

Related Post

How To Quit Obsessing About Breastfed Baby Weight And Growth Charts

• When pumping, you consistently get more milk from one breast.
• Your baby nurses longer on one side compared to the other.
• Your baby shows a preference for one side.
• One breast feels fuller.
• The higher producing side is noticeably larger.

Mastitis can cause a decrease in milk supply. This is usually temporary. With regular stimulation and draining the breast as much as you can, the supply should come back to normal within a week.

A clogged duct is another temporary cause of an unequal supply.

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If having an uneven milk supply makes your breasts’ size noticeably different or you have an insufficient milk supply, you may want to try to even things out.

• First, make sure you are alternating which side you offer first. You can keep track of which side with an app. If you don’t want to be tied to your phone all the time, you can wear a nursing bracelet like the easy to use Which Side. On one side, it says Left and Right on the other side. You simply flip it over each time you nurse. 
• If you are alternating sides each time, then try offering the lower producing side first. If your baby gets frustrated, then do breast compression to keep him happy with the flow. This can help drain the breast more thoroughly. When a breast is well drained, it tells the breast to make more milk.
• Provide some extra stimulation by pumping on the side that produces less milk right after feedings. If you are comfortable with it, you can pump on that breast while you breastfeed on the other side. 
  • Do hands-on pumping.
  • Use the LaVie Lactation Massager to help empty your breast. Moms love how this gadget helps them get more milk out. It can be used during pumping or breastfeeding.
• You can use an electric breast pump or a wearable pump like the Willow. Another option is putting on a Haaka pump.
• Do a daily power pumping session on the breast you want to produce more milk.
• Try different nursing positions on the breast your baby doesn’t like as much. If you do the cradle hold, try football hold, or vice versa.
• Put a warm pack on your breast to increase the flow. The Milkease All Natural Breastfeeding Relief Pack was designed for this. Research has shown that warmth on the breasts during pumping helped moms pump more milk (Source). It makes sense that it can help with breastfeeding also.
•  

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Many women can make a full milk supply on one breast. Think of the moms who make enough milk for twins.

I worked with a mom once who’d had radiation to one breast, and that breast didn’t make any milk when she had her baby. She was able to make all the milk her baby needed on her one working breast.

A mama’s breast can’t make unlimited amounts of milk, though. It is possible if one side is very low producing the other breast may not be able to pick up the slack. At the end of the day, you provide as much breast milk as you can. 

Although having a difference in supply between breasts can be concerning, there is no need to worry if your baby is growing and you are not having any discomfort. 

There are also many different ways to encourage a slacker boob to do more of their share of the work. 

For most moms having a difference in how much milk each breast produces is common and can go on the list of interesting things to know.

 

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The post When One Breast Produces More Milk appeared first on Breastfeeding Confidential.

5 Best Supplements To Increase Milk Supply

If you are a breastfeeding mom looking for ways to increase your milk supply, you have probably looked into herbal supplements. There are so many lactation supplements in so many different forms it can be difficult to know which are the best supplements to increase milk supply.

In this article, I discuss my top 5 … plus a bonus

1. Fenugreek

2. Goats Rue

3. Milk Thistle

4. Blessed Thistle

5. Shatavari

6. Moringa

If you are seriously considering using any of these supplements, you want to speak with a lactation consultant or your healthcare provider before you start. 

I live in a community where herbals and homeopathic remedies are commonly used for health and wellness goals as well as to treat illness. However, I knew that supplements to help milk production had gone mainstream when I saw them on the shelf at my local Target. 

Substances that include herbs and foods that can increase breast milk supply are called galactagogues.

If you are wondering if things like herbs, teas, or cookies can improve your milk production, keep reading to find out what the research says and what other moms say about supplements that help increase breast milk.

BUT FIRST – BREAST MILK SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Before looking into supplements, you will want to make sure that you’ve got the whole supply and demand thing covered.

You want to send your breasts the message to make a lot of milk by stimulating them frequently. This is especially important in the early weeks of milk production.

Typically a minimum amount of stimulation will require at least eight to twelve breastfeeding or pumping sessions or a combination of the two each day. Each session needs to be at least ten to twenty minutes. 

If you are trying to make more milk, you first need to make sure you are doing the minimum.

If possible, increase breastfeeding frequency or add some pumping sessions to stimulate increased milk production. 

• If your baby sleeps for longer stretches at night, you can try pumping two to three hours after the last feeding of the day. 
• You can also try pumping for five to fifteen minutes right after feedings.
• Even if you don’t express a lot of milk initially, the additional stimulation will tell your breasts to ramp up production.

A good latch is essential for sufficient milk removal. If a baby does not latch well and, as a result, can’t remove enough milk, this tells your breasts to make less milk.

For a mama who is pumping, proper fit of the breast shields, also called flanges, is critical to adequate milk removal and mom’s comfort.

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 FACTS ABOUT MILK SUPPLY SUPPLEMENTS 

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements.
• Not all supplements are safe for breastfed babies.
• When choosing the best lactation supplements, look for those classified by the FDA as “GRAS.” This stands for Generally Recognized As Safe.
• There is not a lot of research done on supplements, but there is some. More on that in a minute.
• What this means is that much of the information we have about supplements to boost breast milk production is from anecdotal reporting
• Women in every culture consume specific foods and herbs traditionally believed to help increase their milk supply. 
• There are different reasons a woman might be experiencing a low milk supply. This is part of the rationale of why a particular supplement may work for one mom and not have any effect on another. 

REASONS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER TAKING SUPPLEMENTS TO HELP MILK SUPPLY

Most women will make as much milk as their baby needs.

Some moms will struggle with a low milk supply. 

However, not every mama who is looking for the best milk supply supplement is having trouble making enough milk for her baby.

There are a few reasons why a mom wants to boost her production.

• A mother may make enough for her baby but has trouble pumping extra.
• Some moms are trying to build a freezer stash.
  • A freezer stash is a good idea for every mom in the event of an emergency.
  • In preparation for going back to work

• A mama may need to quickly increase her supply for a separation from her baby.
  • Business trip
  • Vacation
  • Planned surgery with hospitalization

• In rare cases, a mom may need to take a medication that is not safe to breastfeed while taking it. If she has advance notice, she may be able to pump enough milk for the time she has to pump and dump. (Or find another use for the milk).

Related Posts 

Simple And Easy Guide To Building Your Breast Milk Stash

{10} Genius Ideas of What To Do With Leftover Breast Milk

HOW DO HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS TO INCREASE BREAST MILK PRODUCTION WORK?

Different herbs can affect your milk-making system in different ways.

• They are affecting hormone levels, for example, increasing your prolactin levels.
• Helping your let-down reflex
• Correcting nutritional deficiencies

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY ABOUT BREASTFEEDING SUPPLY SUPPLEMENTS? 

There have been a number of studies looking at whether supplements that are classified as galactagogues are effective in increasing milk supply. Most of the studies showed an improved milk supply when the galactagogues were taken (Source 1, Source 2, Source 3). 

However, many of the studies are considered to be of low quality. This could be because of a small number of participants or the way the research was conducted.

ARE HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS TO INCREASE MILK SUPPLY SAFE?

While herbal supplements are natural, that does not mean every herbal supplement is safe for a breastfeeding mother to take.

The five supplements that I review in this post are all considered safe for a breastfeeding mom and her baby when taken at the recommended dosages.

