Parentpedia

What Experts Say^*

"Is my baby getting enough milk?" This is one of the most common and important questions a new mom will ask. As Jack Newman, M.D., author of "The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers," reassures, "The vast majority of mothers are perfectly capable of breastfeeding their babies exclusively for about six months. In fact, most mothers produce more than enough milk."

8 Tips to Assure an Abundant Milk Supply

1. Perception is not always reality. You may think that you are not making enough milk when you have a more than sufficient supply. You can be confident that your baby is getting enough milk if she is happy, healthy, and alert; has good output and weight gain; and is developing normally....

"Is my baby getting enough milk?" This is one of the most common and important questions a new mom will ask. As Jack Newman, M.D., author of "The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers," reassures, "The vast majority of mothers are perfectly capable of breastfeeding their babies exclusively for about six months. In fact, most mothers produce more than enough milk."

8 Tips to Assure an Abundant Milk Supply

1. Perception is not always reality. You may think that you are not making enough milk when you have a more than sufficient supply. You can be confident that your baby is getting enough milk if she is happy, healthy, and alert; has good output and weight gain; and is developing normally.
2. Plan a "nursing vacation." Get the help you need around the house so you can crawl in bed with your baby and spend the weekend nursing. You may see your milk increase by the third day with all that nursing and skin-to-skin contact. If you can't take a full weekend, try mini-breaks instead.
3. Proper positioning and attachment are key. Low milk supply often results from your baby not being able to properly access your milk, due to poor positioning and latch on. And, if your baby can't access your milk, your supply will decrease. The easiest and most dependable way to tell if your latch on is perfect, is your comfort level. You should not be experiencing any pain.
4. Think supply and demand. Infrequent feeds are the number one cause of low milk supply. The more you nurse or express your milk, the more milk you make. Very frequent feeds, along with skin-to-skin contact, can quickly build your milk supply in the first few weeks. Make it your goal to go no more than two hours between daytime feeds with a slightly longer nighttime stretch of no more than four or five hours. Babies obtain a significant amount of their nutrition from nighttime feeds. Allow your baby to meet all her sucking and nutritional needs at your breast (no pacifiers).
5. Get your milk flowing. Apply moist heat to your breasts a few minutes before you start breastfeeding. While nursing, you may notice your baby's sucking slows to comfort sucking (nibbling.) When this happens, try breast compression to get your milk flowing. This helps insure that your baby is accessing the milk in your breasts. With your hand in a C-hold, thumb above your areola and fingers below, compress your breast, firmly but gently. Your baby should start sucking again. Keep up the pressure until your baby stops sucking. Rest and then move your hand to a different position and repeat the process.
6. Express your milk following feeds. Expression following a feed can be more effective in building your supply than more frequent breastfeeding or pumping. An "emptier" breast encourages milk production.
7. Power pump! To give your milk supply an added boost you can try power pumping. Express your milk with an automatic electric double breast pump for 10 to 20 minutes for the first part of the session, then repeat periods of 10 minutes of rest and 10 minutes of pumping for an hour once a day. You can also try a "pumping marathon" over an entire weekend, basically combining nursing your little one along with periods of power pumping.
8. Give switch nursing a try. This can work well for a baby whose sucking slows to comfort sucking early in a feed. Allow your baby to remain at the first breast while actively sucking and swallowing. When your baby's sucking slows, switch to the other breast and repeat this sequence until your baby comes off the breast relaxed and satisfied.

Safety Notes

• Good output and growth are two prime indicators that your baby is getting enough milk. Monitor your baby's output and weight gain. By day three, your baby should wet five to six disposable diapers and have at least three to four (quarter-size) bowel movements a day. Around six weeks, less frequent bowel movements are common. If your milk supply is a concern, schedule regular weight checks with the pediatrician. It's normal for babies to regain their birth weight within 10 days to two weeks after birth. Average weight gain during the first three to four months is six ounces per week, decreasing slightly to four to five ounces per week from four to six months.
• Many factors can affect your milk supply, including but not limited to: Supplements, pacifiers, nipple shields, and scheduled/timed feeds; maternal use of hormonal birth control and some other medications, such as decongestants; severe postpartum hemorrhage; retained placental fragment; pregnancy; hypothyroidism; PCOS; insufficient glandular development; breast trauma and substance abuse; a sleepy baby; reflux; prematurity; tongue tie; food allergies; oral motor dysfunction; and neurological conditions.
• If you have a compromised milk supply, it's important to express your milk at least 10 times a day with an automatic electric double breast pump, while working with a lactation consultant (IBCLC).
• Though most moms with low milk supply can build up their supply with the proper information and support, there are some women who will not be able to exclusively breastfeed their babies.

What Do You Say?

Add a Question or Write an Answer

Most Recent Contributors:

Aug 26, 2008 at 3:34:38 PM

see all

Helpful Resources

Tell Your Story

mimh19
1 day ago

still waiting on the preverbial great breastfeeding experience

I was able to breastfeed my first son for six months at which time I stopped (He had gotten his first teeth and desided to constantly use me as a teether... not very comfortable.) My Second Son on the other hand hated to be at the breast, Id have him latched so I wasnt in pain (although it...  read more

Not Acceptable?

BuckeyeChristy
September 05, 2007

Determined to Breastfeed

I wasn't able to breastfeed my first daughter because of a lack of interest on her part, so with my second daughter I was determined to succeed....  read more

Not Acceptable?

IronJessica
July 11, 2007

Breastfeeding disappointment

I over-prepared for the birth of my first child. I was completely and totally ready for anything - I'd been through the baby superstore dozens of time in anticipation of the addition to my family....  read more

Not Acceptable?