Low Milk Supply – How to Identify It, and What to Do About It

Well, before you self-diagnose, make sure you talk with your child’s pediatrician to make sure – sometimes it’s just the worry of a new mother (or well-intentioned grandmother) to make you question how much milk you’re producing. More often than not, the amount of milk your baby is receiving is just right.

The pediatrician will probably have you come in a few times over the course of a week or two to weigh the baby and make sure he’s gaining the appropriate amount of weight for his size.

In addition, here are a couple of questions your pediatrician is likely to ask you to determine if you’re producing enough milk:

- How many times are you breastfeeding per day?

- Does your baby seem fussy after nursing, reaching back for your breast?

- Do your breasts feel as though they’ve been emptied after breastfeeding–that they’re lighter and less full than before you nursed?

- Are you letting your baby nurse as long as he wants, or do you decide when he’s had enough?

While considering these questions, also think about how your baby reacts while he’s nursing.

For example, does he arch his back during or immediately after feeding? If so, it might be GERD (gastrointestinal esophageal reflux disease) or some other digestive difficulties, rather than a low milk supply.

But, if the diagnosis truly is a low milk supply, it doesn’t mean you have to start supplementing with formula right away, or at all – there are many options to help boost your supply.

You could try using an herbal supplement that is shown to increase milk production, such as fenugreek or blessed thistle – check out my Safe Medications page for more information on this, and discuss what is best for you and your baby with both your pediatrician and your obstetrician.

You could also try pumping immediately after nursing your baby; this tricks your body into thinking your baby is still nursing, and helps it respond appropriately by producing more milk.

I know it’s a lot of work to break out your breast pump after every feeding, especially if your baby is already nursing for a pretty decent amount of time. But if you follow this routine for a few days, you should start to see an increase in milk and a more satisfied baby.

Above all, make sure you maintain close contact with your doctors to help identify the problem and find the right solution for your situation.

If you feel that your pediatrician is too quick to rush you into supplementing, don’t feel bad about consulting with another doctor in the practice or finding a new doctor’s office altogether. You are the parent, and while you’ll want to make sure you have an objective partner in your child’s healthcare, you also need to have a doctor who will work with you in your efforts to continue breastfeeding.

Although you’ll want to try every measure possible, if it ends up that you have to supplement your nursing sessions with formula, it’s not the end of the world – the most important thing is that you have a healthy, thriving baby, whether that comes from a breast or a bottle.

Additional Resources

Return from Low Milk Supply to Breastfeeding-bff.com

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