If you are pregnant and breastfeeding, I urge you to work one on one with a lactation consultant. Some herbs should be avoided during pregnancy.

Herbs are like any food or drug, and some people will not have any problems or issues when taking them. Other people can experience unpleasant side effects or even an allergic reaction.

If you or your baby experience an unpleasant side effect, you can try taking a lower dosage. You can also see if taking the supplement with food helps the side effects.

If you experience any kind of allergic reaction, you should stop taking it immediately.

The potential for side effects and allergic reactions is why I generally recommend trying individual herbs initially instead of combinations of herbs. If you take something with four or five different herbs in it and you have a reaction, you won’t know what is causing it.

The other aspect of herbal supplement safety is making sure you procure herbs that are from a safe source. There have been reports of herbal supplements containing heavy metals and pesticides.

One final thing to consider in terms of safety is whether an herb can interact with a medication a mother is taking. An excellent source to check on potential drug/herb interactions is the National Center For Complementary and Integrative Health’s Herb-Drug Interactions.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE SUPPLEMENTS TO INCREASE MILK SUPPLY?

Some women have reported an increase in milk supply within 24 to 48 hours from when they started taking the supplement.

I encourage women to give it at least a week at the maximum recommended or tolerated dosage. If you do not see any difference before that, it probably is not working for you.

If a particular herb does not provide the increase in supply that you are looking for you can try another herbal supplement by itself or add it to what you are already taking.

BEST SUPPLEMENTS TO INCREASE MILK SUPPLY

I think these are the best supplements to increase milk supply based on what is used most often combined with the research.

There are many other supplements that are taken by women trying to boost their milk production, but these are the ones that I think are the top five.

The dosage recommendations come from an article by Frank Nice and the book Making More Milk.

FENUGREEK TO INCREASE MILK PRODUCTION

Fenugreek is one of the most popular and best herbs to increase milk supply. It is a common ingredient in Indian cooking. It is used in imitation maple flavorings.

If you have diabetes, you should consult a healthcare professional before trying Fenugreek as it has anti-diabetic properties. 

In a study on rats, high doses of Fenugreek resulted in lowering the thyroid hormone T3. Moms who have low thyroid should consider this when deciding if they want to try it. You would definitely want to monitor your T3 levels.

There have been a handful of reports of moms with low thyroid who experienced a decrease in supply. Most of them were able to return to their previous level of milk production when they stopped taking it.

The maximum recommended amount to take is 6 grams per day. Fenugreek has the potential to cause digestive upset in you and your baby, so I don’t recommend starting with the maximum amount. 

One notable side-effect of Fenugreek is that it will give you a maple syrup smell. I can often tell a mom is taking it because of the odor when she walks into my office. I tell the mamas I work with that if their partner starts asking for pancakes, then they are on the right track.

Start with 1000-2000 mg divided into at least three doses throughout the day. If you and your little one tolerate it without any side effects, you can gradually increase the amount every two to three days.

Fenugreek can be taken in a variety of prepared forms.

• Tincture – Motherlove Herbals makes an alcohol-free version.
• Powder – you can add it to cookies, smoothies or oatmeal.
• Tea
• Seeds

Motherlove Fenugreek Alcohol-Free Tincture (2 Ounce) Lactation Supplement to Optimize Breast Milk Supply—USDA Certified Organic, Vegan, Kosher, Soy-Free

• OPTIMIZE YOUR SUPPLY: Fenugeek is a single-herb lactation supplement to help moms optimize their breast milk supply.
• TIME-TESTED HERBS: Fenugreek is a time-tested herb that helps support supply for nursing and pumping moms.
• ALCOHOL-FREE TINCTURE: This organic breastfeeding supplement is a concentrated herbal extract in an alcohol-free tincture. The taste of tinctures is strong, adding each dose to a drink or food can help mask the flavor. A ring of herbal sediment in the dropper is normal, just give it a shake!
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GOAT’S RUE TO INCREASE MILK SUPPLY 

Goat’s Rue is another herb that a lot of the mothers I have worked with have taken with good results. Many of them reported that it resulted in increased breast growth.

Like Fenugreek, Goat’s Rue also has anti-diabetic effects. It is also a diuretic, so make sure you drink plenty of water if you take it.

Goat’s Rue Preparation Options:

• Tincture
• Capsules
• Tea
• Powder

A typical dosage is one to two ml of the tincture taken up to three times a day. To be able to pinpoint any reactions start with the lower dosage and work your way up.

Motherlove Goat’s Rue (120 Liquid caps) Lactation Supplement for Breast Tissue Development & Supporting Breast Milk Supply —Non-GMO, Organic Herbs, Vegan, Kosher, Soy-Free

• MAMMARY TISSUE GROWTH: Goat's rue is a time-tested herb known to optimize breast milk supply and build mammary tissue. Formulated for moms who didn't increase in breast size during pregnancy, delivered prematurely, or plan to relactate or adoptive feed.
• FENUGREEK ALTERNATIVE: Goat's Rue is a great option for nursing or pumping moms who want supply support and have a sensitivity to the herb, fenugreek seed.
• LIQUID CAPSULE: This breastfeeding supplement has the power of a tincture with the convenience of a liquid capsule. This bottle lasts roughly 4 weeks.
• SUGGESTED USE: 4–6 capsules per day. Spreading doses out throughout the day is the most important thing, such as taking each dose at a meal time or other easy-to-remember moment throughout your day. Please allow two weeks of consistent use to see the full effects of goat's rue.
• PREMIUM QUALITY: Goat's Rue is soy-free (now made with sunflower lecithin), vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher Certified by Kof-K, made with only USDA Certified Organic herbs, and is made in the USA with imported ingredients. Manufactured in an NSF-registered GMP facility. Motherlove is a certified Women-Owned B-Corp that focuses on environmental and social sustainability.

$49.99

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SHATAVARI AND BREAST MILK

Shatavari is a common supplement taken by women in both China and India.

There has been some promising research on Shatavari.

Shatavari preparation options:

• Capsules
• Tincture
• Powder

The commonly recommended dosage is 500 mg to 1000 mg twice a day.

Motherlove Shatavari (120 Liquid caps) Lactation Supplement to Support Breast Milk Supply During Menstruation—Non-GMO, Organic Herbs, Vegan, Kosher

• SUPPORT YOUR SUPPLY: Shatavari is a single-herb lactation supplement to help moms support their breast milk supply. Moms find it especially supportive around the return of their period during their postpartum phase.
• MONTHLY SUPPLY DIPS: Many moms experience a dip in supply that correlates with their menstrual cycle. Some moms will take this herb during their cycle, or to support supply in general.
• LIQUID CAPSULE: This breastfeeding supplement has the power of a tincture with the convenience of a liquid capsule. This bottle lasts roughly 4 weeks.
• SUGGESTED USE: 4–6 capsules per day, or as recommended by your healthcare practitioner. Spreading doses out throughout the day is the most important thing, such as taking each dose at a meal time or other easy-to-remember moment throughout your day.
• PREMIUM QUALITY: Shatavari is made with organic herbs and sunflower lecithin. It is vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher Certified by Kof-K, and is made in the USA with imported ingredients. Manufactured in an NSF-registered GMP facility. Motherlove is a certified Women-Owned B-Corp that focuses on environmental and social sustainability. Motherlove can only provide customer service and guarantee quality for products that are sold by Motherlove.

