How to increase lactation: proven methods. How to increase lactation while breastfeeding How to increase lactation Komarovsky

- Is there a lot of milk? – asked the pediatrician who came to us from the clinic the day after we returned from the maternity hospital. Since he was a man, I was not eager to discuss breastfeeding issues with him. Moreover, the lump - dear and sweet - sucked without interruption for days on end, with breaks only for sleep. It was really easy to think that she couldn’t get enough to eat.

“You probably don’t have enough milk,” diagnosed a friend who fed two children. “Even for me, with my breasts,” she continued, emphasizing the word MY (it was about size, as I understood it), and even then the first daughter was malnourished in the first month. In general, the seed of doubt was sown, and I began to read.

“Most women are able to produce as much milk as necessary for successful breastfeeding. True hypogalactia occurs in only 5 percent of young mothers, and is associated with serious hormonal imbalances.” That is, if there is still not enough milk, you need to find the cause and eliminate it.

How do you know if your baby has enough food? Firstly, if he is hungry, he will scream 24 hours a day, and even the most inexperienced mother will sooner or later understand that the child just wants to eat. I haven’t pooped, it’s not my tummy that hurts – it’s hunger that’s tormenting the baby. If the baby is not screaming and seems alive and happy with life, but you continue to be tormented by doubts, you can do a wet diaper test. A baby should pee at least 12 times a day. So take off the diaper and go ahead and count. If you feel sorry for your Persian carpets, you can calculate approximately. A child who has enough milk fills 5-6 full diapers per day (they must be really heavy). In addition, the baby should return to birth weight by about the tenth day of life, and then steadily gain weight (minimum limits can be easily found).

If the doctor nevertheless diagnoses that your baby really does not have enough milk, you need to understand why there is not enough milk. Perhaps the baby was not put to the breast immediately after birth or was not fed often enough. Try to get into the right rhythm and feed on demand. Sometimes the cause is undeveloped ducts in the mother or improper latch in the baby. In this case, lactation consultants will help you. There is also an opinion that the lack of milk may be associated with the diet of the mother herself. Make sure you eat enough proteins, vitamins, and it is also important to drink a lot, up to 3 liters of warm liquid per day. What drink? Lactation is stimulated by caraway seeds, fennel, and dill. You can buy special teas for nursing at the pharmacy. Just tea will do - not hot, but rather warm.

The most important thing to remember is that attitude and frequent application are important. It is often said that “he who does not want to feed has no milk.” Perhaps this is too categorical, but milk may well be produced in insufficient quantities if you are afraid that your breasts may lose their shape, for example. If the mood is there, the baby will get himself the required amount of food. Just give him this opportunity. Remember that night feedings are especially important - from 3 to 8 am.

A situation familiar to many women: the amount of milk, which was sufficient in the first month after childbirth, suddenly decreased noticeably, and the baby no longer has enough. Sometimes there are no visible reasons for this - the mother eats well, is not sick, the baby willingly takes the breast, but there is still little milk. How to understand this problem and increase lactation while breastfeeding?

If there is little breast milk, the reasons may be the following:

fatigue or anxiety;
poor nutrition;
low fluid intake;
changes in hormonal levels;
laziness or weakness of the baby;
Incorrect breast latching by the baby.

These are the most common reasons for decreased lactation, although there may be others. If possible, try to avoid excitement, communication with unpleasant, scandalous people, walk more with your child and carry him in your arms. When the baby is sleeping, the mother should also rest, and not try to redo all the housework. You need to pay great attention to your diet, because everything you eat determines the quality of the milk.

When hormonal levels change, a decrease in lactation is usually observed for about 7-10 days, after which the volume of milk gradually increases. During this period, it is recommended to feed the baby more often, and give him both breasts at one time. They do the same when the baby is lazy, sucks briefly and weakly, and begins to fall asleep during feeding. As soon as the sucking weakens, you need to slightly press the breast towards the nipple so that the milk flows a little stronger. If the child falls asleep, lightly shake his cheek and wake him up so that he can eat longer.

The volume of milk production largely depends on a woman’s diet. After childbirth, the body is exhausted, so you need to take 700-1100 kilocalories more per day than before. Mom’s daily diet should include lean meat (200 g) or fish in the same quantity, fresh cottage cheese (100 g), vegetables (500 g) and various types of fruits (200 g). Be sure to drink about a liter of kefir or milk a day, eat a piece of hard cheese. There should be no more than 30 g of fat per day, and preferably it should be butter or sunflower oil.

The recommended amount of fluid per day is approximately 2 liters, including milk, juice, tea, broth or soup. This norm should not be greatly exceeded, even if there is more milk, because this reduces the amount of vitamins and essential proteins in its composition. But mushrooms, smoked meats, spicy snacks, citrus fruits and chocolate should be excluded from your diet for a long time, since their consumption can cause allergies in the baby. In addition, products with a strong smell change the taste of milk, and the child will not want to eat.

Diary of a nursing mother

Correct application

Milk production depends on two hormones - prolactin and oxytocin. Both of them are associated with the baby's sucking activity, so if the baby does not latch onto the breast correctly, this activity will be noticeably reduced. Improper latch is especially common in children who are given pacifiers and milk from a bottle. When applied correctly, the baby deeply grasps the nipple and areola, evenly “expressing” milk from the entire breast. With a shallow latch, the baby sucks out only a small portion of the milk located at the areola.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to learn how to apply correctly from the description and even from the photo, especially if there is pain. This is usually taught by lactation consultants in the maternity hospital or local pediatricians. You can also look for another breastfeeding woman who already has similar experience and does not have nipple problems. Many people experience painful sensations when their baby’s latch on the breast changes, which makes them want to leave everything as it is. But keep in mind that proper attachment will ensure stable lactation, and the pain will disappear over time.

