How to Increase Breast Milk Supply

A question many breastfeeding mothers will type into Google at one time or another on their breastfeeding journey is “How to increase breast milk supply”. What’s reassuring to know is that there are many methods to achieve this, let’s explore your options.

Understanding Breast Milk Supply

When you understand how to increase your breast milk supply, you will also learn what can hinder your milk production. Knowing how to do both will improve your breast milk and keep you better informed on managing your milk production for as long as you breastfeed. Your baby will nurse on a “supply and demand” basis and this will largely determine how much breast milk your body needs to produce.

When does milk come in?

During the final weeks of your pregnancy, you may notice that your body has already started to initiate a breast milk supply. Before your milk comes in, your body produces colostrum which is a thicker, stickier milk and can be orange or yellow.

For the first few days, your body will produce colostrum and this will slowly transition into breast milk as your milk comes in over 2-5 days postpartum.

Some mothers choose to harvest colostrum in the build-up to their baby’s birth using syringes to store it. This is particularly useful if your baby struggles to latch or feed in the early days of their birth because they can still benefit from the nutritional and health advantages colostrum has.

What affects breast milk supply?

• Poor latch
• Feeding frequency
• Underlying medical conditions, e.g. mammary hypoplasia, diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, thyroid condition.
• Mother’s diet (food/drink to avoid)
• Labour complications, e.g. high blood loss, medication

How to Improve Breast Milk Supply

Babies will feed on demand to nourish their bodies as they grow and develop through each milestone. Each time breast milk is removed from the breast, either through nursing or expression, more milk will be produced. Therefore, supplementing with baby formula without expressing milk will naturally reduce your breast milk supply because the demand is not there. Using an electric breast pump alongside nursing can be a time-saving way to boost your milk supply.

At birth a newborn’s tummy is tiny, the size of a marble! They will feed little and often to begin with and this will increase over time. To ensure that your baby is draining the breast completely, they will need to latch correctly so the milk is expressed efficiently. For example, if your baby’s latch is too shallow, they won’t be drawing milk from the whole breast leading to blocked milk ducts.

As your baby nears a new milestone in their development, you might notice them start to feed a lot more than usual. These feeds can vary in length and there may not be that much time in between each one. This is also known as “cluster feeding”. This is your baby’s way of encouraging your body to produce more milk to meet the demands of their growth and development.

Techniques to Boost Your Breast Milk Supply

These are some of the best tricks in the book on how to increase your breast milk supply.

Power Pumping

To improve breast milk production, you can use a single electric breast pump (or a double) to mimic your baby when they cluster feed. An electric breast pump is less tiring on the mother than using a manual breast pump and can stimulate the breast to express more milk, just like your baby does.

Breast Compression

Breast compressions can be useful to alleviate engorged breasts and also improve breast milk supply. You don’t need any equipment to do this and it is particularly helpful for babies who tire quickly when feeding.

When your baby has stopped feeding, shape your hand like a “C” around your breast and compress. Your baby will naturally begin to suckle again when they can sense more milk is there. Continue to compress until your baby has finished feeding. You can repeat this on the other breast too, especially if one breast is producing more milk than the other.

Switch Nursing

Switch nursing means swapping from one breast to the other multiple times during a feed to stimulate both breasts. If one breast is producing more milk than the other, this can help to even out your supply. It also helps your baby to get the letdown from both breasts and continue feeding if they are not yet full. You do not need to wind or burp your baby in between each breast.

Nutrition and Hydration for Improved Breast Milk Production

Keeping yourself hydrated is essential for improving breast milk supply and providing many other health benefits. Without water, many bodily functions will not perform at their best, including breast milk production. Not only do you need to hydrate and feed your baby, but you also have to meet your nutritional needs!

To optimise your diet to improve your breast milk supply, consult a dietician or nutritionist for further advice. It pays to start introducing this into your diet throughout your pregnancy to prepare your body for producing breast milk. These are some recommended nutrient-rich foods that will increase your breast milk supply.

• Oatmeal (Try these “Oatmeal lactation cookies”!)
• Leafy greens such as kale and spinach.
• Flax seeds
• Fennel
• Almond and sesame seeds

Addressing Common Breastfeeding Issues

Breastfeeding isn’t always plain sailing but it doesn’t have to be difficult either - there is often a solution to any breastfeeding challenge you are having. If you’re not sure how to increase your breast milk supply or if you’re facing a different issue, try some of these tips below.

One Breast is Producing More Milk than the Other

This can happen if your baby has a “preferred side” to feed on, or even if the mother has a preferred side to nurse because it is more comfortable. Did you know that it’s completely normal for one breast to have more working milk ducts and alveoli than the other? Naturally, this makes it easier for breast milk to flow and be produced better for one breast than the other. Babies can pick up on this and lean towards the side which is easier to feed from!

To encourage milk production on the other breast, you can use breast compressions during a feed or express on one side with a single electric breast pump. To catch the letdown on the other side if your baby isn’t feeding, you can use a silicone breast milk cup to collect and store the expressed milk.

Blocked Milk Duct

A blocked milk duct can occur when milk gets “stuck” towards the nipple and it builds up behind the blockage. This forms a lump that can be sore and uncomfortable. To free the blocked milk duct, apply gentle pressure and massage the breast before, during, and after a feed. As your baby nurses, they may help in removing the blocked milk. Applying a warm compress can also alleviate any discomfort and get your milk flowing properly again.

To avoid getting a blocked milk duct, wear a nursing bra that isn’t too tight and preferably without wire. Ensure that after each feed, both your breasts have been emptied completely. Leaving a blocked milk duct can lead to mastitis, an infection in the breast, which can be painful and leave you feeling unwell.

How to Boost Your Breast Milk Supply When It’s Low

Typical signs of having a low breast milk supply are when your baby is losing weight, they are dehydrated, or they’re not doing enough wet or dirty nappies each day. When you express, you may notice that one side expresses more milk than the other, but you can learn how to increase breast milk supply with little to no medical intervention.

If you have any concerns, always consult your healthcare professional or if they are specific to breastfeeding, you can get guidance from a lactation consultant. They may advise you of the techniques we have explored, or medications and herbal remedies that can help you to increase your milk production.