$49.99

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MILK THISTLE FOR BREAST MILK SUPPLY

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), is another traditional galactagogue. Like several other herbal supplements, it has anti-diabetic properties. Some people take it because of its protective effect on the liver. Do not use Milk Thistle if you are allergic to daisies, artichokes, common thistle, or kiwi.

Milk Thistle Preparation Options:

• Tincture
• Capsules
• Tea
• Powder

The max dosage is 1000 mg taken up to three times daily.

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BLESSED THISTLE FOR BREAST MILK SUPPLY

Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) – not to be confused with Milk Thistle – helps to increase prolactin which helps boost milk production. Blessed Thistle is also used to treat coughs and flus, and helps improve digestion (it contains Cnicin which helps your body produce more gastric acid and saliva).

Preparation Options include:

• Tincture
• Capsules
• Tea

MORINGA TO INCREASE MILK SUPPLY

Moringa is a plant that has several research studies supporting its use as a galactagogue. It is also called Malunggay.

It is a common food eaten in the Philippines.

Moringa Preparation Options:

• Capsules
• Powder
• Tea

The usual dosage is up to 250 mg to 350 mg taken two to three times a day.

If you take the blood thinner warfarin, Moringa should be taken with caution.

Motherlove Moringa (120 Capsule Value Size) Lactation Supplement to Support Breast Milk Supply—Non-GMO, Organic Herbs, Vegan, Kosher

• Motherlove Moringa (120 Capsule Value Size) Lactation Supplement to Support Breast Milk Supply—Non-GMO, Organic Herbs, Vegan, Kosher

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RECOMMENDED BREAST MILK SUPPLEMENT BRANDS

As I said, you want to make sure you are purchasing your herbs to increase milk supply from a reputable company. This will ensure both safety and effectiveness.

These are two companies that I feel comfortable recommending:

• Motherlove Herbals
• Wishgarden

I also recommend choosing an organic option whenever possible.

BEST TYPE OF SUPPLEMENT PREPARATION

Herbal supplements come in a variety of preparations.

• Capsules or tablets
• Tinctures
• Teas
• Powders

In my experience, tinctures seemed to produce the best effect on the milk supply. They are strong flavors and often not very pleasant tasting. Taking it with a small amount of a strong-tasting juice like cherry or pomegranate can mask the taste.

Teas can help in your efforts to stay well-hydrated. However, the freshness of the herbs and how long it is brewed for will impact its effectiveness.

Some lactation teas that you can find at the store or online often do not have the herbs in amounts that will significantly impact milk supply. 

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU TAKE A GALACTAGOGUE?

The length of time you take a lactation supplement will depend on your motivation to increase your milk supply.

Herbal Supplements For Low Milk Supply

If you had a low supply, I would recommend continuing to take the supplement for at least a month once you produce a full milk supply. After a month, you can try gradually decreasing the dosage.

If your supply maintains, you should continue to gradually decrease how much you are taking until you are completely weaned off of the supplement.

If your supply begins to decrease, you can just increase the dosage again. Some mothers do find they have to take the supplement for the entire duration of their breastfeeding experience. 

You can try weaning off of it at a later date as well.

Supplements Taken To Temporarily Increase Supply

If you were trying to boost your breast milk production to build your freezer stash or in preparation for a separation from your baby, you can stop taking the herbs when you reach your goal.

Dealing With The Middle Of The Work Week Drop In Supply

Some mamas who work a four or five-day workweek notice their milk supply seems to drop as the week progresses. If this is what is happening to you, try taking the supplement at the start of the workweek. You can probably stop it after you pass the middle of the week and resume again at the beginning of the next week.

SHOULD I TRY HERBAL BLENDS TO MAKE MORE MILK?

There are a plethora of galactagogue blends that combine several different herbs.

If you have taken the different herbs safely, these blends have been effective in many mothers.

They are certainly worth a try.

Some popular blends:

• Motherlove More Milk Special Blend
• Motherlove More Milk Plus
• Motherlove More Milk Two is a blend for pregnant mamas. It does not contain Fenugreek.
• Wishgarden Milk Rich

Motherlove More Milk Special Blend (60 Liquid caps) Herbal Lactation Supplement w/Goat’s Rue to Build Breast Tissue & Support Breast Milk Supply—Non-GMO, Organic Herbs, Vegan, Kosher, Soy-Free

• Ideal For Mothers Who Did Not See Increased Breast Size During Pregnancy, Have Had Breast Surgeries, Or For Adoptive Mothers Who Wish To Breastfeed
• BREAST TISSUE GROWTH: Great things take time; Because goat's rue assists in tissue development, it can take up to three weeks to begin to see results; However, the other galactagogues in this herbal lactation blend—fenugreek, blessed thistle, nettle, and fennel—tend to be faster acting
• MOTHERLOVE CARES: As a women-owned, family-run, Certified B Corp, Motherlove cares about people and the planet over profit; This product is made in the USA with imported ingredients, vegan, non-GMO, made with USDA Certified Organic herbs, and Kosher Certified by Kof-K; Manufactured in an NSF-registered GMP facility
• SPECIAL BLEND FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: The herb goat's rue has been used for generations and helps support mammary tissue development; This blend is intended for you if you did not see a change in cup size during pregnancy, have had previous breast surgeries, wish to relactate, or are an adoptive mom who wants to breastfeed

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DO LACTATION COOKIES INCREASE MILK SUPPLY

Pinterest is full of cookie recipes that promise to increase supply. These tasty treats are also available premade.

They often contain herbs like Fenugreek as well as other foods purported to have galactagogue properties. However, the amounts of herbs in them may not be enough to make a significant difference.

Many moms swear by them, so it is possible they can help you make more milk.

Be aware of how many calories and how much sugar may be in them. If you make your own with herbal powder you will have more control over the amount of sugar in them.

Related Post

15 Natural Ways To Increase Your Milk Supply For Proven Results 

FINAL THOUGHTS ON BEST SUPPLEMENTS TO INCREASE MILK SUPPLY

Nursing moms who are looking for the ideal supplements for milk production have many to choose from. 

Because a mama doesn’t always know the reason for a low milk supply finding the best supplement to increase her milk production may take some trial and error. The information in this post should give you the knowledge to use herbal galactagogues effectively and safely.

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I am going to share my best pumping tips to increase your milk supply.

If you are really busy right now and don’t have time to read this whole post you can scroll to the bottom and watch the video where I go over the highlights.

Mamas have different motivations for wanting to make more milk.

• Some moms make plenty of milk for their baby, but they want to build up a stash of breast milk in their freezer. Having a freezer stash of milk is always a good idea.
• There are mamas who experience a temporary drop in milk supply.
• True low supply is a challenge for a lot of nursing moms, and they are always looking for helpful tips to increase milk supply.

The good news is that there are a lot of ways to increase milk supply. Pumping can be a very effective way to make more milk.

However, simply pumping randomly here and there may only give you limited results, if any. It is essential to have a strategic plan when using pumping to increase milk supply.

But you don’t have to guess what works best. I am going to share with you what has worked for the thousands of moms I have worked with over the last twenty-five years.

These are the most effective ways I’ve seen moms use pumping to increase milk supply.

A shout out to all those mamas who taught me all these pumping tricks to make more milk!

WARNING – DON’T LET PUMPING TAKE FOOD AWAY FROM YOUR BABY’S NEXT BREASTFEEDING SESSION

Before I dive into the tips I want to talk about a common mistake when pumping.

Calculate the timing of your pumping to increase milk supply so that you are not cutting into your baby’s next meal.

