When a mother is breastfeeding, she produces breast milk, the best miracle food for babies. Breast milk provides all the nutrients that her baby needs for its development and growth. Mothers will need to breastfeed exclusively for at least the first six months and continue to breastfeed, along with solid foods, for at least the first year of age.
However, sometimes mothers may not produce enough breast milk for their babies. Fortunately, there are many ways to increase breast milk production and make sure that your baby gets all the nutrients it needs. Read through our guide on how to produce more breast milk to learn how simple steps it requires and what helps produce breast milk.
How to Increase Breast Milk
Producing breast milk is a natural process therefore sometimes it can be challenging. Breastfeeding mothers can use these tips on how to increase breast milk naturally in addition to the quality and quantity of their breast milk:
1) Drink plenty of water: Drinking water helps with the production of breast milk. It also helps to keep your body hydrated and healthy.
2) Eat well: Eating a balanced diet (including healthy fats, proteins, and carbs) will help you produce more breast milk.
3) Get enough rest: Getting enough sleep will help you produce more breast milk, so try to get 7-9 hours each night.
4) Exercise regularly: You can stimulate your breasts by exercising regularly - even if it's just for 20 minutes each day!
5) Talk about your feelings: If you feel anxious or stressed, talk about it with someone close to you or find other ways to release those emotions!
6) One way to increase breast milk production is by taking a vitamin B supplement. This will help the body produce more of the hormone prolactin, which stimulates and maintains lactation in women who are breastfeeding or pumping.
7) Another way to increase breast milk production is by taking fenugreek supplements. Fenugreek is an herb that helps stimulate hormones and promote lactation in women who are breastfeeding or pumping.
Breastfeeding mothers can additionally improve the quality of their breast milk by taking certain supplements such as folate, omega-3, and vitamin D. The mother's diet should also include other healthy food items and foods rich in calcium, protein, and zinc. The quality of breast milk is generally affected by several factors and can be improved by correct feeding and care.
It might be stressful for mothers not to be able to increase the quality of their breast milk. However, it is still important that parents need to seek advice from their doctors first. Needless to say, every step listed above needs to be approved or prescribed by your doctor once it is seen fit for your condition.