What should a mother do if she has little milk? Not enough milk? What a nursing mother needs to know about lactation

Almost every mother knows about the benefits of breastfeeding. In addition to the positive effect on the health of the baby and the woman, breastfeeding eliminates many financial and household problems, since you don’t have to spend money on buying baby food, bottles, formula warmers, etc., and mommy gets rid of worries about sterilizing dishes for feeding and breeding milk formula, which is especially painful at night. But even knowing all the benefits of natural feeding and having the mindset for long-term breastfeeding, no one is immune from the fact that problems with lactation may arise. In order to be prepared and feed the baby breast milk for as long as the mother wants, you need to know the features of its appearance, the reasons for the absence or insufficient milk production and ways to establish lactation.

When does breast milk come in?

Throughout pregnancy, a woman's mammary glands prepare to fulfill their main purpose. Namely, to feeding the baby with breast milk. The expectant mother's breasts begin to increase in size; in the last months, colostrum, which is primary milk, may even be released. Immediately after birth, the baby eats colostrum. Its benefits in the formation of immunity and health in general are difficult to overestimate, since it contains the maximum concentration of useful substances. At first glance, it may seem that its quantity is not enough to saturate a newborn baby. But the high nutritional value and energy value of colostrum, even in small quantities, can satisfy the baby’s hunger.

Some time after birth, real milk comes, which is called transitional milk. The timing of its arrival is individual and depends on many factors. Women who have given birth for the first time usually report a later appearance of milk. On average, this occurs 3-4 days after birth. It is considered normal even if it arrives within a week.

Those women who become mothers again most often experience a rush of milk a little earlier. It may appear as early as 2–3 days after the baby is born.

Mothers who give birth by cesarean section begin to feel the pain approximately 5-6 days after the baby is born. This deadline may be postponed 2 days earlier or later. All this is a variant of the norm.

The timing of breast milk arrival is also influenced by genetic factors. If milk came early for women in the family, then with a high degree of probability it will arrive to the new mother earlier than to the others.

The author of the article became a mother twice. The difference between the children was 13 years. Perhaps this is why the principle of milk arrival in a multiparous woman did not work. As with the first child, the milk arrived only on the 5th day after birth. I assume that since the period of time after the first birth turned out to be very long, the body did not remember the mechanism of lactation and therefore perceived this situation as if it were the first time.

No less important in the timing of the appearance of breast milk is the first attachment to the breast. Ideally, the baby should be attached no later than 30 minutes after birth. This stimulates lactation and allows you to feel the arrival of milk a little earlier than with late latching. But in some cases this cannot be done, for example, due to poor health of the baby or mother. Therefore, if early application did not work out, you should not despair. It will be possible to attach the child later.

The timing of the arrival of breast milk is greatly influenced by the first attachment of a newborn to the breast.

Reasons for lack of breast milk after childbirth

The fact that breast milk arrives a little later than the baby is born is explained by some scientists as the “wisdom” of nature. At the moment of the birth of the baby, he and his mother face other tasks. First of all, the baby needs to adapt to new food. And a small amount of colostrum at this point is the ideal food for a newborn. Stress after childbirth also requires a lot of energy to recover, so a large flow of milk during this period is of no use to either the child or the new mother. Until the lactation mechanism starts “to its fullest”, the baby and his mother learn how to latch on correctly, so that later there will be no problems with the volume of milk that appears later.

There is no need to worry if colostrum does not appear before birth. For many women, it appears only after the baby is born. The lack of colostrum for 2-3 days after birth should also not be a reason to panic. For most women it comes sooner or later.

The complete absence of milk after childbirth and the inability to produce it is called agalactia and is quite rare (no more often than 3% of women). Most mothers who have difficulty establishing breastfeeding experience hypolactia, a state of insufficient breast milk production when the quantity does not meet the baby's needs.