You want to pump within 15-20 minutes after the end of a feeding. If you can’t get to it by twenty minutes then wait until after the next feeding.

Now that I got that important tidbit of info out of the way let’s talk about the best ways to increase milk supply with pumping.

You will get more results if you pump more often. If you pump four times a day, you will get more results than if you pump once a day. If you pump eight times a day, you will get even better results.

You need to find a balance though. Pumping very frequently can be crazy-making.

Pumping should not take on a life of its own. It is more important to spend time enjoying your baby. If you start having fantasies about taking a hammer to your pump, then it is probably a good idea to back off of the pumping a little bit.

Pumping after breastfeeding increases milk supply for these reasons:

• The more your breasts are stimulated, the more milk you will make.
• Whenever you stimulate your breasts, your brain makes the hormone prolactin. More stimulation means more prolactin, and that usually means more milk.
• How completely your breasts are drained affects breast milk production. Most babies take about eighty percent of the available milk. That tells your body that the amount it is making is right. If you drain all the milk, it tells your body to make more. If your baby is consistently leaving more than 20% behind, then your body will start to decrease milk production.

This is one of those times when you want to time pumping so that you don’t take food away from your baby. Remember, begin pumping no longer than 15-20 minutes from the end of your baby’s feeding. That way, you only take the leftovers. You also send the message to make more milk.

If you wait an hour after feeding, you will get more milk. But that is because it is coming out of the next feeding.

Scientific research has shown that when a woman uses an electric breast pump in combination with the hands-on method of pumping, she will make more milk overall (Source). It will also get more milk out when you pump.

Hands-on pumping is when you massage and compress your breasts during and right after pumping. You will need a hands-free pumping bra or tank to do this.

Kindred Bravely makes an excellent and versatile nursing and pumping bra. It is available in beige, black and pink.

I’m not usually into gadgets, but this one is so helpful I am making an exception.

The LaVie Lactation Massager is a very cool new product available to help with let-down and milk flow. It is a specially designed vibrating massager that helps empty your breast more quickly. It runs on rechargeable batteries and has different vibration settings.

If you want something lower-tech, LaVie also sells a Massage Roller. Both of these awesome tools are eligible for your Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).

A study showed that using warm breast shields increased the amount of milk expressed (Source). While it is not very practical to warm your breast shields, LaVie Warming Lactation Massager Pads may have a similar effect.

They have gotten outstanding reviews on Amazon. Over 2500 reviews have earned them a 4.6 star rating. If you are trying to maximize your pumping results these are definitely worth a try.

Five minutes is probably the minimum amount of time you want to pump. I never recommend pumping for longer than twenty minutes.

The longer you pump, the longer you are keeping your prolactin levels up. This will help your milk supply overall.

But pumping for a longer period increases the chances that you will have another let-down. When you have a let-down you will get an increase in milk flow for a few minutes.

So even if your flow is slowing down, it can increase again if you get another let-down.

If your pump has a let-down setting don’t only use it at the beginning of pumping. Try switching it on when your milk flow has slowed down and see if it will stimulate another let-down.

Pumping for a few minutes after your milk stops flowing sends the message to your body to make more milk.

Power pumping is a very popular method of pumping to increase milk supply. Power pumping is when you pump frequently for a period of time, usually an hour to an hour and a half. It is typically done once a day.

There are a few different ways you can power pump.

Power Pumping While Watching TV

This is the easiest way to power pump because there is no need to watch the clock. You simply watch a TV show and pump during the commercials. Easy peasy!

Power Hour Plus Pumping

Pump for ten minutes. Rest for ten minutes. Repeat the pumping part four times.

It is called the “Power Hour Plus” because technically it is 70 minutes. We believe in truth in advertising here at Breastfeeding Confidential.

The Four–Hour Power Pumping Session

With this method of power pumping, you pump for ten to fifteen minutes once an hour for four hours. This method of power pumping is primarily used by mamas who exclusively pump or who are pumping at work and have the flexibility to pump often.

If you are exclusively pumping, you don’t have to worry about timing feedings. If you are breastfeeding, you will want to do power pumping during a time when your baby is going a long stretch between feeds. Doing it in the evening when your baby first goes to sleep and is sleeping at least four or more hours is a good time to power pump.

Related Post

Your Ultimate Guide To The Benefits Of Power Pumping

Pumping both breasts results in higher prolactin levels, which results in more milk (Source). It’s as if you are telling your body that you are trying to feed twins.

Pumping at the same time you are breastfeeding is effective for the same reason that double pumping is effective. While twice as much stimulation will not always result in twice as much milk, it will usually result in more milk.

If your baby typically feeds from both breasts, then you will want to pump the first breast after your baby has fed on the first side while she is feeding on the second side. If your baby usually eats only from one breast, you can pump the other side while she is feeding.

Worn out pump parts is one of the most common reasons I see when moms are not getting good results from pumping. Certain parts of your pump may need to be replaced regularly. They are usually going to be parts that are soft and flexible. An example is the white membranes in a Medela Pump In Style.

If your pump has a let-down setting or you have the ability to speed up the frequency of cycles, you have the ability to potentially stimulate multiple let-downs.

Let down is when the hormone oxytocin is released from your brain, and it results in the milk ducts contracting. This helps move the milk down and out.

When you are breastfeeding, and your baby starts sucking, they usually aren’t swallowing right away. All of a sudden, they start swallowing very rapidly. This is because your milk “let down.” The medical term for this is milk ejection reflex or MER.

You will know that this trick is working if you try it and see more milk being pumped for a minute or two.

The Medela Pump In Style is a tried and true pump that has a let-down setting.

The equipment you use matters.

This is an often overlooked method of how to get more milk when pumping.

If your pump has been used for many hours it may not be functionally optimally.

Make sure parts that need to be replaced have all been swapped out with new parts.

You might even consider renting or buying a new pump. Renting a hospital-grade pump for a couple of weeks can help give your milk supply and pumping output a boost.

If you have used your pump like a workhorse and you try out a rental and see a noticeable difference you might want to consider investing in a new pump.

Moms are busy people. When you are trying to make more breast milk, you want to know how to increase milk supply fast.

Pumping is a very effective way to increase milk supply and do it quickly. Most women will see results within 24-48 hours of starting one of the pumping tips listed.

Not all of these tips will work for all moms. It can help to combine a couple of these pumping tips. It can help to mix up the tips, trying one or two for a week or two, and then trying some different pumping tips the next week.

Let me know in the comments which pumping tips worked best to increase your milk supply.

Related Posts

Everything You Need to Know About Pumping Breast Milk

Pumping Tips and Tricks – {11} Secrets You Need to Know

How to Clean Your Breast Pump – Lazy Mom’s Guide

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I get calls from frantic breastfeeding moms every holiday season. They are worried because, all of a sudden, they are making less milk than they normally do. They are often surprised to find out it there are several foods that decrease milk supply during the holidays.

They want to know what tips I have to help them increase their milk supply fast.

Don’t be that mom. Being forewarned is being forearmed. It’s easier to prevent the decrease in milk supply in the first place.

Many nursing moms are surprised to learn that what they eat can result in lowered milk production.

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A popular topic on Pinterest is food, drinks, and recipes that can increase milk supply in nursing mothers. Knowing what not to eat is just as important.

Did you know that what you are eating can be one of the causes of decreased milk supply?