Only 3% of nursing mothers have serious problems with lactation; in other cases, lack of milk is only a temporary consequence of improper feeding. It often happens that a child has enough mother’s milk, but the woman herself considers its quantity insufficient. Much depends on the quality of milk, appetite and characteristics of the child’s body.

So, if you notice a decrease in lactation, first make sure that you are latching your baby to the breast correctly. Insufficient stimulation of the mammary glands will certainly lead to a decrease in milk supply. In addition, feedings should be frequent and regular; Children who are given pacifiers require breastfeeding less often, which also negatively affects lactation.

Many mothers give their babies water, as well as tea for tummy bloating, and various mixtures that prevent dysbacteriosis. The volume of such supplements reaches 150 ml per day, which means that the amount of milk consumed is reduced by the same amount. If you exclude such additives from your baby’s diet, the milk supply will be restored very quickly. As a rule, in the first 4 months, milk alone is enough for a child, because it contains all the microelements he needs. Here it is important to estimate the baby’s weight gain per week: simply divide the monthly gain by the number of weeks. The lowest indicator from day 14 is 125 g, the optimal is within 300 g. You should contact a specialist if the baby, eating only milk and receiving it on demand, gains less than 500 g per month.

There is another good way to determine whether your baby is getting enough milk. The number of urinations should be counted for 1-2 days. To do this, the baby must be without a diaper and not receive bait or additional liquids. If there is enough milk, the baby will pee more than 6 times, usually 8-12 times. If less than 6, there is clearly not enough milk.

Increasing milk production in the body is not so difficult, the main thing is not to be scared and not resort to complementary foods.

First, remove the pacifier and stop giving both tea and water. Organize hourly feedings from 4 am to 12 midnight, even if the baby does not ask for the breast. In the morning, 2-3 applications are required, because at this time the highest concentration of prolactin is formed in the body. And, of course, introduce into your diet drinks made from natural lactation stimulants - carrots, dandelion leaves, fennel, cumin seeds, anise and lettuce.

Drinks that increase lactation

Grated carrots. The carrots need to be washed, doused with boiling water and chopped. Take 4 tbsp. spoons of grated mass, pour a glass of milk or low-fat cream. The finished drink should be consumed immediately. It is recommended to drink 2-3 glasses a day. Pure carrot juice, no more than 120 g three times a day, also gives a good effect. It is allowed to add cream, a little milk or fresh berry juice for a pleasant taste.
Dandelion drink. It is necessary to collect young leaves and wash them well. After this, the leaves are passed through a meat grinder and squeezed out. To make it more pleasant to drink, add sugar, a little salt or lemon juice to taste. Drink half a glass twice a day.
Lemon and dandelion syrup. First, cook the syrup: take 800 g of sugar per half liter of water and bring to a boil. Collect dandelion flowers to make 4 cups, add 2 cups of water, add crushed lemon without skin and simmer on fire for about an hour. Then pour in the sugar syrup, and as soon as it boils, remove and filter. Consume in small portions, adding syrup to tea, water or soft drinks.
Lettuce seed drink. The recipe only requires lettuce seeds. Approximately 20 g of seeds are ground in a mortar, pour 250 g of boiling water and leave for about 2 hours. When infused, the liquid is filtered and drunk in two doses.
Caraway drink. Take 15 g of caraway seeds, pour a liter of hot water, add 100 g of sugar and half a lemon, put on fire. The drink should boil gently for about 7-10 minutes, then it is cooled and filtered. It is recommended to drink half a glass three times a day.
Anise infusion. Anise seeds are poured with boiling water and allowed to brew for an hour and a half. Then filter and take 4 times a day, two tablespoons. spoons.

Mom's nutrition. Products that affect lactation

Products that have a positive effect on lactation	Products that reduce lactation
Warm tea (green with honey or black with milk)	Canned foods
Infuse caraway seeds and black bread with caraway seeds, as well as a drink made from a teaspoon of caraway seeds and a glass of boiling milk for 2 hours, drink half a glass half an hour before feeding)	Smoked meats
Brew or compote of dried apples, plums and a small amount of pears	Seasonings and hot spices
Pine nuts, walnuts. Almonds (unroasted and not salted) improve lactation. You can eat a couple of pieces every other day, but you must remember that almonds cause gas in a child and can cause severe constipation	Sage
Dill tea (pour 1 tablespoon of dill seeds with a glass of boiling water and leave in a thermos for 2 hours. You need to drink half a glass of this tea 2 times a day. Instead of dill seeds, you can take cumin or anise). However, it is worth remembering that both anise and dill can cause allergies.	Parsley
Juices. Among the juices that improve lactation are currant juice, carrot juice, and blackthorn juice. But it is important that the juices are fresh, without preservatives, diluted with water	Mint
Radish with honey. Radish juice with honey, diluted 1 to 1 with chilled boiled water (per 100 g of radish - 100 g of water and 1 tablespoon of honey) is an excellent product for improving lactation
Watermelons (buy only high-quality, ripe ones)
Hercules and buckwheat, barley broth
Brynza and Adyghe cheese
Meat broths and soups (not fatty)

In order for lactation to remain stable throughout the entire feeding period, it must be constantly maintained. This is not difficult to do, because the main condition here is the comfort of both mother and child.