The causes of agalactia and hypolactia can be:

Underdevelopment of the breast. Large breasts in a plump woman often mask this problem, since their volume is compensated by adipose tissue.
Atrophy of the mammary glands. This can happen even with well-developed breasts if a woman gives birth for the first time at a late age. The atrophy process is also influenced by prolonged malnutrition and other factors that can reduce the secretory function of the breast (neurohormonal disorders, unfavorable pregnancy, etc.).
Congenital pathology, which includes the absence of lactocyte receptors (cells that produce milk).
Diseases that affect the condition of the mammary glands. Although they recover well from illness, sometimes a previous illness can lead to narrowing of the milk ducts or scarring in the breasts. Such conditions can be a consequence, for example, of purulent mastitis or tumors.
Diseases of the pituitary gland, which are manifested by its weak activity in the formation of prolactin.
Diseases of the hypothalamus resulting from injuries and bruises.
Taking medications that inhibit the production of prolactin. For example, Bromocriptine, Pergolide, Tamoxifen, Clostibegit.
Infectious diseases. For example, hepatitis, helminthic infestations, ascoridosis, etc.
Severe pregnancy and childbirth (late-term toxicosis, postpartum infections, etc.).
Caesarean section and premature birth. Nature intended that the lactation process starts after labor. In the case of a caesarean section, the birth of a child occurs artificially, so the process of milk production may slow down slightly. Regarding premature birth, the problem of hypolactia arises due to the low weight of the child, the immaturity of his sucking reflex and late attachment. Despite this, cesarean section and premature birth should not be regarded as an absolute indicator of poor lactation. In most cases, the problem of hypolactia in these situations can be corrected.
Bad habits. Experimental data have confirmed that lactation is inhibited by regular inhalation of tobacco smoke. Passive smoking also inhibits the release of prolactin, which is involved in stimulating milk production.
Obesity or low weight. These conditions often lead to poor prolactin production.
Incorrect feeding technique. Incorrect and irregular breastfeeding, switching to artificial formula, and early complementary feeding can lead to a decrease in the amount of breast milk.
Stress.
Incorrect or insufficient nutrition, inadequate rest.
Insufficient fluid intake.

In my family, it was always believed that women of our kind are not capable of feeding a child. Babies were fed breast milk for a maximum of 1 month, and more often from birth they were supplemented with formula, since it was believed that there was no milk at all or very little. I thought so too, until I gave birth to my second child and set out to feed him until he was at least six months old. The small volume of the chest raised concerns that it would not be possible to cope with this task. I didn't have any colostrum during pregnancy, which didn't help my confidence either. But, despite all the fears, I completed this mission. Moreover, I still feed my son, and he is already one and a half years old. Therefore, I can say with confidence that in our family there is hypolactia, which we are quite capable of coping with. There would be desire and persistence.

One of the main factors inhibiting full lactation is the lack of regular and frequent emptying of the mammary glands.

What needs to be done to improve lactation

The hormones prolactin and oxytocin are responsible for the process of lactation in a woman’s body. Prolactin is responsible for the production of breast milk, and oxytocin is responsible for excretion. Knowing the mechanisms of their stimulation, you can start the lactation process.

The production of these hormones is stimulated when the baby suckles at the breast. Nerve endings located on the nipples give the brain a signal to increase the release of hormones. Prolactin is produced best at night. This is why night feedings are so important. Oxytocin begins to be synthesized faster at the sight of the baby, feeling his smell, positive thoughts about him and feedings in general. Stress and self-doubt, on the contrary, inhibit its production.

Drawing a conclusion from what was said above, we can give a recommendation to put the baby to the breast as often as possible, thereby stimulating the nerve endings, not to skip night feedings and to be in a positive frame of mind.

Hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin are responsible for lactation.

Despite the fact that hormones play a dominant role in lactation, there are other factors that contribute to the establishment of lactation:

By eliminating errors in the technique and organization of feedings (correct positioning of the baby, night feedings and switching to feedings on demand, abandonment of pacifiers and pacifiers), lactation in most cases improves. It must be remembered that the activity and effectiveness of his sucking depends on how correctly the baby grasps the breast. The baby should completely grasp the nipple and most of the areola. The lips should be turned outward, the chin should be pressed to the chest, and the nose should not sink into it. During sucking, no extraneous sounds, such as smacking, should be heard, but only swallowing milk. If the baby takes the breast incorrectly, then you should definitely correct the situation: offer it to the baby again, carefully turn the lips outward, if they are turned inward.
Adequate nutrition and drinking regime for the mother. A woman’s body must have large resources to produce milk, so nutrition must be sufficient to ensure full lactation. A breastfeeding woman needs to consume at least 2500–3000 kcal per day. You should drink about 2–2.5 liters of fluid per day, so that it is enough not only to maintain the vital functions of the body, but also to produce milk.
Drink a cup of warm liquid before feeding. Warm drinking has a beneficial effect on lactation, as it stimulates the flow of milk, facilitates its easier release from the mammary gland, thereby making the feeding process easier for the baby. To replenish lost fluid, it is recommended to drink something immediately after feeding: for example, a glass of compote or water.
Use of lactogenic drugs and herbs. Their choice is now quite large. For example, milk formula for nursing mothers Lactamil, herbal tea, dietary supplement Apilak and others are very popular. Lactamil is a dry milk mixture containing a lactate-forming herbal mixture, represented by anise, fennel, nettle and caraway. In addition to lactogenic properties, a drink prepared from this composition fills a woman’s body with essential macro- and microelements, vitamins and nutrients. Herbal tea Lactaphytol is a filter bag containing a mixture of fennel, cumin, anise and nettle. These herbs have a beneficial effect on lactation due to their lactation-forming properties. The biologically active food supplement Apilak contains royal jelly and, in addition to its lactogenic properties, has a general tonic effect, stimulates cellular metabolism and regenerative processes in the body. In addition to purchased products, you can make your own decoctions from herbs, for example, from nettle, linden, and anise.
Positive psychological attitude and family support. Stress and overwork can lead to deterioration of lactation, so the help of others in performing household chores and psychological support is very important so that a nursing woman can fully rest, get enough sleep and feel emotional comfort. The moral support of relatives in the desire to improve lactation plays a very important role. Skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby promotes closer interaction. As a result, oxytocin begins to be produced in enhanced mode.

Photo gallery: lactogonic drugs

The biologically active food supplement Apilak not only helps to establish lactation, but also has a general strengthening effect on the body.
Lactamil is a dry milk mixture with a herbal collection of lactogenic herbs. Herbal tea Lactaphytol includes a collection of nettle, fennel, anise, cumin

Lactation consultants recommend that women who are experiencing problems with lactation practice the nesting technique for a few days. It involves arranging a sleeping place for mother and baby in such a way that they are together for 24 hours. It is allowed to separate the mother from the child only for the time of visiting the toilet and eating. Close proximity between mother and child will contribute to the production of oxytocin, frequent breastfeeding will also promote the synthesis of prolactin, and the absence of household chores will help the nursing woman rest and recuperate.

When applied correctly to the breast, the baby's mouth is open wide, the chin touches it, the mouth covers most of the areola, and the baby's lips are turned outward.

What to do if milk starts to disappear

There are often cases when a nursing woman had milk after giving birth, but then it began to disappear. The reasons for this may be improper attachment, non-compliance with the rules of successful breastfeeding (feeding by the hour, not on demand, using a pacifier and pacifier, supplementing with a bottle), suboptimal diet and rest, inadequate drinking regimen, and psychological discomfort. Methods for establishing lactation in this case are the same as in the absence of milk after childbirth: frequent breastfeeding, feeding on demand (especially at night), close skin-to-skin contact, adherence to the regimen and quality of nutrition, rest and consumption liquids, the use of herbal infusions and pharmaceutical products to increase breast milk production. And most importantly, a positive attitude towards successful and long-term breastfeeding.

My experience of communicating with young mothers has shown that even with a lot of milk already in the maternity hospital, few continue breastfeeding. They claim that upon arrival home the milk disappeared for no reason, and no matter how hard they tried, they could not return it. However, such words cover up, perhaps, an unconscious reluctance to feed your baby, laziness or ignorance of the rules of breastfeeding. On the contrary, I had practically no milk in the maternity hospital. I struggled for breast milk for several months. To all the persuasion of relatives to give the child complementary foods in order to be a little freer, she gave a categorical refusal. For me, an important indicator was the baby’s stable and very good weight gain. The result is long-lasting and successful breastfeeding.

Periodically during lactation, lactation crises occur, which many confuse with the loss of breast milk. However, these phenomena are primarily associated with the growth of the baby, who requires an increasing amount of food. It takes time to adapt the body to the new needs of the baby. Therefore, over the course of 3-4 days, the child may demand to eat more often. During this period, it is important not to get upset and give the baby the breast as often as he needs it.