Fortunately, there are not a lot of foods to avoid while breastfeeding. However, a couple of the foods that can decrease milk supply are very popular around the holidays.

Peppermint is a flowering perennial and an ingredient in many common holiday foods.

• Candy canes
• Peppermint bark
• Peppermint creams
• Peppermint tea
• Peppermint lattes are also very popular this time of year.

Peppermint is commonly used when women want to decrease their milk supply. A mom may want to make less milk if she has an overabundant milk supply. Too much milk can make babies fussy. It can also cause problems for mom such as repeated plugged ducts or even mastitis.

Another reason a mom might want to decrease her supply is when she wants to wean rapidly.

Peppermint is used in many natural health remedies (Source).

• Digestive problems
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Indigestion
  • Nausea
• Headaches
• Muscle aches

Breastfeeding moms will have different responses to peppermint. Not every mom will see a noticeable reduction in their milk production. There are two reasons for that.

• Some of the peppermint treats I mentioned will contain more actual peppermint in them than others.
• A mom may have an abundant milk supply and not notice a decrease in her milk supply.

On the other hand, a mom who makes just enough milk will be more aware of even a slight decrease.

The other thing that can affect how much peppermint affects your milk supply is whether it is eaten around the same time as another food that can decrease milk supply.

Sage is an herb. Around the holidays it is often found in stuffing and soups. It is used either dried or fresh. It is another holiday food that can decrease milk supply.

It is a food that has been used effectively to decrease milk supply (Source). Typically, it is taken as a tincture or as a tea. It is also sold in capsules.

Parsley is another common herb that has been used to decrease milk supply. It is added to many recipes.

The amounts of herbs like sage and parsley that are commonly found in holiday foods are probably not enough to decrease milk supply in a single serving. Caution should be exercised when multiple foods that have a history of inhibiting milk production are consumed at the same time.

There are other things that happen during the holiday season that can have an impact on how much milk you make.

Holidays are typically a time of parties and gatherings that involve alcoholic beverages. I worked with a nurse who swore that dark beer helped increase her milk supply. However, research contradicts this popular belief. You can file it in the urban myth or old wives tale category.

Alcohol can actually have a negative effect on breastfeeding (Source).

• Alcohol interferes with the milk let-down reflex.
• Babies drink less milk when their moms have consumed alcoholic beverages. This may be due to the fact that the taste of breast milk can change when a mom has been drinking.
• Some studies have shown alcohol can actually decrease milk production.

Does this mean you can’t have any adult beverages at all? Having a drink that contains a moderate amount of alcohol is considered “ok” by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). They recommend moms wait four hours to breastfeed after they have had a drink containing alcohol (Source).

The AAP defines one drink as:

• 12 ounces of beer
• 1 ounce of hard liquor
• 4 ounces of wine

The winter holidays can also mean more colds and flu.

Be careful with the medications that you take for these types of illnesses.

• Pseudophedrine is known to decrease a woman’s milk production significantly.
• Menthol, which is found in many cough drops has also been reported to result is less milk being made by breastfeeding moms.

If you notice a drop in your milk supply and realize you ate one of these foods, chances are good that it is temporary. Most of the time a decrease in milk supply can be rectified with a few extra breastfeeding or pumping sessions. You can also eat foods to help increase milk supply while breastfeeding

• Oatmeal
• Dates
• Brewer’s Yeast

Herbs that increase milk production

You can also try to counteract the effects of foods that have caused you to make less milk by taking some herbs that are good for your supply.

• Fenugreek
• Goat’s Rue
• Shatavari
• Milk Thistle
• Malunggay

Many factors affect milk supply. In addition to what has already been mentioned the business of the holidays can play a factor. If feedings or pumping sessions are delayed or skipped altogether that will tell your breasts to make less milk. Make sure you are getting in enough feedings or pumpings.

Now that you know what to watch out for, enjoy the holidays!

Related Posts

15 Natural Ways to Increase Your Milk Supply for Proven Results

Essential Steps to Have a Good Milk Supply

Too Much of a Good Thing – How to Decrease Breast Milk Supply

 

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The post 3 Holiday Foods That Decrease Milk Supply While Breastfeeding appeared first on Breastfeeding Confidential.

Causes of Low Milk Supply

The most common causes of low milk supply are:

Hormonal imbalance

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS

PCOS is a set of symptoms related to a hormonal imbalance. Symptoms include irregular menstrual periods (or no periods at all), high levels of androgens (a type of male sex hormone) or signs of high androgens, such as having excess body or facial hair, and abnormal growths on one or both ovaries. The NICHD has a lot of information on this condition here. Basically, since women with PCOS often have high levels of male sex hormones, this makes it more difficult for them to produce breast milk. The hormonal imbalance itself is often caused or associated with Insulin Resistance.

Thyroid problems

The Thyroid, a gland in the front of our necks makes certain hormones that help with breast milk supply. Anything that causes the Thyroid to be overactive (Hyperthyroidism) or underactive (Hypothyroidism) will affect milk supply.

Diabetes

Type-2 diabetes is a condition where the body is not able to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar. It can be caused by insulin resistance – where the body is not using the insulin produced effectively. A recent study showed that when a mother is insulin resistant, they have a particular gene which is linked with insufficient breast milk supply.

History of Breast Surgery

There is plenty to consider when you are breastfeeding after breast surgery. Different surgical procedures can have different effects, and its a good idea to plan ahead and speak with a lactation consultant about your specific need. This applies if you have had:

• Breast reduction

• Breast augmentation

• Lumpectomy

• Biopsy

• Breast Lift

Ineffective Suck

When a baby has an ineffective suck, they don’t provide enough stimulation to your breasts.

A mom with a good milk supply and strong let-down may not even realize her baby doesn’t have a strong suck. Initially their baby grows well. Eventually, her breasts may respond to the fact that they are not getting stimulated enough. And breast milk production declines.

Not enough feedings

The supply and demand thing is real! Similar to the ineffective suck, if a mom is not feeding frequently, her breasts will not be stimulated enough. This can lead to lower milk supply.

Insufficient glandular tissue of the breasts

In this case, there are just not enough of the cells that make breast milk.

This is not about small breasts. Breasts with insufficient glandular tissue often lack roundness and may have an odd shape

One breast may look very different than the other and there is often little to no breast growth during pregnancy

Beware of Low Breast Milk Supply Mistaken Identity

Have you ever heard of perceived low milk supply? That is when a mom thinks her supply is low, but it really isn’t.  This can happen when she plays the comparison game. It’s particularly a hazard when comparing a breastfed baby’s behavior to a formula fed baby.

There are many things that can make you think you have a low milk supply

• No let-down sensation

• Breasts feel softer after a few months

• You can’t pump as much as you used to

• You can’t pump as much as others

• Your baby is eating more than usual, possibly because of a growth spurt

• Your baby eats more frequently than other babies you know

As we often say on this blog, you are making enough milk if your baby’s weight gain is normal or average for his age. As your baby gets older the rate of weight gain slows down.

For A Good Milk Supply, Start with Breastfeeding Basics

This is not a secret. But it is something that you need to double check.

Get a Good Latch

This is going to result in your baby getting more of the milk that is in your breasts. It is also going to make breastfeeding more comfortable for you.

