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March 9th, 2010 admin No comments

Weleda Store

Are my Breasts Still Making Milk - Milk Supply?

Mothers have often questioned if their breasts are still making milk as their baby gets a little older, as their breasts may not seem as full as when baby was a newborn.

When baby is about three months your breasts change, at the same time babies tend to have a major growth spurt and are feeding alot.

As babies tend to feed all the time this doesn't mean you don't have enough milk.

At this time breasts do not tend to store milk like they did initially when baby was newborn. Your breasts will now make milk on demand when your baby needs it and is drinking. Your baby will continue to get everything they need.

There is no need to wean and you are making enough milk.

Lots of mothers give up breastfeeding at this stage and may mistakenly think that they need to formula feed baby. It is actually after the three month of age mark that breastfeeding becomes an enjoyable experience for mothers.

However if you are concerned there are a few things you can do to help increase your milk supply:

Remember that your breast's will naturally increase your supply. The more milk your baby drinks from your breast, then the next day your breasts will make that much milk ready in anticipation. The baby's suckling stimulates breasts to produce more milk, so while baby is at your breast suckling there will be milk flowing.

If your baby is not feeding and suckling well, or you start to feed baby with formula, then your breasts will be making less milk as baby will not be getting their food from breastfeeding. This will cause your milk supply to decrease.

Here are some things that you can try toboost your breast milk supply.

Eat 3 healthy meals per day, plus healthy snacks and drinks.
Drink whenever you are thirsty.
Tiger's Milk
Lactation Boosting Cookies
Complan Milk Shakes
Porridge
Fenugreek
Weleda Nursing Tea
Domperidone (prescribed by doctors and midwives)
Drink a glass of water after every feed
Expressing with a breast pump after feeding baby
Sleep and rest!

Also...is there really a problem with supply? The best way to tell is by output. If baby is fussy in the evening, this doesn't mean that the supply is dropping off, its just normal behaviour for babies to cluster feed in the evening, and the milk will be there as long as you put baby to the breast - which might be VERY frequently at that time of the day - but its normal, and doesn't mean there isn't anything there.

Breastmates have a great list of real Breastfeeding Tips for mothers.

About the Author

Frances McInnes is the owner of Breastmates Maternity Store. Breastmates have gorgeous maternity products as well as tips and advice for parents. http://www.breastmates.co.nz