So, to maintain lactation you will need:

follow a routine, use as much time as possible to sleep, allocate at least 2 hours for walks;
drink about 2 liters of liquid daily - dried fruit compote, herbal teas, milk;
be sure to feed your baby at night, because night feedings provide better and longer lactation due to increased production of prolactin;
If possible, express milk after feeding, and then massage the breasts for 5-10 minutes, pouring hot water over them. It is recommended to perform the procedure twice on each breast daily;
about half an hour before feeding, drink warm tea with milk;
take multivitamins. The vitamin complex is specially designed for a nursing woman, so taking it benefits both mother and baby. But only a doctor should prescribe vitamins;
take the baby to your bed at night. Firstly, the baby sleeps better when he feels his mother’s warmth, secondly, the baby’s touch promotes better milk production, and thirdly, it’s more convenient because you don’t have to get out of bed at night.

A warm bath helps a lot with lactation, so if possible, feed your baby directly in the water. If this is not possible, try replacing the bath with a basin of hot water: you need to sit comfortably, take the baby in your arms, put your feet in hot water and wrap a blanket on top. After this, you can drink warm tea or milk with cookies. Within 5 minutes you will feel a pleasant warmth in your body and a strong flow of milk.

Video - How to increase lactation while breastfeeding

All the important points about the features lactation This should be known not only to young mothers, but also to those who are just expecting the birth of a baby. After all, the mother must be “armed” with information about what it is, what it is lactation crises and what they may be associated with. The article will talk about what lactation is in women, as well as how to improve milk lactation in a nursing mother.

A woman should understand that lactation is a natural process that every mother can improve. And she should try to do this. After all, only 0.01% of women have contraindications to natural feeding. Breastfeeding is very important for a baby. Breastfeeding not only ensures the health of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract, stimulates the functioning of the immune system, but also makes it possible to quickly and very closely build that contact that is very important for both the child and his mother.

Lactation as a physiological process

So, lactation is an absolutely natural process involving the production, accumulation and secretion of milk by the female mammary glands. Since lactation is regulated by many, it is a hormone-dependent process.

Produces hormone , which is “responsible” for stimulating milk production by the glandular tissue of the female breast. Gradually, milk accumulates, and when the baby suckles, a hormone is released in the body that determines muscle contraction in the milk ducts. Thus, the production of milk in the glands is stimulated.

In addition, women who practice breastfeeding recover faster after breastfeeding. Indeed, under the influence of oxytocin, the uterus contracts more actively, and it involution accelerates, and bleeding after childbirth stops faster than in women who do not breastfeed.

Immediately after the birth of the baby, colostrum begins to be released from the mammary glands, which the newborn eats. It happens that even before the baby is born, small amounts are released from the breast. However, doctors warn that there is no need to squeeze colostrum from the breast before the baby is born. Indeed, with such manipulations, the production of oxytocin in the body is stimulated, and this, in turn, can provoke uterine contractions and premature birth.

Colostrum is very nutritious for your baby. In addition, it contains, which are very important for the health of the baby. Colostrum contains globulins and that do not break down in the gastrointestinal tract. They are absorbed in the intestines.

Around day 3-5, milk appears in place of the colostrum.

A woman who has just given birth should not worry about how to establish breastfeeding if there is not enough colostrum . In the first days of life, a small amount of colostrum is enough for a newborn, and there is no need to supplement him with formula, as this can subsequently disrupt the process of establishing lactation in a woman.

Almost every mother periodically thinks about the fact that the child may not have enough of the mother’s milk that he receives. This belief is a very common mistake. And sometimes, succumbing to her fears and trying to feed or supplement her child, a woman loses breastfeeding.

The concept of “lactation crisis” really frightens a nursing mother and makes her think about how to maintain lactation. But there is nothing extraordinary in this phenomenon, and if you treat what is happening correctly, it is quite possible to maintain natural feeding.

Lactation crisis This is a period when the amount of breast milk temporarily decreases. It is important to understand that this is a completely natural phenomenon, and if you carefully follow all the rules, then lactation will not be disrupted. Women experience hormonal changes, and this is what causes the lactation crisis. The periods and timing of this phenomenon are different for different women - the crisis occurs at different times. But most often this happens during the following periods after childbirth:

after 7-14 days;
in 30-35 days;
in three to three and a half months.

At this time, under the influence hormones The amount of milk may decrease slightly, which is normal. However, the endocrine system functions differently in each body, which is why the periods of crises are different for everyone.

The duration of the crisis is 3-8 days. On average it lasts 5 days. At this time, the most important thing is not to worry about the fact that the amount of milk cannot be increased. There is no need to worry about the fact that the baby is starving - the baby will have enough milk that is produced. It is important not to succumb to the persuasion of “well-wishers” and not to start feeding the baby with formula. If you follow the rules discussed below, lactation will soon be restored.

How to increase breast milk supply?

There are some effective recommendations for a nursing mother on how to increase lactation while breastfeeding and improve this process. It is also important to take into account when lactation begins - this occurs at approximately 3-4 months. In the first months, a woman may notice that the mammary glands swell, that there is too much or too little milk. When the process is established, there will be an increase in milk lactation during breastfeeding, but milk will be produced directly during feeding, and the breasts will not “fill up.”

That is, the amount of milk directly depends solely on the production prolactin . If a woman has not yet established lactation, and the question of how to increase the lactation of breast milk is relevant for her, she needs to follow very simple but effective recommendations. In this case, you will be able to quickly return everything and continue feeding the baby.

