Increasing Your Breast Milk Supply

Breastfeeding can be hard. It can be difficult to maintain your supply, especially if you have to pump for any reason! The problem that occurs with pumping is that it's not as effective at getting all of the milk out as a baby is. This can decrease your supply, which can become a problem for obvious reasons. Here are some tips and tricks to help increase your breast milk supply -- without using medication!

Drink lots of water! Keep yourself hydrated is vital, and not just for keeping your breast milk supply up. As a rule of thumb, try to drink every time you nurse your baby. This is especially important in those first few months when your baby nurses a lot.

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Don't forget to EAT! This sounds like common sense, but when you have a new baby to take care of, it can be difficult to find time to eat. You need to remember that you are the sole provider of nutrition not only for your baby, but also for yourself. One tip is to keep some healthier snacks near your frequent nursing spots. Actually remembering to eat will usually cause a noticeable difference.

Try eating oats. Eating oatmeal or oat-based granola bars can give your supply a much-needed boost. Try this recipe for delicious Lactation Cookies.


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 Pump, even when you don't have to. If you are able to, it is helpful to pump on one side while your baby is nursing on the other. If you can't do that, try pumping immediately after the baby finishes nursing. There is also a method of increasing supply called Power Pumping. This involves pumping for five minutes every fifteen minutes for an hour.

Skin-to-skin contact. Spending time snuggling and cuddling with your baby can actually help to increase your supply, due to the hormones that are released. Spending this time with your baby can have many benefits for you and your baby, and not just for your milk supply!

Seek support and help. A good support system is crucial to successfully breastfeeding. Make sure there are people around you who are supportive and helpful. Don't hesitate for one second to contact your baby's pediatrician or a lactation consultant for advice or answers to questions. They want you to be successful, too!

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Enjoy these foods. These foods are said to give your supply a boost: asparagus, oatmeal, quinoa, fennel, flax, alfalfa, and red raspberry leaf, just to name a few!

AVOID these foods. Sage, peppermint, and wintergreen can lower your supply, as can comfrey tea, sassafras tea, ginseng tea, and licorice tea.

Have you been successful in increasing your breast milk supply, using one of these techniques or one we haven't mentioned? Please share your success stories and any advice you have in the comments!

Please remember that this advice should NOT be substituted for that of a doctor and to always seek professional help if needed. You should NEVER substitute advice found online for that of a doctor or lactation consultant.

Information taken from: http://www.simplyrealmoms.com/posts/increasing-your-breastmilk-supply/