Throughout the entire period of breastfeeding, lactation crises occurred to me every 2-3 months. At these moments, the baby asked for the breast very often. Sometimes even every hour. At this time, hot tea before feeding and the use of Lactaphytol and Lactamil, which I still drink as a substitute for multivitamins, helped me a lot at this time.

Video: what to do when milk disappears

Not everyone experiences the process of establishing lactation on its own without difficulty. But successful breastfeeding is possible in almost every case. The main thing is to trust yourself and your child, follow the rules and maintain an optimistic attitude.

Breast milk is the most valuable product for a newborn baby. Only with natural feeding can a baby receive all the necessary substances that will ensure proper development and good health. However, many young mothers may experience a lack of milk or its absence in the first days. Why there is no milk or little of it, and what needs to be done, we will ask lactation consultants.

Experts' opinion

Breastfeeding specialists quite often encounter concerns from young mothers that they have little milk. Women come to a consultation with one question: what to do if there is no milk after childbirth. This question usually arises among women who have become mothers for the first time. Women most often panic in vain, because the process of establishing lactation takes a certain time, and in the first days after childbirth there is still no milk in the mammary glands. It appears later.

Women think that they have too little milk and that the baby is not getting enough, but nature took care of this. The female body produces exactly as much milk as the baby eats at one feeding. When the baby eats more, and enough milk will be produced so that he is full.

The first days after the birth of a child

In the first 3-5 days, many women do not produce milk at all. During this period, colostrum is released from the mammary glands. This transparent, slightly yellowish liquid contains all the substances necessary for a newborn baby. The composition of colostrum is so invaluable that it is these first drops of nutrition that can form the baby’s immunity and prepare its digestive system for subsequent feeding with milk.

However, the process of establishing lactation may take a little longer. If you still don't have milk 5 days after giving birth, you can help your body a little. In this case, the first and often most effective method is to put the baby to the breast frequently.

The more often you offer your breast to your baby, the more milk will be produced.

If, despite frequent feeding, little milk is produced, you need to reconsider your lifestyle. A young mother should rest as much as possible and eat right. Previously, experts advised pumping your breasts after each feeding. Today, doctors try to avoid this practice. Expressing interferes with the establishment of proper lactation. If you start pumping your breasts, it can lead to increased milk production, and there is a good chance that you will have to do this for a long time. In addition, when manually expressing, it is very easy to damage the mammary glands, which threatens the development of an inflammatory process.

"I don't have enough milk." How often do we hear these words from a young mother. How can we help?

In fact, it turns out that there is a lot of breast milk, but there is a lack of practical skills and confidence that there is enough of it. Before you go to the pediatrician for advice or for a recipe for an adapted mixture, evaluate your own strengths and possible mistakes on your part.

Alas, in our country, children's clinics and antenatal clinics do not have a breastfeeding specialist on staff. But it is the mother who can become such a professional specialist. You just have to want it!

What is the problem?

First step

First of all, answer this question for yourself: “Why do I think I don’t have enough breast milk?” Possible answers:

the baby cries more than usual;
I feel that the baby wants to be fed more often;
The baby sucks for a long time during feeding;
he becomes restless at the breast or refuses to eat;
the baby sucks his fingers or a pacifier in between meals, even immediately after sucking the breast;
After bottle feeding, the baby sleeps longer.

Are you concerned that since you gave birth, your breasts are not full enough with milk, your breasts are softer than they were before, or your breasts have stopped leaking milk? Or perhaps one of them (friend, mother, doctor) said. That you don't have enough milk. It is after this that many people think that the amount of milk decreases...

Affirmative answers to the above questions are not a reliable reason for the lack of breast milk: the phenomena that we observe are normal.

Does your baby suck on a pacifier immediately after feeding? He seeks to satisfy his sucking reflex.

Your mother claims that the entire female line of the family did not breastfeed their children much? It has been proven that this feature is not inherited.

Is your baby crying more than usual? Perhaps he is in a bad mood today. Is he tormented by colic or is the baby just tired...

