It is natural for a mom to question her milk supply from time to time, especially when baby is going through a growth spurt and seems to feed non stop! But, what about those moms who’s concerns are shrugged off by professionals because everything ‘LOOKS FINE’?
Why would a baby not be draining milk if it was available? Why would a baby not be gaining weight if mom was producing enough milk?
A common reason which is frequently overlooked or missed completely is anatomy! HMMM?
Yes! The size of your nipple can impact baby’s efficiency at draining the breast and will struggle to gain weight even if mom is producing more than enough milk!
How? Well if your nipple is large in relation to your baby’s mouth and oral cavity, when the baby latches onto the breast, he or she will predominantly take in nipple tissue – right?
Now, if you have bought my Beginner Guide, you will know that the milk ducts widen just behind the areola.
If a breastfeeding baby is not able to access the widen ducts behind the areola because his or her mouth is filled with nipple – how efficiently is he or she going to drain the breast? Not well at all!
If your nipple is ‘larger’, you will also notice that your baby’s lower lip is not able to fold down. You may be told that your baby’s mouth is not wide enough even though you try your best to get baby to ‘gape’ before latching.
More often than not, moms with larger nipples, don’t suffer any pain and so weight gain or lack there of is the only indicator that things aren’t going quite as well as they should.
What can you do to help baby access the milk?
BREAST COMPRESS!
This will help push the milk down into baby’s mouth which means your baby will gain weight and your milk supply will remain abundant as baby is draining the breast well at feeds.
I will put my ‘LOW MILK SUPPLY’ eBook on the site soon – I am just having it programed, right now. In it you will find everything you need to know about low milk supply and how to increase it or causes and remedies for poor milk transfer.
Until then, enjoy the sunshine and get in touch if you need help!
Hi, nice post. I have been wondering about this topic,so thanks for sharing. I’ll certainly be coming back to your blog.
Hi, gr8 post thanks for posting. Information is useful!