Practice feeding on demand

Feeding on demand will help increase the amount of breast milk in a nursing mother. There is no need to feed the baby according to a schedule, because the baby himself “regulates” the eating and sleeping patterns. Sometimes the child demands to “return” the breast within 20-30 minutes after feeding. Sometimes he sleeps peacefully for five hours straight.

Put your baby to the breast as often as possible

You should try to put the baby to the breast as often as possible. It does not matter how long the baby sucks. After all, the act of sucking itself helps to activate the production of hormones, in particular, prolactin And oxytocin . That is, the answer to the question of how to increase lactation is simple: you need to put your baby to your breast as often as possible.

Sometimes mothers worry about the fact that the baby is breastfeeding for several hours. But there is no cause for concern here. After all, after the birth of a baby, when the connection that connected him with his mother before birth is interrupted, close contact with her is very important for the child. By frequently suckling at the breast, the baby can more easily overcome the stress experienced after birth and get used to the world that surrounds him. Lying at the mother's breast, the baby only periodically sucks on it. It happens that a child “holds” the breast for several hours, not wanting to let go of his mother. In addition, at first - about three months after birth - the baby is tormented, but closeness to his mother calms him down and alleviates his condition.

Be sure to breastfeed at night

Mothers who are interested in how to increase breast milk lactation should definitely breastfeed their baby at night. Teaching a baby to sleep through the night almost from birth is the wrong approach. After all, a baby up to one year old can wake up to eat at night, and this is considered normal. At first, it is very important to feed him at night, since it is at night that the content of prolactin . And if the baby nurses at this time, the amount of milk produced will increase. Therefore, the answer to the question of how to increase lactation for a nursing mother is simple: do not ignore night feedings.

Homeopathy

There is no consensus on whether homeopathic medicines are effective in increasing breast milk lactation. Such drugs have not undergone the necessary research from the point of view of evidence-based medicine, so there is no reason to definitely talk about their positive effect. But still, many doctors, whom women ask what to drink to increase milk supply, claim that such measures will not make things worse. After all, the so-called “ “, and breastfeeding mothers really improve their lactation. It is quite possible that under the influence of these drugs the production actually increases. prolactin .

Products that activate lactation

If you ask about what to do to increase your milk supply, our mothers and grandmothers will most likely recommend eating certain foods. However, in reality, the products do not affect the level in any way. prolactin , accordingly, they do not affect lactation. But fluid consumption is very important, so you shouldn’t limit yourself in this. A new mother should drink as much fluid as she wants. However, it is also impossible to forcefully pour water into the body. You just have to listen to your body and prevent the feeling of extreme thirst.

Those who are looking for products that increase the milk supply of a nursing mother need to know that asking about what you need to eat to have a lot of milk is pointless.

You should drink enough clean water

Sometimes when asked for recommendations on what to eat to produce more milk, they advise drinking more cow's milk. But in fact, this advice can hardly be called correct, because cow’s milk does not affect prolactin production.

But cow's milk may well be harmful. Proteins entering breast milk can cause severe pain in the baby. In addition, after a nursing mother consumes fermented milk products or cow's milk, the baby may develop severe colic. Therefore, you should pay attention not to which foods increase the amount of milk, but to use other methods described above.

What mistakes do new mothers make?

Young parents should also be aware that they can make certain mistakes that lead to worsening lactation.

You should not set a feeding schedule - the baby should eat on demand

The baby must “decide” for himself exactly when and how much he wants to eat. One of the main mistakes of women who are worried about how to establish lactation if there is little milk is feeding the baby additionally with formula. Having started to supplement the baby's feeding, the mother makes a very serious mistake. Such hasty actions lead to unpleasant consequences. Having “tasted” the formula, the baby may refuse to breastfeed altogether, because sucking the formula from a bottle is much easier than “extracting” breast milk. In addition, the taste of the formula is different - it is sweeter, and the child may think that food from a bottle tastes better. As a result, the baby will refuse to take the breast, and it will not be possible to establish lactation after birth.

In addition, the introduction of the mixture will lead to pain in the tummy, colic , which will constantly bother a baby with immature intestines. Such actions can lead not only to complete loss of lactation, but also to the manifestation of allergic reactions.

Therefore, if a nursing mother has little milk, it is better to ask a specialist, rather than friends and relatives, what to do.

There is no need to give water to your baby before introducing complementary foods.

Very often you can hear the opinion that milk is the baby’s food, and he also needs water. This opinion is wrong, because breast milk consists mainly of water – 80-90%. And in any weather conditions - both in summer and during heating periods - the baby has enough of this liquid for normal development and well-being. Therefore, instead of trying to feed the baby with a spoon, it is better to give him an extra breast.

And if the baby drinks even a few spoons of water, his ventricle will quickly fill, and a signal about its filling will immediately go to the brain. Accordingly, because of this, the baby will miss feeding.

They begin to give water to the child only after the gradual introduction of complementary foods has begun, that is, after he reaches six months. By the way, cases when a baby begins to lose weight precisely because of supplementation are not uncommon. After all, due to water consumption, the baby receives less milk.

Of course, this rule does not apply to “artificial” children - they need to be given water.

Don't assume that your baby always cries from hunger.

