3 Habits That Might Be Hurting Your Milk Supply
For the mother who desires to breastfeed, there can be immense overwhelm and anxiety over this part of parenthood. It’s a daunting task: growing a child inside your body, delivering him into the world and then being required to produce, from your own body, all of the nourishment he needs to grow and develop properly - no pressure, right?! Questions like: “Will I produce enough milk? Will my baby latch correctly? How will I know if he’s eating enough?” are all valid (and common!) concerns new moms have as they begin their breastfeeding journey. Establishing, building and then maintaining your milk supply may seem like no easy task, and sometimes other issues arise that make it additionally difficult. However, you may be unknowingly holding on to a few bad habits that may be hurting your efforts and hindering your breastfeeding success.
Hurtful Habit #1: Not bringing baby to the breast frequently enough.
Breastfeeding works via supply and demand, which means when your baby is emptying the breast frequently, your body is in turn receiving the signal to fill the breast just as frequently. This also means that when your baby is not nursing as often, your body receives the signal that the milk is not needed, so milk production slows down. Nursing less is common for older babies and toddlers who are in the process of weaning and transitioning to eating more solid foods, but for an infant, this reduction in supply can happen if you are not feeding on-demand, OR if you are offering a bottle of formula before offering the breast. For the majority of mothers, supply can be maintained by bringing baby to the breast to feed on-demand.
Hurtful Habit No.2: Not drinking or eating enough.
Staying hydrated and well-nourished is just important to your baby as it is to you! Caloric intake requirements will vary from mother-to-mother depending on things such as weight, lifestyle, and activity level. Overall, eating a well-balanced diet of nourishing foods will help meet your caloric requirements and in turn help your body make enough of the nutritious milk that your baby relies on to grow and develop. Staying hydrated is just as important - according to this article on KellyMom.com, it is not necessary to consume excess fluids, but instead to drink when you are thirsty. For busy breastfeeding moms, it can be easy to get dehydrated if you don’t keep a bottle of water within eyesight or where you’re usually sitting down to nurse. Keeping water and nutritious snacks within reach at all times can help you stay hydrated and feeling satisfied.
Hurtful Habit No.3: A strict feeding schedule.
Much like habit number one, a strict feeding schedule can also impact your breastmilk supply and demand. For example, if you are determined to cut out the nighttime feedings for your infant, but also do not wake to pump, your milk supply is likely to be affected since your body will receive the signal that milk is not needed overnight. A strict feeding schedule can not only impact your milk supply, but become frustrating when baby is going through a growth spurt or other discomfort that may cause them to want to nurse more. If your body and supply is adjusted to one “schedule” it may be difficult to keep up with a baby who wants to nurse through a growth spurt or any other increase in demand.
Of course there are many, many different variables, circumstances and situations that may lead you to establish any of these habits: sometimes supplementation with formula is medically necessary, sometimes mom is not able to breastfeed or pump due to illness or complications after birth, and for some, pre-existing medical conditions affect their ability to produce milk or enough of it. Whatever your reasons, if you have found yourself falling into these habits, and your milk supply has suffered because of it, don’t give up hope just yet! Meeting with a trained professional lactation consultant in your area may be beneficial for you as you work to maintain your milk supply and meet the goals you have for breastfeeding your baby, whatever they may be.