Do not look for the reason for the lack of breast milk in such sketchy conclusions: nature has taken care of possible temporary setbacks and breast milk cannot “escape”! Even if due to a number of circumstances (for example, you ended up in the hospital) you have not breastfed your baby for several weeks, there is a chance to start right now: within three months after giving birth, the woman’s body actively produces the hormone prolactin, “responsible” for lactation.

So, let's make intermediate results. Naturally, you are not indifferent to the baby’s health; you are upset by the insufficient (imaginary or real) amount of the most essential food for a baby – breast milk. This means you are ready to take action to correct the situation. And this is the first step towards a psychotherapeutic solution to the problem.

A woman after a cesarean section, as well as after a premature birth, often experiences primary hypogalactia (this scientific term refers to insufficient production of breast milk). If you are one of these mothers, the main thing is not to lose the spirit of breastfeeding. After overcoming some difficulties, you will be able to feed your baby with your milk.

The risk group for hypogalactia also includes mothers who, during childbirth, were actively stimulated by labor or administered medicinal anesthesia - this often disrupts the natural hormonal levels in the body, which does not at all contribute to a successful start of lactation.

An important point: when choosing a maternity hospital in advance, focus on the mother and baby staying together, the early attachment of the newborn to the breast and skin-to-skin contact. In many maternity hospitals, to prevent hypogalactia, they practice psychotherapeutic methods, herbal medicine, reflexology, acupuncture, homeopathy, etc. Also, kind people should work in the medical institution you choose. Look only for such maternity hospitals!

Diaper - helper and friend

Second step

How do you really know if your baby is getting enough milk? The method is simple - check for wet diapers. Count how often your child wets diapers (namely diapers, not disposable diapers!). Newborns and children in the first months of life should urinate six or more times a day, and the urine should be colorless or pale yellow.

If a baby is exclusively breastfed and “uses” six or more diapers a day, he absolutely has enough milk, regardless of his weight and height at birth and at the moment.

Estimating milk supply using wet diapers is the second step to solving the problem. If you give your baby water or other drinks, this test will not help: urine will be produced from water and the baby may not have enough breast milk.

Overweight or underweight

Third step

Regular checking of the baby's weight is only necessary in case. If you are still sure that your milk supply is insufficient. But you shouldn’t torment yourself with weighing your baby every day, it won’t bring any benefit: you get nervous, and the amount of milk decreases sharply.

Weigh your baby regularly - every month or every two months. If your baby's weight is a concern, weigh him weekly (but not every day!). Enter all the data in a separate table: in the horizontal lines, enter the months of life, starting from the month of birth, in the vertical lines - the child’s weight in grams (for example, the baby’s body weight at birth is 3700 g - this is the starting point of your chart).

A healthy baby should gain between half and one kilogram of weight every month or at least 125 g every week. Babies who are exclusively breastfed may gain weight much more quickly in the first months. This is quite normal and even natural and only indicates that breast milk is the best food for a baby.

As a rule, after 4-5 months, the weight gain curve of a baby who is exclusively breastfed falls. If the baby’s weight gain curve is quite smooth, without sudden jumps down, then everything is fine with your breast milk and its quantity. Remember: during illness, weight gain (and height too) slows down or stops, and only a few days after recovery the child will begin to gain both grams and centimeters again.

Temporary setbacks

A decrease in milk production can be caused by various reasons. Physiologically determined are the so-called lactation (hypogalactic) crises. They can be repeated at intervals of approximately 28-30 days, which is associated with the cyclical hormonal activity of the female body.

During these days of a temporary decrease in milk production, you need to put the baby to the breast more often, and after 3-4 days the previous volume of milk will be restored. Sometimes the baby himself refuses to breastfeed, or the feeding conditions you create are not suitable for him.

Avoid the following situations:

the child is suckling at the breast in the wrong position (only the nipple is grasped, and not the entire nipple area; the lips are pulled forward, the cheeks are retracted; smacking sounds are heard, but the baby is not heard swallowing milk);
the baby has diseases of the nasal or oral cavity (for example, thrush or a common runny nose);
The taste of your milk has changed due to the restoration of the menstrual cycle (although most children do not react to this) or you have eaten foods that change the taste of breast milk - garlic, onions, spices. Fresh white and sauerkraut, pickled cucumbers, and all types of soda are likely to cause flatulence in a child. In summer, be careful with early vegetables - they can contain large amounts of nitrates;
the baby is fed strictly according to the schedule, and not according to his request; night feedings are not allowed; the child is rarely picked up and caressed little, for fear of spoiling him.