Breastfeed More Often

If you have a baby that will latch whenever you offer your breast, take advantage of that. If you need tips in this area, we have a great post here on great ways to get a better latch

Breastfeed Longer

This sounds simple enough. Unless you are not making enough milk. Then it can be hard to keep your baby at your breast long enough to stimulate increased milk production

Related Post

How To Quit Obsessing About Breastfed Baby Weight And Growth Charts

DO BREAST COMPRESSION WHILE FEEDING

Do breast compression when you start to hear your baby’s swallowing less frequently. Compressing your breast will help keep your breast milk flowing and can help keep your baby interested and feeding longer.

It is just what it sounds like. You compress the breast to help get the milk out. This can help the baby with a weak suck. It’s also effective if you have a baby who wants you to do most of the work.

15 Ways to Increase Milk Supply Naturally

Now for the good stuff. These are all natural ways to increase your breastmilk supply.

3-Ways To Use Pumping To Increase Milk Supply

This gets back to supply and demand. The more stimulation that your breasts get the more they should produce more milk.

Keep in mind when using pumping to increase milk supply, the key focus is baby. If you were not making enough breast milk and had to supplement with formula you may not see more milk when you pump. What you may see is that your baby takes less formula. He may also keep taking the same amount of formula but starts gaining more weight. You can usually decrease how much formula you are giving when your baby starts gaining at an average rate. Check with a lactation consultant or your baby’s health care provider.

PUMP SOON AFTER BREASTFEEDING

Pumping soon after breastfeeding helps keep the milk-making hormone, prolactin, elevated. It tells your body to make more milk.

To make sure you do not take milk away from your baby’s next meal, try to pump within 15-20 minutes after the feeding ends.

The more times you do this the more breast milk you will make.

DO HANDS-ON PUMPING

Nothing too complex about this one. Breast massage and compression during pumping has been shown to increase milk production (Source).

DO SOME POWER PUMPING SESSIONS

This is a technique that involves pumping frequently over a period of time. It is that supply and demand thing again.

There are a few different techniques for power pumping.

1. Pump for 10 min, rest for 15. Repeat for 4 cycles.

2. Watch a TV show and pump during the commercials.

3. Pump for 5-10 min every hour for 4 hours.

Related Posts

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Your Ultimate Guide To The Benefits Of Power Pumping

Increase Milk Supply By Pumping 9 Genius Ways

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The post 15 NATURAL WAYS TO INCREASE MILK SUPPLY FOR PROVEN RESULTS appeared first on Breastfeeding Confidential.

Do you think you may have a foremilk hindmilk issue and block feeding might help?

Do you feel like you are making gallons of milk?

Does your baby struggle during breastfeeding?

If you answered yes to both of those questions you may have an oversupply of breast milk.

Moms who don’t make enough milk often get sympathy. Moms who make too much milk are often told they are lucky. This can be the furthest thing from the truth.

Oversupply can lead to clogged ducts and mastitis.

It can cause a baby who struggles at the breast and who is very gassy and miserable in general.

Block feeding could be the answer to your breastfeeding struggles.

It has helped a lot of moms and babies be happier with breastfeeding.

It’s important to make sure that it’s the right tool for the right problem.

• Make sure oversupply is the problem you have. Block feeding reduces your milk supply.
• Don’t overdo block feeding.
• Don’t underdo it.

Don’t do it because it’s the trend of the moment.

Related Posts:

How To Clear a Clogged Duct (Including a Little Known Way)

Oversupply causes problems for your baby because it creates an imbalance in the amount of foremilk and hindmilk your baby gets.

Foremilk and hindmilk refer to the amount of water and fat in your breast milk.

If you haven’t been caught up in this whole tidal wave of different kinds of milk, let me fill you in. Or, just don’t worry about it. Keep doing what you are doing, because if you’re happy and your baby is happy and gaining weight at a normal rate, there’s no need to give it a second thought.

When your baby first latches on to your breast the first milk she gets is high in water content. This is called the foremilk. As your breast starts to drain the fat content increases. This is called the hindmilk.

The foremilk helps quench your baby’s thirst and keeps her hydrated. The hindmilk helps satisfy your baby’s hunger and givers her calories to grow on.

An important word there is “helps.” All milk satisfies thirst, hydration, hunger and provides calories. But there is some difference. 

Some people refer to foremilk as skim milk and hindmilk as cream. You can even see the difference in pumped milk.

There are two reasons that oversupply causes a fussy baby.

• It can result in your baby getting too much of the foremilk
• The milk can come out too fast. We’ll talk more about this in a minute.

A lot of milk means a lot of foremilk. Baby latches on, gets a lot of foremilk and feels full. So baby may not get a balanced amount of the foremilk and hindmilk.

As a result, the amount of milk sugars is unbalanced with the enzyme that breaks down those sugars. This causes a lot of gas to be produced. This is why using block feeding for a gassy baby can help.

At this point you may want me to cut to the chase and tell you how long it takes to get to the hindmilk. There is not a specific amount of time when the fat content increases. It will vary depending on several different things. 

A lot of moms out there are stressing about foremilk and hindmilk. They ask me about it all the time. I’ve even heard them refer to hindmilk as “the good milk.”

They may have read or been told they “need” to make sure their baby gets to the hindmilk.

I  have always wondered why nobody talks about the middle milk? (Just kidding.)

For sure you don’t need to stress if you and your little one are happy and he is gaining a normal amount of weight.

Especially when those little ones are big. And some are. Big.

I love it when a mom brings a baby who looks like this, to my breastfeeding group. And asks how she makes sure he gets her hindmilk. I tell her that I’m pretty sure that she is making straight-up cream.

If you’re not in the everyone is happy category, let’s talk about how to decrease your oversupply and make breastfeeding fun by block feeding.

Block feeding is feeding from one breast for a certain period of time.

The goal is to decrease the amount of milk that your breasts are making when you have an oversupply of breast milk.

Some moms feed on one breast at each feeding. They alternate each breast. Their baby is satisfied with one breast. Their baby is happy and grows at a normal rate.

This is not what I’m talking about when I use the term block feeding.

Block feeding has more to do with feeding on one side for a specific period of time. The amount of time will vary from mom to mom. How long she needs to stay with one breast depends on how much of an oversupply she has.

Breast milk production works on a feedback system.

• If you completely drain your breasts they will increase production.
• If you leave a little bit of milk in your breast they will keep making the same amount of milk.
• If you leave a lot of milk in your breasts they will decrease how much they are making.

Block feeding will help oversupply because you will be leaving a lot of milk in your breast (Source). It will also help your baby get more of your hindmilk by thoroughly draining your breasts.

Less milk and a happier baby. Did you just say, “Sign me up!”

The blocks of time can vary widely. Usually, a mom will start with a three or four-hour block of time.

True story…I worked with one mom who had to do an eight-hour block. Neither she nor her baby was very happy for a couple of weeks. We finally got her supply under control and they went on to have a long nursing relationship. She only had to do that for a short time, but it was what her baby needed.

That is by far the longest block of time I’ve ever had to have a mom do.

Don’t do something this drastic unless you are working with a lactation consultant who has done a thorough consult.

Consider these things when trying to decide what block of time to start with:

• Is your baby feeding on both breasts at most feedings right now?
  • Start by feeding on one breast at each feeding.
  • If things improve you have solved your problem. Easy peasy!
  • If no improvement, go to the next question.
• How long does your baby go between feedings?
  • If your baby eats every 90 min-2 hrs >> offer one breast every 3 hours. Then switch to the other breast for the next 3 hours.
  • If your baby eats every 2-3 hours > > offer only one breast for a 3-4 hour block of time. Then switch to the other breast for the next block of 3-4 hours.
  • If there is no improvement after 48 hours then increase your block by one hour.
• If you are pumping, how much milk you can pump out after a good feeding?
  • The more milk you can pump out, the longer your block will last.

