(lactation activist)
A Motherlode of Breastfeeding Information
The Myth of Low Supply
Countless women stop breastfeeding because they are told or believe that they don't have enough milk for their baby. This myth is perpetuated everyday in our society. You're too skinny to nurse a baby! Your breasts are too small, how can you ever have enough milk? He just eats constantly, are you starving that baby? These small questions and statements can have a huge impact on a new mother. When the people who are closest to you undermine you in small ways you can begin to doubt yourself. This can have a huge impact on the breastfeeding relationship. Breastfeeding is purely a supply and demand system. The more stimulation that your nipples receive, the more milk you produce. The most effective stimulation you can give your nipples is a sucking baby that is properly latched on. A pump cannot possibly duplicate a nursing child. The more you nurse your baby the more milk you will have. By believing that you aren't capable of making enough milk you will start to take actions to support that belief. Giving pacifiers to calm in between while your breasts fill up is one of the more common mistakes. The new baby naturally wants to suck frequently and the purpose of this is to assure a healthy supply of milk for a long time down the road. Many mothers take this as a sign that they don't have enough to feed their child. This isn't true. The baby just knows that it will be outgrowing the current supply on a regular basis and needs to keep the supply increasing. Your body is perfectly designed for this. As your baby starts a growth spurt she will start to increase her nursing frequency. As it takes the body 24-72 hours to respond to this increase the milk will be catching up with the baby just as it hits the peak of its growth spurt and will be assured plenty of nutrition at the proper time for development. This supply and demand type system cannot be replicated with bottles. You cannot predict exactly how much your baby will need at any given time. By breastfeeding your body responds without thought from you allowing your baby to develop on the pace that is right for him.
Learning to trust your body can be difficult but remember that we as humans wouldn't be here if it weren't for breastmilk. Breastfeeding with the underlying belief that your milk isn't capable of sustaining your baby is a set-up for failure. Every time your baby cries you will wonder if she is hungry and not getting enough. Getting informed in pregnancy can really help to convince you that breastmilk is the perfect food for babies. Breastfeeding establishes a bond that can serve a child well into the difficult teen years, and that as women we are gifted with the ability to nourish our children from our breast for most of the first year. We have the ability to keep our babies alive through the roughest of times. Anyone who tells you that you aren't capable of nourishing your child is misinformed. There are only a very few medical reasons that you cannot breastfeed. This is an even smaller number of women than you would imagine. Start telling yourself now that you are completely capable of not only sustaining your baby but also allowing him to thrive on the abundant milk that you have been blessed with.
If you are struggling with a low supply than the answer is more stimulation. In addition to more frequent nursing there are several tips that can help to get you on track with plentiful milk. Having a nurse-in can be one of the most effective ways to jumpstart a low supply. Increasing your daily intake of water can make your body more hydrated which helps your body to operate at its peak. If you feel that your supply is low there are some questions you can ask yourself? Have I been getting enough sleep? Have I been eating plenty of nutritious food? Have I been drinking enough water? Am I trying to do too much with a small baby? Am I pressuring myself to keep the house in top shape? Is baby getting bottles? Is baby getting pacifiers? All these issues can have an impact on breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is not an island. It takes extra energy to nourish your child from your own body. All aspects of your life can impact the breastfeeding relationship. If after spending as much time nursing your babe as possible you feel that your supply is still less than adequate there are additional tricks you can try. Herbs can be helpful in bringing up the quality and quantity of your milk. Pumping can be used as extra stimulation when your baby is done eating or is sleeping. If you still feel that your supply is low or if your baby is not gaining weight, please call a board certified Lactation Consultant right away! It could mean the difference between breastfeeding and formula feeding.
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DISCLAIMER: This web site is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for medical attention, or diagnosis. If you are having breastfeeding difficulties, please contact an IBCLC near you for assistance. If you have any questions consult your family's health care provider. In some instances, the information represents opinion or judgment. Neither the information providers nor the Site owner guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information in this website nor will they be responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. The Site owner and the information providers will not be liable or responsible to any person(s) for any loss or damage caused whatsoever by the use of information or ideas referenced in this web site. Your participation in this service therefore is solely at your own risk.