Attention: For successful breastfeeding, and simply for the health of the baby, you need to do everything exactly the opposite!

According to statistics. No more than 4% of women have serious problems with milk production. In many cases, hypogalactia is due to other reasons.

Therefore it is necessary:

Calm down, tune in to breastfeeding.
Eliminate stressful situations.
Stimulate the flow of milk with homeopathic medicines (such as “Mlekoin”) and ready-made lactogenic preparations (for example, “Laktovit”).
Try to increase milk production with the help of lactogenic recipes, which you need to use carefully in alternation - a lot of milk can come in!

Recipes:

1 tsp Brew cumin with 1 glass of boiling milk. leave for 10-15 minutes. Drink in sips throughout the day.

3 tsp Brew dry nettle with 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 10-15 minutes (infuse fresh nettle herb for only 2 minutes). Take throughout the day.

Brew 0.5 cups of peeled walnuts in a thermos with 0.5 liters of boiling milk (if the child does not have food allergies). Leave for 3-4 hours. Take 1/3 cup 20 minutes before each feeding. Use every other day.

Doctors deny:

Old recipe: before each feeding, be sure to drink 2 large cups of tea with milk. It has been proven that excess fluid not only does not stimulate lactation, but also reduces it.

There is no need to pump: milk is produced exactly as much as the baby needs. By expressing it to the drop, you, injuring the breast, cause excess milk for the next feeding. Pumping is sometimes necessary in the first weeks, when you and your baby “coordinate” your positions. After lactation is established, its main stimulator is the child - your body adapts only to it.

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Everyone knows that breastfeeding is very beneficial for the baby. With mother's milk, the baby receives all the necessary nutrients for its development, and its immunity is strengthened.

Therefore, if a woman does not experience problems with feeding the baby, milk flows from the nipples in sufficient quantities, then it is better to breastfeed the baby for as long as possible. What to do if the mother wants to feed the baby, but the milk does not flow from the breast or there is too little milk or it has changed color? This will be discussed in this article.

One of the main fears of pregnant women and young mothers is the fear that they will not have milk. Women, especially those who have given birth for the first time, immediately after giving birth begin to panic that they do not have breast milk. These fears are most often unfounded, because it is known that the lactation process improves gradually; in the first days after birth, there is no milk in the mammary glands; it appears later.

The woman thinks that little milk is produced and the baby is not getting enough, but the fact is that the body produces as much milk as the baby needs for one meal. Naturally, in the first days after birth, the baby eats little, and accordingly, milk is produced in small quantities. When the baby grows a little, there will also be more milk.

It is known that in the first few days after childbirth, women produce colostrum rather than milk. This yellowish, transparent liquid contains all the nutrients a child needs. It is these yellow drops that, once in the baby’s body, prepare his digestive system for breastfeeding and help form primary immunity.

The main reasons for the lack or absence of milk after childbirth:

Lactation crisis. A short-term decrease in lactation, which can last from several days to a week, can occur at 3-6 weeks after birth, at 3, 7, 11 and 12 months of the child’s life.
It is believed that lactation crises occur during periods of intense child growth, when the mammary glands do not have time to immediately respond to increased demands and are gradually rebuilt. During a crisis, the composition of the milk may change, it may slightly change color and taste (it tastes salty, but this is not scary, salted milk is not harmful to the child).

