Why some moms don’t produce enough milk is quite a mystery! Some health professionals will tell you that that simply is not the case. I on the other hand, have witnessed this first hand at least 5 times in my practice. Okay, so 5 moms out of the hundreds of moms I see each year, is not a lot, but they are still there.
So what could lead to low milk supply if you don’t have a congenital or medical explanation?
Well the biggest culperate is poor positioning and attachment. If you have heard me say it once, you have heard me say it a hundred times! Poor positioning leads to poor drainage of the breast. The less milk you take off the breast at each feed, the less you will produce. Then moms need to introduce formula, which means the gap between their baby’s needs and their production increases and makes it harder to catch up. So if you are just browsing for tips – get yourself a copy of the Let’s Breastfeed Program to avoid positioning and attachment problems from day 1.
During delivery, often a moms will lose a small amount of blood which is normal and nothing to be concerned about. However, if a mom loses a lot of blood and needs to have units replaces, we know that it is going to have a massage impact on milk production. So if you are expecting and this happens to you, put baby to the breast as frequently as you are able. Be sure to have somebody with you when you do this, as you will feel weak and nervous of handling baby on your own. Increase your iron intake – dried apricots and Floradix iron reach tonic is great and won’t lead to the unpleasant side effects of iron tablets.
Be sure to keep going with breastfeeding as much as possible in the early days as this is when it most counts. If you are experiencing soreness, seek help immediately as sore nipples point to poor drainage, it is that simple.
By acting fast, you may be able to avoid the introduction of formula. Whilst some moms need it, it is best avoided if possible, so that your supply continues to meet your baby’s needs and doesn’t fall behind.
There are many other causes but let’s leave it here for now. If you are suffering low milk supply and need contructive advice, get yourself a copy of the Low Milk Supply eBook.
Much love,
Geraldine