A little person can cry for a variety of reasons. If he does not take the breast and cries at the same time, then it is quite possible that the whole issue is pain in the tummy. The child may also have a headache, and night or evening tantrums may indicate increased intracranial pressure at the baby's. In addition, he may cry due to the discomfort associated with a wet diaper, due to the fact that his teeth are starting to cut. In the end, the baby may simply want to go to his mother in order to feel protected.

There is no need to assume that there is no milk in the soft breast

Milk production is activated during feeding. And if, before the next feeding, the mother does not feel that the breasts have hardened, this is good, since there is no chance of developing breast cancer. This indicates that lactation has already established.

There is no need to express milk after feeding

Pumping should only be practiced if lactostasis . Indeed, in this case, the most nutritious milk is lost. Alternatively, it is better to put the baby to the breast one more time.

There is no need to pay attention to the norms of weight gain that were paid attention to earlier

Modern medicine uses comparative tables that take into account the height, weight, and age of the baby. According to the old schemes, the child should gain 1 kilogram of weight in the first month. But these schemes have been used for a long time and they are more relevant for children who receive artificial nutrition. These standards are not at all suitable for infants.

You should not give your baby a pacifier

Naturally, the baby should not suck on anything other than the breast. A pacifier is a kind of “anti-stress” for a mother, because she gives such a pacifier to the baby when he cries and cannot calm down. However, in reality, a child does not need a pacifier at all. And a woman can determine the reason for crying, which is quite possible for experienced mothers. As for the sucking reflex, breast sucking completely satisfies it. In addition, you need to take into account that it will then be difficult to wean your child off the pacifier. And in any case, he will experience the stress of “separation” from his favorite pacifier.

No need to introduce complementary foods too early

Until the baby reaches 6 months of age, natural feeding is sufficient. You should not give him any new food before this age. After all, at this age, only those that digest breast milk exist in the baby’s body.

Check weighing is not an indicator

Some mothers, for whom the urgent question is how to understand that the baby does not have enough milk during breastfeeding, practice so-called control weighings. That is, in order to understand that the baby does not have enough milk and to determine how much he has eaten, he is weighed before and after feeding. However, this method is not indicative, and it will not be possible to determine whether he has enough food. After all, a baby can get his daily requirement in 10-12 feedings. That is, he can breastfeed often and eat little by little.

In addition, the child eats a different amount of milk each time. Therefore, for those who are interested in how to find out if a baby has enough breast milk, this method is not suitable. After all, sometimes the indicator on the scale can provoke real panic in an inexperienced mother.

conclusions

Thus, almost every mother is capable of practicing full breastfeeding. If a woman has concerns about the amount of milk and questions about what to do if there is not enough milk, she should first of all pay attention to the condition of the baby. If he behaves calmly, develops and grows normally, then he is fully provided with food.

Those who are interested in how to understand whether a newborn has enough milk should also pay attention to how many times a day the baby urinates and walks “in a big way.” If the baby defecates 1-6 times, and the stool is homogeneous, and urinates 10-15 times, then everything is fine with him. A child who gets enough food has pink, clear skin and sleeps well.

But if a woman still has some concern, she should contact her pediatrician and consult with him about this.

Education: Graduated from Rivne State Basic Medical College with a degree in Pharmacy. Graduated from Vinnitsa State Medical University named after. M.I. Pirogov and internship at his base.

Experience: From 2003 to 2013, she worked as a pharmacist and manager of a pharmacy kiosk. She was awarded diplomas and decorations for many years of conscientious work. Articles on medical topics were published in local publications (newspapers) and on various Internet portals.

A mother is absolutely happy if her baby is healthy, feels well and gets plenty of breast milk. This unique product is better than any other in that it is perfectly absorbed and provides lasting immunity to many negative factors. Today, women want to know how to increase breast milk lactation in the shortest possible time in order to provide the baby with natural nutrition. This effect can be achieved with simple means. There are several directions, this is the right attitude towards breastfeeding, healthy food and drinks, pharmaceutical drugs and expressing with a breast pump. Let us examine in more detail all the questions that interest mothers.

Why do nursing mothers lose milk?

Here are the main reasons why women most often suffer from a lack of breast milk:

emotional overload, constant stress and various disruptions in the nervous system;
chronic lack of sleep and general fatigue;
excessive physical activity;
lack of fluid intake;
irrational diet poor in certain substances;
incorrect breastfeeding regimen (too infrequent breastfeeding or feeding on a schedule);
hereditary factors;
smoking and drinking alcohol;
the mother does not have a psychological attitude towards breastfeeding, there are fears, lack of self-confidence and strength, and an unwillingness to feed the child in a natural way;
mother's early return to work and all the ensuing consequences;
feeding the child unnecessarily with formula;
early introduction of a large volume of complementary foods;
uncomfortable position when feeding;
Feeding sessions that are too short;
taking diuretics and contraceptives;
physiological lactation crisis in a woman.

Experts point out that with normal breastfeeding, physiological lactation crises occur; this is a temporary phenomenon. Most often, crises, characterized by an unexpected decrease in lactation capacity, occur at the following stages of a child’s life:

3-6 weeks;
3 month;
4 month;
7 month;
8 month.

If a woman is doing everything correctly, but the amount of milk has decreased slightly, this may be normal. This phenomenon occurs because the child has an unstable appetite against the background of rapid growth and development, and the female body does not have time to quickly respond to changes in nutritional needs.

Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky is an authoritative children's pediatrician who helps mothers successfully implement all parental functions, maintain the health of their children and raise them correctly. Here are some basic expert tips to improve lactation:

breastfeeding in the first hours of life is an important stage in establishing a connection between mother and child, facilitating further feeding;
if mommy feels like she doesn’t have enough milk, she should gain firm confidence that soon everything will get better and all minor troubles will pass;
it is advisable not to pay attention to the opinions of all relatives and friends who doubt success;
if after a cesarean section it seems that there is not enough milk, then this is not a death sentence - you need to put the newborn to the breast more often and very soon a normal diet and volume of nutrition will be established;
Do not neglect colostrum, even a small amount will be a good vitamin supplement to the baby’s diet;
Staying together and sleeping together with your baby immediately after birth is an excellent tool for improving lactation;
frequent day and night feedings, especially in the first weeks of life, increase the chances of successful breastfeeding;
it is recommended to practice feeding on demand, that is, offering the breast every 2-3 hours during the day and every 4-5 hours at night;
Almost all free time should be spent resting and sleeping; relatives should be notified that if the nursing mother is always rested, she will not have to spend money on formula;
in order to urgently increase lactation, it is necessary to stop supplementing with water, and it is important to establish optimal temperature and humidity levels in the room;
if the doctor does not recommend the addition of infant formula, then you should not administer it yourself;
It is better to refuse pacifiers and nipples;
A warm shower and breast massage with a shower work well for women (proper organization of the massage helps to make retracted flat nipples as convex as possible, which adds convenience when sucking; you should move from the nipple to the edges);
It is believed that the main trigger for abundant lactation is the baby’s sucking movements, irritating the nipple, which is why frequent feeding is advisable in case of milk deficiency;
For a woman, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids, for example, good drinks are tea, compote, juice, fruit drink;
there are also special drinks and pharmaceutical preparations that stimulate lactation;
you should try not to receive guests and in the first months concentrate on restoring your body, calmness and feeding the child, other issues fade into the background for now;
in the first days, if there is a lack of milk, bed rest works well, that is, you need to stay in bed almost all the time;
don’t be shy about asking friends and relatives for help; they can easily go grocery shopping and cook;
throughout the entire breastfeeding period, you need to remember that the mother should eat, drink and rest well, and not actively do housework;
do not think that breast size affects the amount of milk;
You should take care of a comfortable position when feeding, for some it is comfortable to lie down, for others to sit in a rocking chair;
it is permissible to express the remainder by hand every time after feeding, this technique also speeds up milk production;
Expressing with a breast pump can also be used as an auxiliary measure.

All competent pediatricians give approximately the same recommendations as listed above. Next, we'll tell you more about pumping.

How to quickly increase lactation using a breast pump?

Working with a breast pump makes a woman's life easier. You should discuss with your doctor how to express breast milk to increase lactation and act strictly in accordance with the instructions included with the device.

Breast pumps can be manual (piston with a working lever, in the form of a syringe, in the form of a pump) and electric. You can choose a model that meets all a woman’s requirements; there are a great many of them on sale.

All you need to do is regularly empty your breasts after feeding your baby, observing all sterility and safety conditions.

A pump breast pump requires rhythmic squeezing of a bulb, while a syringe-style design requires back-and-forth movements to ensure milk is drawn out by vacuum. The most convenient are breast pumps with a piston and a lever; we press the working part to the mammary gland and press the lever. Automatic models with electric drive are the easiest to handle; you just need to take a comfortable position, put the cup to your chest, select the desired speed and press start.

Correct use of breast pumps turns breastfeeding into a real pleasure, eliminates unnecessary problems and provides the baby with adequate nutrition.

How to increase lactation: express milk with a breast pump

Popular drugs to improve lactation

There are effective mixtures for increasing lactation and other products. Any pharmaceutical products can be used only after consulting a doctor. The doctor will tell you how to change your lifestyle and diet, and also recommend what to drink for better quality breast milk. Here are the most popular drugs:

vitamin and mineral complex Materna;
vitamin and mineral complex Gendevit;
vitamin and mineral complex Centrum;
Femilak dry mix;
dry mix Enfa-mama;
dry mixture Dumil-mama-plus;
Olympic dry mix;
MD mil Mama mixture (chocolate or vanilla);
dry mixture with Milky Way lacto-additive;
Dietary supplement Apilactin;
Apilak tablets;
Mlekoin granules (pharmacy homeopathic preparation);
drug Lactofil;
vitamin D preparations (used exclusively on the recommendation of a doctor to improve the absorption of calcium from food).

We have listed effective remedies offered in pharmacies, but ideally, medications are selected on an individual basis. Next, we will analyze folk and nutritional methods of increasing lactation.

Drinks and products that increase milk lactation

Teas for breastfeeding

Fortunately, tea to increase lactation can be found in pharmacies and specialized retail outlets. Sugars, fruit powders and medicinal herbs are added to the soluble raw materials for brewing. For example, today the following are in demand:

Hipp tea;
Humana tea;
Kruger tea;
Nestik tea;
Lactavit tea;
Lactaphytol tea;
Grandma's Basket tea.

In addition to store-bought ones, you can take homemade drinks. It is very important to find out in advance what you can and cannot drink to increase breast milk production. Before use, you should make sure that all components of homemade herbal teas are well tolerated. Here are the most effective recipes for teas made from herbs and other natural ingredients:

tea from dill, fennel, cumin, lettuce, anise (1 large spoon of seeds per one and a half glasses of hot water);
chamomile tea (1 large spoon of chamomile flowers per glass of hot water, heat in a water bath for a quarter of an hour);
ginger tea (boil a small amount of crushed ginger root in water, add honey and lemon);
milk tea (black or green tea with added milk);
Instead of tea, you can brew nettle and rose hips (these accessible herbs have long been used in folk medicine and are considered medicinal).