Mothers are advised not to panic if milk suddenly disappears or changes color. You should not rush to extremes and immediately switch your baby to formula, because in this case it will be very difficult to restore breastfeeding. A temporary lack of milk will not harm the baby. At this time, it needs to be applied to the breast more often and soon there will be a lot of milk again. And the fact that it changes the taste and becomes a little salty is even liked by many kids.
Difficult birth, during which it is necessary to use a large number of medications. The use of drugs during childbirth causes a hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body, which leads to disruption of breast milk production. In addition, the taste of the milk may change (it becomes salty or bitter) and its color.
Lack of early breastfeeding after childbirth. Now in maternity hospitals they try to put the baby to the nipples immediately after birth. It is believed that this triggers the process of milk production in a woman’s body. If this is not done, then the woman may have problems with the amount of milk secreted in the future.
Just recently everything was different. Immediately after birth, the babies were taken away for standard medical procedures and only a few hours later brought to their mothers for feeding. Perhaps it was the late application of the baby to the nipples that caused the massive early cessation of lactation in women in those years.
Psychological problems. One of the main reasons for the disappearance or lack of milk in women is psychological. Anxiety, stress, poor microclimate in the family - all these factors can cause a lack of milk in a young mother.
In addition, a big negative role is played by the fears of the woman herself, who, seeing that the milk has changed color or has disappeared for a while, begins to panic, creating a vicious circle from which it is difficult to get out. At this time, the support of relatives plays an important role, who must reassure and support the woman.
Early start of complementary feeding. Quite often it happens that the mother, thinking that the baby does not have enough breast milk, begins to supplement him with formula too early, which leads to the fact that she begins to produce less of her own milk, and over time it disappears altogether.
Scheduled feeding. More recently, doctors advised feeding the baby 5-6 times a day on a schedule so that his body gets used to the regime. But now the opinion has changed. It is believed that if you apply the baby to the nipples when he asks, including at night, the milk will come faster and lactation can be completely restored over time.
Taking hormonal medications. When taking medications containing estrogens (for example, contraceptives), lactation is reduced. In addition, milk can change its color and taste (it becomes salty or bitter). Salted milk is safe for children and many children even like it. But bitter, discolored milk can be dangerous.

The main thing is to choose the right drug and calculate the dosage!

Signs of low milk supply

Often a young mother, thinking that her baby does not have enough milk, is mistaken. There are four main signs by which you can find out whether the baby really does not have enough milk or whether the mother’s fears are in vain:

Child weight gain. The baby should gain at least 500 grams per month.
The number of urinations should be at least 12 per day. You can find out by counting the number of wet diapers.
The child should have stool every day, have a pasty consistency and be yellow in color. A malnourished child's stool is slimy, scanty, and greenish in color.
Activity and general well-being of the child.

How to produce milk after childbirth?

Special means for stimulating lactation

If a woman has lost milk or has too little milk, then in order to restore lactation they use:

Special teas and decoctions. Pharmacies sell special herbal mixtures to stimulate lactation. They usually contain caraway seeds, anise, dill and so on. The method of using and preparing such decoctions can be found in the instructions.
Vitamins for pregnant and lactating women (“Complivit Mama”, “Centrum”, “Vitrum Prenatal” and a number of others).
Dietary supplements for lactation (“Laktogon”, “Apilak”).
Dry milk mixtures to stimulate lactation (Femilak, Olympic and others).

Before using this or that product, you should consult your doctor and carefully study the instructions for use of this drug.

And finally, advice for young mothers. If your milk disappears after giving birth or it suddenly changes color for a short time, do not worry. By following all the above recommendations, you will again establish the process of milk production and provide your baby with the most beneficial food for his health!

Every day the number of questions young mothers ask doctors increases: there is not enough breast milk - what to do? That is why we decided to look into this issue and tell young mothers who have given birth to a baby about what to do if breast milk has become very small and is not enough for the normal nutrition of your baby.

Every young mother should understand that breastfeeding a baby is a completely natural process. Only with breast milk does the child receive all the necessary substances for normal growth and further development of the small organism. Plus, along with milk, the child’s body receives vitamins necessary for the formation of strong immunity.

Still, sometimes women notice that there is significantly less milk in the breast than usual. This causes concern for most young mothers who are not yet familiar with this phenomenon.

How to find out if your baby has enough milk?

Experienced pediatricians have carefully studied the process of breastfeeding and drawn unique conclusions. The results showed that by the baby's movements it is possible to recognize whether there is actually milk in the breast or whether the baby is simply trying to take it, but it is not really there.

With normal feeding, the baby not only grabs the breast, but also makes characteristic movements. Experienced pediatricians describe this cycle in three short phrases: the baby’s mouth is wide open – a pause of varying lengths – the mouth is closed. If such a pause is observed, you can be sure that there is still milk in the breast. The longer this pause lasts, the more milk the baby received with this sip.