You can use a timer specially designed to track feedings. You can also just use a kitchen timer to keep track of the blocks of time.

Most of the time it only takes a week or two to decrease your supply.

Many moms don’t make the same amount of milk in both breasts. This is very common. Because of this, you may need to switch breasts after a shorter block of time when you are feeding from the side that produces less milk.

The best thing to do is to watch your baby’s cues. If you are hearing lots of swallowing and your baby is content then your baby is getting what he needs. If your baby is acting frustrated you will want to switch a little sooner.

Related Post

When One Breast Produces More Milk

Re-evaluate if there are any signs your milk supply is decreasing too much.

It is a good idea to do some weight checks while you are working on this. Some baby’s gain more than average weight when there is an oversupply. It is fine if your baby is not gaining weight as fast as long as she is still gaining an average amount.

Sometimes a baby gains poorly when there is an oversupply because they are not getting enough calories from too much foremilk. This is unusual though. Talk to a lactation consultant if you think this is what is happening with your baby.

I do not recommend trying block feeding without the guidance of a lactation consultant if your baby is not gaining enough weight. Even if you are pumping enough milk to feed the neighborhood. Get help from a lactation consultant.

Pay attention to your baby’s cues. If he acts like he is frustrated or he is acting like he is not satisfied then switch to the other side sooner than your block schedule says to.

You’ll know you’ve found your sweet spot when you have a happy baby who is gaining weight normally and you don’t have to pump to be comfortable.

Be flexible. You may find that you have been happily feeding on one side for weeks and all of a sudden your baby is no longer satisfied. Start offering both sides and you should be all good again.

Some of the symptoms of oversupply are the same as fast milk flow. 

Fast milk flow is exactly what it sounds like, the milk comes out quickly. Moms with oversupply can have fast milk flow. Moms with an average supply can also have a fast milk flow.

Signs of fast milk flow:

• Choking
• Sputtering
• Pulling off when the milk lets down
• Baby clamping on breast

The way your baby is positioned can help him handle fast flow. Try to get him above your breast.

Leaning back or sitting upright both work well.

Breastfeeding should be a positive and fun experience. If you have oversupply it can be anything but that.

Block feeding can help make breastfeeding be more enjoyable for both you and you baby. If you have been struggling with oversupply give it a try or talk to a lactation consultant. She can help you decide if it makes sense for you.

Related Posts:

Too Much of a Good Thing – How to Decrease Breast Milk Supply

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The post Foremilk Hindmilk Imbalance and Block Feeding appeared first on Breastfeeding Confidential.

All breastfeeding moms want to have a good milk supply. Raise your hand if you’ve ever worried if you are making enough milk for your baby.

This is a really common concern expressed by breastfeeding moms (no pun intended).

In fact, it is one of the most common reasons a mom stops breastfeeding.

Keep reading to see if you should be worried about your milk supply.

 You DON’T need to make enough so that your baby eats at some predetermined interval.

You DON’T need to make enough so that your baby is in the 90% for weight.

You DON’T need to make enough to have a massive amount of breast milk stored in your freezer.

The amount of milk you need to make is a moving target. It will change depending on how old your baby is and how much your baby weighs.

The rate of growth slows down as you baby gets older, so you don’t have to make more and more as your baby gets older and bigger.

Most babies don’t eat the same amount at every meal. They may want a four-course meal at one feeding, a small snack at another, and the equivalent of a sandwich at another.

Keep reading to see if you should be worried about your milk supply.

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Get lactation recipes to help your milk supply!

When you subscribe you will not only will you get this great recipe booklet. You will also get full access to my Breastfeeding Resources Library of Free Printables and E-Books and tutorials.

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I know you can’t wait to get your hands on the Increase Your Milk Supply Recipe Booklet from the Breastfeeding Confidential Breastfeeding Resource Library, but before that magic happens you need to check your inbox for your confirmation email.

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• Her baby wants to breastfeed more frequently than expected.
• Her baby eats more frequently than someone else expects him to. And they comment on it being too often.
  • Some moms make a lot of milk but can’t store a lot of milk. Their baby will need to eat more frequently.
• You have read a book that recommends scheduled feedings. The intervals are longer than your baby wants to go between feedings.
  • Some babies need to eat more frequently because large meals make them uncomfortable. This is common with babies who have reflux.
• When your baby goes to daycare, the daycare provider says she needs more milk than what you are providing.
  • Formula fed babies often drink larger amounts. They may not eat as frequently as a breastfed baby.
  • Make sure your child care provider knows what to expect from your baby.
• Your baby eats a greater amount from a bottle than what you can pump
  • Babies can often get more out of a breast than a pump can.
• Your friends can pump larger amounts of milk than you can.
  • This doesn’t mean you don’t make enough. And making a lot of milk can cause problems too.
• Your baby isn’t as chubby as some of the other breastfed babies that you see.
  • There are adults who are chubbier than other adults too. Everyone is different.

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How To Quit Obsessing About Breastfed Baby Weight And Growth Charts

These are reassuring signs that your baby is getting enough to eat from breastfeeding.

• 6-8 wet diapers a day
• 4-5 stools of moderate quantity a day in the first two months. This may decrease after two months.
• In the first 3-4 months your breasts get firm between feedings and soften with feeding.
• You hear swallowing for several minutes.
• Your baby is satisfied after most feedings.
  • Cluster feeding is normal.

The bottom line is always adequate weight gain.

If your baby is gaining enough weight, he is getting enough to eat. Period.

Weight gain should be consistent from week to week for the first 2-3 months. You may have slow weeks after that. Over the course of a month or two he should be following his growth curve.

I can’t emphasize enough that there is no right on wrong place to be on the curve. You just want her to follow her curve. 

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Sometimes babies are gaining well and moms are still concerned. These are very ineffective ways of checking milk supply:

• Offering your baby a bottle of pumped milk or formula after breastfeeding. Thinking that if he takes it that means you don’t have enough milk.
  • Babies can overeat just like adults do.
• Pumping instead of feeding one time, to see how much milk you have.
  • Milk supply fluctuates throughout the day.
• Giving your baby a bottle to see how much he takes and comparing it to how much you can pump.
  • A baby may take more from a bottle than he normally would take from the breast.

But what if you’ve gotten to this point and said, “those reassuring things aren’t happening.” Or your baby is gaining well, but you are also supplementing now. What then?

First, make sure you cover the basics.

Some moms will never have a good milk supply, no matter what they do.

Other moms can do everything wrong and still have a great milk supply or even too much milk.

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Too Much Of A Good Thing – How To Decrease Milk Supply

The vast majority of moms make enough milk for their babies, if they are covering the basics.

• Frequency: in the beginning your baby needs to eat at least 8 times every 24 hours.
• If your baby is not able to breastfeed then you need to pump. Something needs to be happening with your breasts at least 8 times every 24 hours.
• It is normal for a baby to eat up to 10-12 times in a 24 hour period
• Your baby may eat even more frequently in the first few days.
• You should be feeding your baby whenever he shows feeding cues. 

