You’ve come back from the hospital and you’re feeling more comfortable now that you’re back in your nice, familiar home. You have your baby in your arms, you’re surrounded by friends and family, and everything is fantastic.
The only issue, you feel like you’re having trouble breastfeeding. Whether it’s your first child and you’re worried that you’re not expressing enough milk, or this is your second, third or more and you’re not feeling the same this time and you’re a little concerned, you need to know how to increase milk supply fast.
Don’t worry. We’re here to help. Once you’ve read this five-minute guide, you’ll know everything you need to about increasing your milk supply and making sure that you and your baby are getting what you need.
How to Increase Milk Supply Fast: What you Need to Know:
First concern. Do I have a low milk supply? How to know.
There are a lot of myths surrounding breastfeeding, and a lot of misinformation. Furthermore, if you’ve breastfed before, it’s such a unique and lovely feeling that your memories of that time are super clear.
So maybe you don’t feel full or heavy, maybe the letdown feels different this time, or maybe the whole thing is just not meeting your expectations, and you’re worried that you’re not producing enough milk without actually knowing if you are or not.
That’s entirely natural. You only want what’s best for your child, and you’re worried about doing the best you can. That’s awesome.
But how much milk you’re producing has nothing to do with how you feel. Your body is a wonderful thing, and it knows exactly what to do, almost all of the time.
There’s an ironclad rule: the only time you’re not producing enough milk is this- Your baby is not gaining enough weight.
So as long as the baby seems content after feedings and their weight is on track, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
Second concern. Are you looking after yourself?
For new moms, the baby is always the first concern. That’s natural, and the way it should be. But you’ve got to look after yourself as well. After all, if you’re not as healthy and strong as you can be, how can you keep looking after your little bundle?
Make sure you’re getting enough rest
We know. We can hear the laughter from here. ‘Rest’, you say. ‘I haven’t slept properly since I got back from the hospital!’
We’re not saying you’re expected to lie in every morning, but if the opportunity comes for you both to take a little nap, take it, and don’t turn down help from your partner, family or friends when it comes either.
A huge part of milk production is making sure that you’re resting enough. Your body steps up milk production when you’re resting, so taking a break and relaxing could be just the thing you need.
You don’t have to get forty winks either. Just resting and relaxing can be a huge help when it comes to increasing your milk supply. If you feel you need it and you’ve got the option to, a day to just relax and de-stress could be just the thing you both need.
You should pay particular attention to resting and relaxing in the first six weeks after getting back from the hospital. The first six weeks are crucial to how your body is going to recover in the following months, and if you overwork yourself early, you could have more trouble later on.
Concern three. Trying to hold on to what you have
This might seem a little backward, but one of the best things you can do if you’re wondering how to increase milk supply fast is to make sure that you’re constantly using up your milk supply, even if the baby doesn’t want it.
Counter-intuitive, we know. But think of it this way. Your body adapted over thousands of years to know what your baby needs. If you’re constantly expressing milk, whether through feeding times or a breast pump, then your body is going to think that you’ve got one (or two) very hungry babies and step up the production to match their demand!
Another thing you can do is take one or several days out for a nursing vacation.
What this means is you take some time to simply rest, and snuggle with baby and nurse. It gives you both a time to bond a little more, get to know each other’s cues and for you to learn and focus on baby whilst they feed, learning feeding patterns and just how much they need, and it will really help your body with milk production by making sure that you’re constantly empty.
Concern four. What’s on that plate?
You’ve probably already been told by so many people about their home remedies for milk production, and what you should, or could be eating.
First off, it’s important to be eating as healthily as you can and to be drinking enough fluids. The basics are important for a reason, and they’re going to make a huge difference in milk production, just by making sure that your body has enough fuel to run itself properly.
So make sure that you’re eating as well as you can, and drinking little and often. You might even want to pick up a water bottle to keep with you, so you know you’re getting enough.
But there’s a lot of myths out there about what foods are good for milk production and what isn’t. Some of it’s true, and some really aren’t, so here’s the real deal cleared up once and for all.
- Oats, in oatmeal or scattered across other cereals or yogurt
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Leafy greens
- Nuts
- Barley
- Papaya
There are also several things you should definitely avoid, like:
- Alcohol
- Herbs like sage, mint, and parsley
There’s a lot of things you can do to fix a low milk supply, but the best things to increase low milk supply fast are always to make sure that you’re looking after yourself, eating right and resting. When you look after yourself, everything else tends to fall into place, and as long as baby is gaining weight, you’re doing great.
So if you’re wondering how to increase milk supply fast, try not to worry. You’re doing a fantastic job, and if you’ve got any questions, you can always leave them in the comments. We love hearing from our readers, and you’ll soon find how helpful everyone can be.
