Breastfeeding is the best nutritional choice for babies, but it can still be challenging for many new moms. Issues like low breast milk supply are common in the early days. By recognizing when to seek support, you can overcome these challenges and enjoy a successful breastfeeding journey that benefits both you and your baby.
Common Breastfeeding Challenges
Breastfeeding can be challenging for several reasons, including because the baby isn’t latching correctly, you’re not feeding often enough, or due to issues like mastitis, which is inflammation and sometimes an infection that affects the breasts.
One proactive way to prepare for potential early feeding challenges is by collecting colostrum before the baby is born. Some lactation experts recommend this approach as it can serve as a backup milk supply if breastfeeding is delayed or the baby has special feeding needs.
Colostrum collection involves expressing and storing the thick, nutrient-rich milk produced by the breasts during late pregnancy and the first few days after childbirth. Collected by hand into sterile containers and frozen in small amounts for later use, this “first milk” is packed with essential nutrients, antibodies and immune-boosting support that are beneficial for newborns.
Every baby is different, so even experienced moms might find that breastfeeding a new child feels different from before.
Here are some common reasons a mom might struggle with producing enough breast milk:
- Improper latch: Babies can sometimes struggle to latch on the breast, causing ineffective sucking and inadequate milk intake. This can leave the baby hungry or undernourished.
- Infrequent nursing: Not breastfeeding often enough can signal the body to produce less milk.
- Supplementing with formula: Introducing formula can decrease a baby’s demand for breast milk, which can reduce the mother’s supply.
- Mother’s dehydration or poor diet: Inadequate fluid intake or a nutritionally poor diet can affect milk production.
- Mastitis: Inflammation of breast tissue that may involve an infection that causes pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes fever and other symptoms.
- Plugged milk duct: Milk ducts can become plugged and painful if the baby does not feed well, if the mother skips feedings or even if the mother frequently wears bras that are too tight.
- Premature birth: Mothers of premature babies sometimes take longer to produce a full milk supply.
- Mom having certain medical conditions: Certain conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disorders or previous breast surgeries can impact milk production because of how they affect hormones that signal the body to make breast milk.
- Medications: Some medications, including certain hormonal contraceptives and decongestants, can decrease milk supply.
- Stress and fatigue: Managing the frequent night awakenings of a newborn, coupled with the demands of any additional children and household responsibilities, can be overwhelming and contribute to a low supply. Recovery from childbirth, particularly from complicated deliveries, might also impede the breastfeeding process.
- Smoking: Smoking has been linked to reduced milk supply and can also alter the taste of breast milk.
How Do I Get My Breasts to Produce More Milk?
Here are some strategies that can help many mothers to increase breast milk production:
1. Frequent Feeding
Breast milk production is largely driven by demand. The more often you breastfeed, the more signals your body receives to produce milk.
Aim to nurse your baby at least every two to three hours during the day and every three to four hours at night (or about eight times or more when the baby is very young). Each session should last for at least 15 minutes.
2. Focusing on Proper Latching
If the baby is not latching well, not only is it painful for the mother, but it can also reduce milk extraction, signaling the body to produce less milk. Consider consulting with a lactation consultant who can observe a feeding session and offer guidance on improving the baby’s latch.
3. Use Both Breasts During Feedings
Switching breasts multiple times during a feeding can help stimulate milk production. Allow your baby to feed from one breast until they slow down or stop sucking before switching to the other breast. This stimulates both breasts and can boost overall milk supply.
4. Try Breast Pumping
Pumping in between feedings, such as with an electric pump, can help increase milk production. Even if your baby has finished feeding, pumping for a few extra minutes will stimulate your breasts to produce more milk.
For mothers who are away from their babies due to work or other reasons, pumping according to the baby’s feeding schedule is crucial for maintaining your supply.
5. Avoid Formula Supplementing
If possible, try to avoid supplementing with formula, as this can decrease the baby’s demand for breast milk, which in turn reduces your supply. If supplementation is medically necessary, try to pump during these feeding times to maintain your milk supply.
6. Stay Hydrated and Maintain a Balanced Diet
Hydration is key to maintaining milk production. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, ideally water. Your diet and nutrient intake also play a significant role in your milk production.
Include a variety of whole grains, proteins and healthy fats in your meals, and make sure you’re eating enough calories daily to support lactation. Breastfeeding moms need about 340 to 400 more calories per day than the amount they consumed before pregnancy.
Focus on a well-rounded diet that includes whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables. Nutrient-rich foods that may support milk production include salmon, eggs, poultry, milk, oats, quinoa, brown rice, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and nutritional yeast.
Some breastfeeding women find that galactagogues – herbs that may help stimulate milk production—can be beneficial. They can be consumed as teas, capsules, powders, or in meals. Food that contain galactagogues include fennel (and fennel seeds), leafy greens like spinach and arugula, oats, chickpeas, and almonds.
Always consult your lactation specialist or healthcare provider before starting any supplements or herbal remedies.
7. Rest and Manage Stress
Getting enough sleep and managing stress can have a positive effect on your milk production.
Prioritize down time every day and use stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, outdoor walks, meditation or yoga.
You can also nap during the day when your baby is sleeping or consider having your partner give the baby one bottle of pumped milk overnight so that you can sleep longer.
When to Consult a Lactation Consultant
It’s recommended that mothers who are struggling with breastfeeding consult a lactation consultant early on if they experience issues such as painful breastfeeding, concerns about the baby’s weight gain or difficulties with the baby maintaining a latch. Some pediatricians are trained in lactation support or make lactation consultants available in their office.
Every woman’s body is different, and what works for one mom to boost her supply might not work for another, which is why a trained lactation consultant can provide support.
Certified lactation consultants are trained to address the many problems that can affect breastfeeding by providing tailored advice that helps both mother and baby handle their unique breastfeeding difficulties.
During one-to-one sessions with a lactation consultant, breastfeeding moms can learn about:
- How to properly position the baby to achieve an effective latch
- How to monitor the baby’s weight to ensure they’re eating enough
- How to pump and safely store breast milk
- Back-to-work strategies when breastfeeding to make the process easier
- Rest and nutrition tips for nursing moms
- Where to get additional support over time if new challenges come up
At Stony Brook Medicine, we understand that every family’s breastfeeding experience is unique. Our team of certified nurse midwives—including five IBCLC-certified specialists—is here to support you, whether you plan to breastfeed for a few months or beyond baby’s first year. We provide a variety of resources to guide you through the challenges and joys of breastfeeding, during pregnancy and after birth. Our services include teaching effective baby positioning and latch techniques, offering advice on milk pumping and storage, and developing back-to-work breastfeeding strategies. Our experts also provide guidance on rest, nutrition for nursing mothers and connections to ongoing support resources like breastfeeding groups.
To schedule an appointment with a certified lactation consultant, call (631) 444-4686. For ongoing community and encouragement, consider joining one of our breastfeeding support groups.