 

• Make sure you are thoroughly draining your breasts.
• Every time milk is taken out of your breasts it sends a message to your body.
  • If you leave a little bit of milk in your breasts, it tells your breasts to make about the same amount as what was taken out.
  • If your drain your breasts as much as possible, then they will usually make more, over time.
  • If you leave a lot of milk in your breasts, it tells your body to make less milk.
  • It might take a few days for your body to start to make more or less.
  • Your breasts are always making milk, even when you are feeding. You will probably always be able to express some drops. Even when your baby has done a really good job of draining them.
• A good latch is very important for effective draining.
  • Usually, you will know if your latch is good if it doesn’t hurt when you breastfeed. Your nipple should be round when your baby comes off.
  • Some discomfort in the early days can be ok.  If you are having any discomfort check with a lactation consultant just to be sure it’s normal.

Make sure you’ve got the basics covered. Make sure that your baby is eating frequently enough, for long enough. Make sure your baby has a good suck and doesn’t have a tongue-tie.

Think long and hard about that sleep training method that is giving you a good eight hours of sleep. It may also be creating a low milk supply.

Find out if you have low prolactin. This is a lab test that your healthcare provider can order.

If your problem is low prolactin you can drink all the blue Gatorade in the world and it won’t change your milk supply.

Causes of low milk supply

• Hormonal problems. This can be from a variety of things.
  • PCOS (Source)
  • Low thyroid
  • Pituitary problems
  • Diabetes
• Not having enough glandular tissue in the breasts (this is NOT small breasts, and it is pretty rare).
• History of breast surgery: reduction, augmentation, lift, even a biopsy. It doesn’t mean if you’ve had one of these procedures you WILL have low milk supply. It means you might.
• Hormonal birth control
  • Birth Control pills
  • Hormonal IUD’s
  • Birth control patches
  • Vaginal Ring
  • Birth control implant
  • Depo-provera shot
• Mom who is dehydrated
• Rigid schedules. These can result in a mom’s breasts not getting emptied thoroughly or frequently enough.
• Timed feedings
• Feeding only on one side when that is not enough for your baby and your breasts
• Babies with an ineffective or weak suck. A weak suck can have many different causes.
• Small baby
• Premature baby
• Tongue-tie
• Chromosomal disorders
• Baby who is sick
• Baby who sleeps long stretches at night
• An ineffective pump

As you can see, there are a LOT of things that can cause low milk supply.

What is causing it will determine what is the best thing to do to increase your milk supply.

There are a variety of natural ways to encourage increased milk production.

Some common foods that are believed to increase milk supply include:

• Oatmeal
• Green leafy vegetables
• Garlic
• Barley
• Brewer’s yeast
• Fenugreek (I also include this under herbs)

There are some herbs that I have seen moms take that definitely seemed to increase their milk supply.

• Fenugreek – this herb has some scientific evidence supporting its use for milk production (Source)
• The tincture seemed more effective than capsules or teas.
• A normal side effect of taking Fenugreek is that it makes you smell like maple syrup. This actually lets you know that you are taking enough.
• Goat’s Rue – most commonly found as a tincture
• Shatavari – most commonly found as capsules
• Alfalfa
• Milk Thistle
• GoLacta (Malunggay)

You are likely to come across herbal combinations, like More Milk, Milk Rich, and other herbal blends. I think it is best to start with one single herb and see how your body reacts to it.

If you take a combination of herbs and you have a bad reaction, you won’t know which herb caused it. This is especially true if the herbs are not something you have ever consumed before.

One of my very favorite resources for information about herbs to increase milk supply is the book, “Making More Milk” by Diane West and Lisa Marasco. They talk about the herbs and specifically dosages. How much you take can make a difference.

Herbs are just like pharmaceuticals. They can cause side effects and allergic reactions.

You should always:

Let your doctor know you are taking them.

Check a trusted resource to see if they can interact with any medications you might be taking. 

Check a trusted resource to see if a particular herb is contraindicated with any medical condition you might have.

stop taking them if you have any kind of allergic reaction to them. Start your dosage low and increase. decrease the dosage if you or your baby start experiencing any negative side effects.

One of the most common side effects of herbal supplements is GI upset. Decreasing the amount can help with these side effects.

You will see Mother’s Milk Tea at the grocery store. It isn’t going to hurt and can help keep you hydrated. However, it probably won’t help much.

Some moms swear by Gatorade, sometimes Blue Gatorade in particular. I think if it does help it is probably along the same lines as helping with dehydration.

Moms swear by smoothies. This can be attributed to a couple of things.

You can add lactogenic foods. Those are foods that help you make milk.

The increased calories can help. Making milk takes a lot of calories!

The combination of foods may be what helps the milk supply.

Now this is what I’m talking about! Who doesn’t want to increase their milk supply with some yummy cookies?

If someone has a really low supply, cookies are not going to hurt, but chances are they aren’t going to make a huge difference either.

Someone who is just a little low may find that they help. You want to make sure they have the things that help milk supply in them. Who knows, maybe their magic power is in those foods being combined or baked together?

Acupuncture is actually one method that I have seen consistent success with. If a mom is struggling with her milk supply I will always recommend she try acupuncture. Some research studies have looked at acupuncture as a treatment for low milk supply. The results have been encouraging.

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Pumping is a tried and true method to increase milk supply. It works for the simple reason that the increase in demand will almost always create an increase in supply.

Just like everything else, it won’t necessarily work for everyone.

• If you are breastfeeding you want to pump right after a feeding.
  • This tells your breasts to make more milk next time.
  • You will probably get more milk if you wait until you are between feedings. But that is because you are taking milk away from your baby’s next feeding. You don’t want to do that.
• If you are exclusively pumping then you will increase the number of times you pump each day.
• Hands-on pumping is also very effective to help your breasts make more milk.
• Try one of these variations of power pumping.
• Pump every hour for four hours
• Pump X10 minutes > rest X15 minutes> repeat 4 times
• Watch an hour of TV and pump during the commercials

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Reglan/Metoclopramide – this is a drug that is for GI disturbances.

It also increases prolactin levels, so it can increase milk supply.

It has a black box warning due to the potential side effects.

One of the side effects is depression. Being postpartum already puts you at risk for depression.

Because of its side effects I am not a fan of moms using this drug for low milk supply. I did want you to know about it though.

Domperidone/Motilium– this is another drug that is intended for GI disturbances.

It has been designated an orphan drug by the FDA.

It is not currently FDA approved. Some moms can still get it, from a compounding pharmacy, or online from countries where it is legal.

In some countries it is available without a prescription.

I suggest you do research to understand the pros and cons of this drug. You should definitely not take it without professional advice and supervision

Occasionally a mom will have a sudden drop in her supply. There are things I call “milk busters” because they can decrease milk supply.

• Peppermint
• Sage
• Parsley
• Pseudoephedrine (found in a lot of cold medicines)
• Birth Control Pills
• Significant weight loss in a short period of time
• Baby sleeping through the night
• Pregnancy
• Illness
• Dehydration

Related Post

3 Holiday Foods That Decrease Milk Supply While Breastfeeding

Sometimes a decrease in milk supply is a mystery.

I always stress that you should work with a lactation consultant if you are not seeing the kind of weight gain that is expected, or if you just want the reassurance to know that everything is normal.

Whether you have documented low milk supply, or you are concerned about your milk supply,  it is always best to work with a lactation consultant. She can verify the issue, try to figure out why it is occurring and come up with a plan, and then assess whether the plan is working.

Breastfeeding is not an all or nothing deal.

If your milk supply is low, every bit of it that you can give to your baby is valuable.

 

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