My husband and I are going to start a family next year. both my mother and sister did not produce milk after giving birth. Is there anything I can do to increase the milk I produce when I have a baby?
2007-12-12 21:05:59 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
You can find a lot of the answers to your questions on Babycenter.com...
According to that web site the more often you attempt to breast feed the more milk you will produce..
2007-12-12 21:11:44 · answer #1 · answered by LokoLobo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
firstly, just because your mum and sister think they didn't have enough milk doesn't mean you'll be the same.
Everyone is individual so forget about that.
Usually your body does it instinctively and it is really quite rare to produce nothing after the birth. And I mean rare.
You can try pumping after each feed to encourage more milk to flow; the more you feed/pump the more you produce. Its a supply and demand system going on in your breasts. The more you do it the more you get. Just like the more weights you lift the bigger your muscles get. Simple hey!
You can also visit a naturopath or natural health food shop and get some things to take that may or may not help boost milk production. Be careful and make sure you have your doctors consent before taking anything during pregnancy or breastfeeding other than paracetamol. Also there are synthetic drugs available to women to help with lactating so ask your midwife about these when you fall pregnant.
Best of luck and don't worry about it too much. Not all things are genetically based so face the obsticles when you get to them.
Have fun TTC!!! Thats the best bit about having babies, lol!
2007-12-12 21:19:29 · answer #2 · answered by Cindy; mum to 3 monkeys! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nurse, nurse, nurse and when you're not nursing pump. Eat oatmeal every morning, take blessed thistle or Fenugreek (herbal rememdies, helps with milk production). Remember to stay hydrated (water and apple juice), eat well (although you can live on a diet of fast food and still produce a lot of good milk), right at the start rest a lot - sleep when the baby sleeps. If you get tired your production will decrease. Remember that milk supply is directly linked to your mind. If you stress or start to obsess about your supply, your body will react and will make less milk. Just take it as it comes.
If you have any other problems, you can also talk to your doctor, they can give you a pill to increase your supply. Talk to a lactation consultant, and read up on breastfeeding. Make sure you're informed before you go into the hospital, sometimes you only think you don't have milk but it can take a while for it to come in (up to three days), so don't listen to anyone who tells you you can't or shouldn't breastfeed. Most women can.
2007-12-12 21:18:15 · answer #3 · answered by elainevdb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can pump for a few minutes after you feed. This will keep your supply high all the time. Ideally if you are just breastfeeding and not supplementing with any formula then your body should produce enough milk for the baby.
2007-12-12 21:09:16 · answer #4 · answered by Pumpernickle 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A lot of women battle with this. It's very common.
Do:
- Drink plenty of water
- Express milk to encourage supply
- persevere, it's not easy at first, it's can be sore in the first few days.
- Seek your doctors advise as he can perscribe espiride to increase your milk
Don't
- Drink coffee, tea or alcohol
It's hard, but it's worth it in the end.
2007-12-12 21:17:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both above answers are good - one other thing, gentle massage and drinking plenty of water can sometimes help as well.
2007-12-12 21:15:28 · answer #6 · answered by lassiebear 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
start eating bananas and peanuts
2007-12-12 21:20:39 · answer #7 · answered by alfie thai 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pump as often as you can...
2007-12-12 21:14:29 · answer #8 · answered by Lisa F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