The second sign that there is less milk is the nature of the baby's stool. On the first day after birth, the baby has dark green stool.

If there is not enough milk, then the color of the child’s stool does not change, but when the child has enough of it, the shade of the stool on the 4th day will already be brown and slightly light in color. If the baby does not poop every day, then you should think about the fact that breast milk is really not enough for the growing body.

Professionals also recommend monitoring the number of urinations per day. The mother's milk supply is sufficient if the baby urinates at least six times a day. With all this, the urine should be very light and practically without a characteristic unpleasant odor.

In addition, experts have identified the main signs that indicate that every day there is less and less milk for the baby’s normal nutrition. When the baby is full, by the end of feeding he becomes calm and practically falls asleep. If there is very little milk and the baby has not eaten enough, then the baby will be very anxious and start crying.

If there really is not enough of it, the baby begins to ask for food very often. Typically, the breaks between feedings in this case are less than 2 hours. And, of course, it is necessary to monitor the baby’s breastfeeding process. If he sucks it sluggishly for a long time and does not let go of his hands, then we can conclude that there is little or no breast milk.

What to do if there is not enough milk

Once an experienced specialist and the young mother herself have determined that there is less milk, and this amount is not enough for the child’s normal nutrition, this problem should be immediately prevented. You cannot cope with this phenomenon on your own, and only a breastfeeding specialist can help solve this problem.

However, if the baby is reluctant to ask for food and gradually begins to lose weight, then it is necessary to put him to the breast approximately every 2-3 hours. Well, we must not forget that even at night the child should receive a sufficient amount of nutrients.

During the period of normalization of nutrition, you should discard various pacifiers and nipples, as they can cause the baby to be reluctant to breastfeed. If mother's milk has not been restored, you can use special infant formula. They need to be fed with a small teaspoon, but in no case through a bottle.

If a woman has low milk supply, she needs to monitor her diet; perhaps it is the main cause of this problem. A young mother should eat a lot of lean meat, fish, liver, cereals and pasta, as well as vegetables every day. After a month of feeding, you can introduce fermented milk products and raw vegetables and fruits. And, of course, we must not forget about the correct drinking regime. The mother should drink at least 1.5 liters of clean water per day. Green tea also has a good effect on the lactation process.

What remedies will help increase lactation?

It is very difficult to find out why young mothers lose milk. Experts say there may be many reasons for this.

The main ones are:

poor nutrition;
bad habits;
nervous breakdowns, stress;
taking certain medications, etc.

In any of these cases, the problem should be eliminated as quickly as possible, since the future health of your baby depends on the presence of milk in the breast.

First of all, specialists prescribe special lactogenic drugs, herbal teas and even vitamins. Lactogenic products can be divided into 2 large groups. The first of them is necessary to correct the diet for the main nutrients. The main representatives of such substances are Femilak, Dumil Mama Plus, Enfa-mama, Olympic, etc. The second group contains lactogenic additives. Typically, such preparations are based on extracts of various herbs. A typical example of such a medicine is Milky Way.

If the milk has disappeared due to maternal vitamin deficiency, then the woman must undergo a course of treatment with vitamin complexes. Among them, the most famous and suitable for young breastfeeding mothers are Gendevit and Materna.

Various folk methods often help increase lactation. With great success, women use freshly squeezed juices, herbal and green teas, as well as decoctions of medicinal herbs.

The most common option for increasing lactation at home is drinking carrot juice. It is very important that the drink is prepared independently, using fresh carrots. You need to drink 100 ml of this mixture daily. After just a few days, the amount of mother's milk increases.

In most pharmacies you can find entire sets of lactogenic herbs, on the basis of which drinks are made that increase the amount of breast milk.

All of the above methods can really help you conserve breast milk and thereby provide your baby with the best nutrition that can be given to a baby his age.

Breastfeeding is a natural process, as a result of which the baby receives all the necessary substances for its growth and further normal development. If the mother notices that the amount of milk is becoming less every day and that it is not enough for the child, she should consult a specialist. He will prescribe the proper treatment that is suitable for you.

Video

The video will tell you in detail how to reliably find out if your baby has enough milk.