How Can I Increase My Milk Supply?

There are a number of things you can do to increase your milk supply.   There are a number of things you can do.

1. Make sure you have a good latch (see latch videos listed under resources)  If latch is painful or nipples are sore, get help from an IBCLC qualified lactation consultant
2. Increase your frequency of nursing to 12 times or more in 24 hrs. Make sure you breastfeed or pump at least one time during the night.
3. Do lots of skin to skin with the baby (mom or dad) Put only a diaper on baby, put baby on your bare chest,  and cover with blankets as needed.  Skin to skin does amazing things for the baby and also stimulates mother's milk producing hormones.
4. Pump 8 to 12 times in 24 hrs after every feeding for about 15 minutes.
5. Check for proper flange fit--nipple should not be touching the sides of the flange tube when pump is working
6. Use breast massage or compression
7. Use herbs that increase your milk supply such as More Milk Plus. You should notice a difference within 48 hrs if it is going to work. 

Breastfeeding Tidbits

• Babies thrive on direct contact and social interaction with you.
• Car seats are for when you are traveling in the car

Don't leave your baby in the car seat when you are out of the car. Babies need to be in different positions in order to strengthen all the muscles of their neck and torso. Hold the baby, or use a sling or baby carrier if you need to get some things done. These things will also help prevent the flattening of the back of their head. Carrying the baby around in the car seat is terrible for your arm and back as well.

Breastfeeding Tidbits!

• If you are breastfeeding, avoid using the gel hand sanitizers.

Just wash your hands with soap and water instead. Why? The gel sanitizers have alcohol in them. Alcohol can irritate your hands as well as the sensitive skin around the nipple and areola when you hold your breast to latch baby. The alcohol fumes are toxic to baby. I've seen cases where babies have had "breast aversion" because their mommy was using hand sanitizer after all diaper changes.

The Best Way to Avoid the Flu

The flu season is here! Protect you and your family in a very simple way.

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds

When? Before you eat, after changing diapers or using the bathroom, after sneezing or wiping your nose or eyes, when you get home after being out...this goes for your children's hands as well!

• Try to keep your hands off of your nose and eyes

• Avoid touching public hand rails and door knobs as much as possible. Keep your paper towel in public restrooms, use it to open the door or push the door open with your back or shoulder instead of your hand.
• If you or a family member are coming down with "something", do everyone a favor, and stay home. There is no heroism in keeping an appointment and pushing yourself to do something if it is going to spread disease to someone else. Be considerate of others.

Breastfeeding Tidbits!

• The best breastmilk storage containers are either glass, or BPA free hard plastic containers

Why? Research has found that the a large percentage of the immunoglobulins that are in your breastmilk will stick to the sides of the plastic bag breastmilk storage containers. So...baby never gets those stuck cells that protect her from infections.

• When storing expressed breastmilk, never add your warm, just expressed milk to a container with frozen milk. Cool the just expressed milk in the refrigerator first!

Types of Lactation Visits

I do three types of lactation visits. Fathers can be included in the instruction.

1. Prenatal assessment and breastfeeding instruction

This can be done in the home and includes:

• a mother's health history
• instruction on how to get a deep latch
• various feeding positions
• how to avoid sore nipples
• how to avoid engorgement
• how to know when your baby is hungry
• the importance of skin to skin
• soothing techniques
• nutrition
• the importance of having the baby put on her tummy right after birth while the placenta is being delivered
• the importance of having the baby's first breastfeeding take place within the first hour of birth
• how to avoid being separated from the baby while in the hospital, and much more

2. Early postpartum visit for one of baby's first feedings
This visit can be done in the hospital soon after baby is born. If I haven't seen you before, it will include:

• mother's health history
• history of your labor and delivery
• physical assessment of the baby
• breast exam of mother
• feeding observation/instruction
• latch and positioning assistance as needed
• feeding and satiation cues
• breastfeeding management for the first few days
• the importance of skin to skin with the baby
• pre-term or late pre-term instruction if appropriate
• assistance with other issues that may arise
• customized care plan

3. Home visit after hospital discharge
This visit can take place in the days soon after discharge, or later, and includes:

• mother and baby health history
• physical assessment of baby
• breast assessment
• observation of feeding
• assistance with latch and positioning
• nude weight, and pre and post feeding baby weights
• hunger and satiation cues
• how to know if baby is getting enough milk
• when supplementation is needed
• alternative feeding methods if needed
• pumping and storing human milk
• management of sore nipples
• management of engorgement
• dealing with low milk supply
• cluster feedings
• dealing with over abundant milk production
• poor weight gain
• dealing with a fussy baby
• nutrition
• adequate rest for mom
• information and/or screening for postpartum depression
• provision of appropriate supplies and literature
• a personalized care plan
• follow up phone calls and emails, timely report to your physician.

Any of these visits may include more or less of what is listed, but this gives you a general idea of what is involved. If you can have only one visit, I would suggest that the visit after discharge would be the best one to select--as that is when many breastfeeding challenges start to show up. Having a prenatal visit can give parents enough knowledge to help prevent many breastfeeding problems. A visit for baby's first feeding, can help mom have a good latch and positioning from the very beginning, as well as breastfeeding management tips that will help to prevent problems as her milk comes in.
Most mother's and fathers are greatly encouraged and much more confident after a visit. It is my aim to make sure the baby is well fed, and that things are going in a way that is good for the baby and the parents. Breastfeeding involves the whole family. I want to help you meet your breastfeeding goals. I also want you to enjoy the precious new life in your growing family!

Breastfeeding Tidbits!
Keep your eye out for various "Tidbits" about breastfeeding. Today, I'd like to tell you one about cleaning breast pumps.

• Do you know that you should never, never wash your breast pump tubing?
• If you notice condensation in the tubing after pumping, leave the pump running for a while after disconnecting the bottles--this will dry it out.

The reason you don't need to wash the tubing, is that the tubing has nothing but air going through it.  The expressed breast milk never touches the tubing.  If you wash the tubing, chances are that it will get moldy.  If that is the case, you must get some replacement tubing.