For many breastfeeding moms, it is hard to tell how much milk the baby is getting when they nurse. Moms wonder, “Am I making enough milk?” If your baby seems to be eating but not satisfied, then there are a few things to consider. (But first: talk to your baby’s doctor to see if they feel there is a medical reason they want to investigate. If she feels the baby is medically doing well, then check with an IBCLC for an assessment of how the baby is breastfeeding and consider the following:)
2 .Adding some skin-to-skin sessions can help you and baby get back in tune with each other and can help you identify early feeding cues, try different positions that may work better for you, etc.
3. Some moms look to herbs and other things that have been reported to help increase supply. These are called “galactogogues” in the breastfeeding medicine arena and many have been around in different cultures for centuries. Herbs/foods such as fenugreek, goats rue, marshmallow root, milk thistle, oats, dandelion, seaweed, millet, anise, basil, blessed thistle and fennel seeds have been widely proposed to moms to help with breastmilk production but there are actually few good studies to support that. These are easy to find in health food stores, but these supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA and therefore may have other side effects and could cross react with other meds moms may be taking, so talk with your doctor and the pediatrician about them. (There are also a couple medicines that other countries use to help with milk production, but those are not approved by the FDA for use in this way and would be “off-label” use in the US.)
Very often, if the pediatrician says your baby is gaining weight appropriately and if the baby has lots of wet and poopy diapers, he is probably getting “enough.” While that isn’t a specific amount, you can rest assured that it is adequate.
Many moms worry about their supply, though, and if the baby’s doctor is also worried about your baby’s weight gain or that he hasn’t been having enough wet and poopy diapers, then that warrants some investigation. Occasionally there are moms who have some medical issues of their own that can impact milk production. If you, the pediatrician and the IBCLC all feel you have a low milk supply despite good nursing by the baby, it is important to check with your doctor to investigate other potential causes.
However, if the doc isn’t worried, then sometimes a mom is feeling like her supply may be low when in fact the baby is just getting more efficient and quicker at draining the breasts—resulting in shorter feeding times. This is ok! This is great! You’ll have more time to take a nap, get other things done, or just to hang out and read a book to your baby.
- Usually the biggest thing you can do to try to increase milk supply is to increase drainage of the breasts. Some moms never feel all the way “empty,” but most will be able to tell if they are softer/flatter/less heavy after a feed versus before as a way to gauge if baby is effectively getting milk out. If you don’t perceive this, you may be able to add some hand expression or pumping after a nursing session to help drive up the supply. You should aim for 10-12 drainages per day—either from the baby nursing, or you hand expressing/pumping. Less than this many drainages per day can give your body the feedback that you don’t really need all the milk.
2 .Adding some skin-to-skin sessions can help you and baby get back in tune with each other and can help you identify early feeding cues, try different positions that may work better for you, etc.
3. Some moms look to herbs and other things that have been reported to help increase supply. These are called “galactogogues” in the breastfeeding medicine arena and many have been around in different cultures for centuries. Herbs/foods such as fenugreek, goats rue, marshmallow root, milk thistle, oats, dandelion, seaweed, millet, anise, basil, blessed thistle and fennel seeds have been widely proposed to moms to help with breastmilk production but there are actually few good studies to support that. These are easy to find in health food stores, but these supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA and therefore may have other side effects and could cross react with other meds moms may be taking, so talk with your doctor and the pediatrician about them. (There are also a couple medicines that other countries use to help with milk production, but those are not approved by the FDA for use in this way and would be “off-label” use in the US.)
Very often, if the pediatrician says your baby is gaining weight appropriately and if the baby has lots of wet and poopy diapers, he is probably getting “enough.” While that isn’t a specific amount, you can rest assured that it is adequate.
Many moms worry about their supply, though, and if the baby’s doctor is also worried about your baby’s weight gain or that he hasn’t been having enough wet and poopy diapers, then that warrants some investigation. Occasionally there are moms who have some medical issues of their own that can impact milk production. If you, the pediatrician and the IBCLC all feel you have a low milk supply despite good nursing by the baby, it is important to check with your doctor to investigate other potential causes.
However, if the doc isn’t worried, then sometimes a mom is feeling like her supply may be low when in fact the baby is just getting more efficient and quicker at draining the breasts—resulting in shorter feeding times. This is ok! This is great! You’ll have more time to take a nap, get other things done, or just to hang out and read a book to your baby.