In addition to teas, do not forget about clean water. You can buy fruit juices and healthy drinks, for example, good products from the manufacturer Hipp and Nestlé. Do not under any circumstances consume beer or other alcoholic drinks; they destroy the entire body and clearly harm your child.

Nutrition to enhance lactation

If problems are anticipated or already exist, then it is advisable to include the following products in the breastfeeding diet:

natural milk and dairy products - 250-400 grams per day;
fish, meat and poultry - 1-2 times a day (liver consumption is also encouraged);
bread and all types of cereal porridges (it is better to exclude white bread) - 3 times a day to cover the need for B vitamins;
margarines, oils - in small quantities to cover the need for vitamin A;
vegetables, fruits - 6 times a day (for example, orange juice, potatoes, vegetable salads, yellow and green vegetables);
raw vegetables, oranges, berries, fresh cabbage, tomatoes - to cover the need for valuable vitamin C;
bright yellow and dark green vegetables - to cover the need for vitamin A;
eggs - 1 piece per day;
all types of nuts in small quantities (for example, almonds, pine nuts and walnuts);
royal jelly and honey.

Of the cereals, oatmeal and buckwheat have the best effect on the female body. To make eating cereals more interesting, you can add fruits and dried fruits to them.

The consumption of fresh, canned, dried and frozen fruits and vegetables is not prohibited. If you are overweight, it is better to replace butter with vegetables rich in vitamin A, consume a minimum of bread and fatty meat, and choose only low-fat milk.

It is useful for everyone to reduce the consumption of high-calorie foods or completely remove them from the menu. For example, these are cookies, pies, sweets and various confectionery products.

You should not limit yourself to milk, vegetables, dietary meat and fruits.

How to increase lactation: eat right and drink enough fluids

Homemade recipes to enhance lactation

Take note of several successful recipes for fully nourishing the female body during breastfeeding:

radish with honey (combine 100 grams of radish juice, 100 grams of water and 1 tablespoon of honey, take a third of a glass three times a day);
walnuts with milk (brew half a liter of hot milk in a thermos with 5 crushed walnuts, leave for 3 hours, take warm before the feeding session);
carrots with milk (chop raw carrots as much as possible, mix with milk, take three times a day);
sour cream with cumin (combine a glass of sour cream and a large spoon of cumin, boil for 3 minutes);
cream with cumin (mix 2 cups of natural cream and 2 large spoons of cumin, leave in the oven for half an hour, take a glass twice a day);
a mixture of carrot and dandelion juices.

Using any folk methods of increasing lactation, the mother acts at her own peril and risk, so if you come across strange recipes from unfamiliar or potentially allergenic products, then think carefully about whether they will be completely safe for you and the child.

The baby is going through a difficult period - the transition to life outside the mother's body. Nature has provided a special mechanism for easy and painless adaptation - breastfeeding. WHO states: the ideal food for children at an early age is mother's milk. Realizing this, many young mothers are wondering: how to increase lactation in order to provide the child with adequate nutrition without adding artificial formulas.

The rate of production and quality of breast milk

Nursing mothers are often tormented by doubts about the quantity and quality of milk they produce. In such a situation, the question often arises: is there any standard that reflects ideal performance?

Numerous studies have confirmed that throughout the day the rate of milk synthesis is not constant and is inversely proportional to the fullness of the breast: the more empty it is, the faster and more milk appears in it. Therefore, it is inappropriate to talk about the production standards for this product: it is individual for each woman and her baby.

The same can be said about the quality of breast milk. Its nutritional value changes not only depending on the age of the child, adapting to his needs, but also during each feeding: the first portions are designed to give the child more to drink and are therefore watery. The liquid produced further is fattier and more nutritious.

Therefore, it is difficult to establish the actual nutritional value of breast milk; it can only be judged by focusing on the child’s weight gain and his behavior during sleep and wakefulness. However, these indicators are indirect and do not always directly depend on the quality of mother’s milk.

Why breast milk disappears: common reasons for decreased lactation

The lack of mother's milk from the first days of its production, called primary hypogalactia, occurs due to hormonal imbalances, postpartum complications and underdevelopment of the female mammary glands. This phenomenon occurs rarely.

Typically, young mothers are faced with secondary hypogalactia, when at the initial stage milk is produced in full volume, and then lactation decreases.

During breastfeeding, physiological conditions sometimes make themselves felt, accompanied by a decrease in milk production -. In medical practice, it is believed that they are based on the adjustment of the mother’s body to the growing needs of the baby, and this cannot happen at lightning speed.

Insufficient milk production is often the result of the mother’s wrong actions:

Feeding the baby on a strict schedule and at clearly defined intervals.
Strict time limits for each feeding.
Incorrect application technique. The mammary glands are not stimulated enough if the baby does not latch onto the nipple properly.
Uncomfortable position of the mother: any tension during the feeding process negatively affects the milk secretion.
Giving your baby extra drink without a serious reason. Water gives the child imaginary satiety, since the centers of satiety and thirst, due to age-related anatomical features, are located close to each other.
Using bottles and pacifiers. By satisfying the natural need for sucking at their expense, the baby will stimulate the mother’s breasts less, and this reduces lactation.
Attempts to create a milk supply. The mammary glands work on demand: the more milk comes out of the breast, the more will appear again. What is left “in reserve” is perceived by the body as an unclaimed surplus.
Avoiding night feedings, which are most important for lactation.
Separate stay of the child and mother.
Women's perception of breastfeeding as an ordeal. So she herself complicates the situation, focusing on a possible (often hypothetical) lack of milk. Stress experienced by a woman does not affect prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production, but it does affect another hormone, oxytocin, which acts on the release of fluid from the breast. Therefore, under stress, this process becomes difficult: this is a natural protective mechanism that prevents milk loss during difficult periods of life.
Lack of rest and sleep. Days spent in worries and sleepless nights are a standard situation for the mother of a baby.
Taking medications. Some of them can disrupt the hormonal regulation of lactation.

