Not having breast milk in the first week after giving birth is common. Until women do not recognize that it is not a supply and demand issue, moms will struggle to produce enough milk throughout their breastfeeding experience.
The first four to six weeks of breastfeeding are critical if you are a first-time mom, as it is when you and your baby are figuring out a routine. It is also the time when babies are setting a healthy milk supply.
Lactation experts share some reasons that may affect breast milk supply:
The baby feeds fewer than 8 to 16 times in 24 hours
As the saying goes, you lose it when you don't use it. Prolactin, the hormone responsible for producing milk, increases after a mother gives birth. And moms continue to produce breast milk when the baby consistently breastfeeds.
As per Business Insider, the best way to increase prolactin after birth is frequent breastfeeding or pumping sessions for at least eight to ten sessions per day in the first few weeks after birth.
Jessica Maden, a pediatrician, neonatologist, and medical director of Aeroflow Breastpumps, warns that moms who do not breastfeed within the first month after giving birth will have decreased prolactin levels and return to how they were before getting pregnant. Moms usually will have a hard time producing milk after that.
Maden also recommends emptying the milk at each feeding to signal the body to produce more milk.
The baby is not latching correctly or has a weak suck
Make sure that the baby is latching on to the breast properly. The most efficient way to increase milk supply is for the baby to suck on the breast; hence proper baby latch is crucial.
A properly latched baby triggers oxytocin release, prompting the body to produce more milk. However, if the baby is not, it might leave too much leftover milk in the breast, preventing the body from making more for the next feeding.
If you are not sure if the baby is properly latched, it is best to talk to your doctor or a local lactation consultant.
Using breast compression to help the baby take in more breastmilk and stimulating the breast can also help enhance milk supply.
Read Also: Mom in Nevada Donates Thousands of Ounces of Breast Milk as Demand for Milk Surged in Milk Banks
Mom is exhausted, has insufficient calories, lacks sleep, poorly hydrated
Moms who are exhausted and stressed may notice a decrease in milk supply. Smoking, birth control pills, and alcoholic drinks can also affect milk supply.
Verywell recommends that moms should sleep when their baby sleeps. A balanced diet that includes high protein food is also recommended. Experts also suggest that lactating moms should also be properly hydrated. One indicator that she is nourished is that her urine is pale yellow.
Some women use herbs like fenugreek, goat's rue, milk thistle, alfalfa, and blessed thistle to increase milk supply. Domperidone and metoclopramide, although prescribed for other condition, helps increase milk supply. However, domperidone and metoclopramide increase the risk of depression, a concern for women who have just given birth.
Baby has conditions that makes his sucking reflex difficult such as preemies, tongue-tie, Down Syndrome
As per Mayo Clinic, tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition that restricts the tongue's range of motion. Common signs of tongue-tie are the baby has trouble staying latched, clicks when breastfeeding, and is having difficulty getting milk. Ask your pediatrician or lactation consultant if you suspect your child has a tongue-tie or conditions that make it difficult for them to suck milk from mommy's breast.
