5 Natural and Gentle Ways to Increase Your Low Breast Milk Supply
It's incredible that we women have the innate ability to grow a small human and then produce enough food to nourish them daily during their early years of life.
I'm forever in awe of how magical our bodies truly are as women.
As a mom who breastfed our daughter for 3.5 years, I know firsthand how amazing and sometimes stressful breastfeeding can be. While breastfeeding is amazing in so many divine and fulfilling ways, it is a commitment that may come with struggles.
Breastfeeding can be painful, difficult and some times plain ol' frustrating. But once you've conquered the first three months and you and baby have found your rhythm it gets a lot easier.
If you're experiencing problems with low breast milk supply you are not alone, many moms do.
What I've observed and found to be true is that low breast milk supply is usually a result of hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies and stress.
The good news is that there are natural and gentle ways to troubleshoot this issue. I'll give your FIVE.
1. Make sure you're eating enough calories.
Remember that now you need to eat to support your own body's new nutrient demands AND your growing baby or babies.
Eat when you're hungry and make sure you're eating the appropriate amount of proteins, healthy fats, and carbs to help meet your baby's developmental needs and of course your own body's needs.
Now is NOT the time for you to go on a diet or to be preoccupied with unrealistic concerns of gaining weight.
For breastfeeding moms, I recommend to continue taking a quality prenatal vitamin to help to support your body's vitamin and mineral demands.
Go purchase my Prenatal & Beyond Multivitamins that's been formulated with you in mind.
2. Stay hydrated, drink water and get electrolytes.
Did you know that 90 percents of your breastmilk is made of water? Yes. Which is why staying hydrated and eating or drinking electrolytes is important.
Aim for at least 80 ounces of fluid everyday. Dehydration can be a huge factor in reduced breast milk supply.
Here are some ideas: think water, fruits, healthy electrolyte drinks, nourishing soups, broths and restorative herbal teas.
The more hydrated you are, the more water and consequently breastmilk your body is capable of producing.
3. Breastfeed your baby on demand.
The amount of breast milk you produce is dependent greatly on your baby. Your milk supply is determined by the stimulation that your baby provides while nursing.
In other words, the more you breastfeed, the more milk your body produces for your baby.
So, if you seem to be producing less milk than usual, feed your baby more often. Breastfeeding and adequate milk production is all about supply and demand. Latch your baby often, and feed on demand.
Sometimes relying on pumping your milk (an external device) prematurely can be a problem too. Feed from the breast as often as you can.
4. Commit to reducing your stress levels.
Your milk supply can and will decline if you're experiencing a lot of stress. So finding ways to reduce your stress levels while adjusting to your newborn will help get your breast milk supply up.
Whether you have to ask your spouse, partner of village for more support, do it.
Whether you need to ask you job for more paid time-off or even stay away from work longer, do it.
Your body will have a hard time producing breastmilk for your little one when your nervous system is in over-drive and you stress levels are too high.
A healthy nourished baby is a result of a healthy, happy, thriving mom. It's why I include adaptogen (nervouse system soothing) herbs in my Mommy's Milk Tea and Lactation Support Capsules.
5. Use galactagogue herbs to increase your milk production.
Galactagogues are a category of herbs that encourage the production of a mother's breast milk.
I have meticulously formulated an amazing synergy of galactogogue herbs, Mommy's Milk Tea and Lactation Support Capsules to support breastfeeding mom's milk production.
They include galactagogue, restorative, nourishing and adaptogen herbs.
Both of these products support your breast milk, nutrient levels, hormone health, nervous system and helps your body cope better with stress.
How long should I breastfeed?
The World Health Organization recommends that families exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of life and then continue nursing until two years of age.
Some women stop at six months, some women wean at a year, and some women continue brestfeeding longer than two years...and none of it is wrong. You'll discover what works for you and your child because your nursing relationship is between you and your baby.
The take away!
Try these five natural tips out and let me know how it goes.
Know that difficulties with breastfeeding does not reflect negatively on your abilities as a mother, so be gentle with yourself. We aren't born with an innate understanding of breastfeeding and it's something we can only truly learn through experience.
So much of our society and modern day fast-paced culture discourages mothers from breastfeeding, and we don't see it modeled as often as we should. For that reason, it's a bit of a learning curve.
It is my hope that more mothers choose to breastfeed and get to provide their babies with the BEST food made just for them.
Need more support?
Be sure to leave me a message in the chat box.
- Shavonne