In most cases, you can increase lactation by eliminating the listed factors and without taking additional measures.

Signs of low milk supply

For a nursing mother, it is important to be able to separate imaginary signs of a lack of milk from a real decrease in lactation.

Insufficient lactation: an imaginary problem

“The baby doesn’t get enough to eat” is a popular misconception among young mothers, which results in supplementary feeding with formula milk, the baby getting used to the bottle and a real decrease in milk production.

In many cases, mothers’ concerns about problems with lactation are unfounded.

The baby often asks for the breast. This is not always a sign of hunger: perhaps the baby needs communication with his mother or satisfaction of the need for sucking. If an hour passed after feeding, he could really get hungry: mother's milk is absorbed faster than artificial formula.
Baby's anxiety. The reasons for this behavior can be varied, and they are not always related to hunger.
Feeling of soft, not full breasts, absence of hot flashes before feeding. If the baby is fed on demand, milk production adapts to this regime, it arrives when applied.
The child does not refuse the bottle after feeding. In fact, many babies, even when fully saturated, are not averse to giving free rein to the sucking reflex, and besides, this is easier to do with a bottle or pacifier than with a breast.
Lack of milk when expressing. With established lactation, it is produced depending on the baby’s needs, so there is no need for this procedure.

Reliable signs of decreased lactation

Medical practice recognizes only two criteria for assessing the sufficiency of lactation as reliable:

Counting the number of times your child urinates throughout the day. Disposable diapers and supplements should be excluded during this period. 10-12 or more wet diapers in 24 hours is an indicator that the baby has enough milk. If fewer are obtained, we can talk about insufficient lactation.
Weighing. If the baby is healthy and has enough breast milk, the monthly weight gain will be from 0.6 to 2 kg, and on average 120 g weekly.

An additional guideline for assessing the sufficiency of lactation can be the baby's stool. On average, a breastfed baby has 6-8 bowel movements per day; the stool has a mushy consistency and a yellowish color. Prolonged absence of bowel movements sometimes indicates “hunger constipation” caused by a lack of breast milk. However, this sign in itself is not always informative. If available, it is recommended to do a wet diaper test.

Mother's milk or formula?

If there is an obvious decrease in lactation, all measures should be taken to restore it, since today all studies confirm that breastfeeding provides significant benefits for the child and his mother.

The uniqueness of mother's milk lies in its ability to change its composition based on the needs of the child at different stages of development, at different times of the day, and even during each individual feeding.

This product contains proteins, fats and carbohydrates in a ratio that is optimal for a young child. In addition, it contains immune cells, immunoglobulins and several types of bifidobacteria. This composition not only promotes the full development of the baby, but also increases the body’s resistance to foreign agents and forms the correct microflora in the intestines.

Unlike artificial formulas, breast milk has an optimal temperature, is never stale or adulterated, and is always sterile.

Sucking at the breast helps the baby develop a correct bite and facilitates the process of teething.

Not a single high-quality milk formula will provide the baby with nutrition that meets its needs as much as mother's milk.

If there is an obvious decrease in lactation, it is not advisable to immediately transfer the baby to artificial nutrition. The best option would be to switch to mixed feeding. At the same time, measures should be taken to restore lactation, gradually reducing the amount of supplementary feeding.

How to increase lactation

If the lack of milk becomes obvious, do not immediately panic. Often simple measures help increase lactation to the required level.

Stimulating milk production

It is necessary to evaluate how correctly the baby attaches to the breast, changing the technique to the correct one if necessary.
To stimulate lactation, frequent applications are important, at least every 1.5-2 hours during the day, and every 4 hours at night. Night feedings are very valuable for milk production, so you shouldn’t give them up.
You can wean the baby from the breast only after he lets go of it himself.
To increase lactation, close physical contact between mother and baby is important: carrying in arms, sleeping together.
You should not supplement your baby with water unless absolutely necessary.
Mom should forget about fears associated with a lack of milk and relax - in the truest sense of the word. A woman needs to learn to find opportunities for rest and good sleep.
Breast massage is useful, which is done between feedings with kneading and stroking movements. Massage manipulations are periodically interrupted to express a little milk.
If the goal is to increase lactation, pacifiers and bottles should not be used. Supplementary feeding is offered to the child from a spoon, from a cup, or using a syringe without a needle.

In addition to the methods listed above, it is worth paying attention to your diet: the foods you eat can have different effects on milk production.

Products that increase lactation

A nutritious diet will not only help solve problems with lactation, but also prevent disorders in the mother’s body during breastfeeding. It is worth paying attention to the following products:

Fatty fish.
Low-fat cheese and cottage cheese.
Walnuts.
Bee products: royal jelly, honey, bee bread, royal jelly (use if the baby is not allergic).
Dried fruits.
Weak meat broths and soups cooked with them.
Carrot.
Buckwheat and oatmeal.