Top 10 Ways to Increase Milk Production

Related Content

• Top 10 Tips to Prepare for Breastfeeding
• Top 10 Ways to Prevent and Treat Sore Nipples

Worried about your milk supply? Then check out our lactation expert’s guide to increasing your milk production

By Teresa Pitman

A common reason mothers give for weaning their babies from breastfeeding is that they are not making enough milk to meet their babies’ needs. If you’re worried that you may not be producing sufficient milk, consulting with a lactation consultant, La Leche League leader or other breastfeeding expert may help you determine whether there is actually a problem and, if there is, may help you find a solution. You can also try some of these tips:

1. Feed more frequently. Your breasts produce more milk when they are emptier; if you wait until your breasts feel full or space feedings far apart, you are actually slowing down milk production. Feel like you can’t fit any more feedings into your busy day? Consider taking a “jumpstart weekend” if you can, where you spend a couple of days relaxing in bed or on the couch with your baby nursing as often as possible (every 15 minutes, if the baby is willing). Often this will get your milk supply ramped up and you can then get by with fewer feedings.

2. Make sure the baby is latching well. Yes, breastfeeding experts are always going on about latch, but that’s because it really is important. If your baby is not latched well, he won’t be able to get all the milk you are making, and he won’t be stimulating your breasts to make more. A good latch is pain-free for you, and puts your nipple well back in your baby’s mouth so he can extract the maximum amount of milk. If you’re not sure about the latch, or if you are experiencing sore nipples, see if you can get a breastfeeding expert to watch you feed your baby and see if some small adjustments could make it better.

3. Use breast compression. Sometimes when a baby is not nursing as effectively as she might, you can help her get more milk more quickly (and by doing so, signal your breasts to make more) by using breast compression. It’s an easy technique: when your baby is sucking but not swallowing, squeeze your breast between your thumb and fingers while the baby is nursing, as if you were hand-expressing into her mouth. You should see her start swallowing again. Try not to slide your thumb or fingers along your skin because you can irritate it. If she stops swallowing, release the pressure, move your fingers a little bit (to find another milk duct) and squeeze again. You’ll soon figure out where the milk ducts in your breasts are so that you can do this more effectively.

4. Review your nutrition and calorie intake. Some women seem to produce bountiful milk supplies on a diet of carrot sticks and grapes; others find that if they don’t pay attention to getting enough calories, their milk production begins to go down. You will, by the way, produce high-quality milk even if your diet is far from perfect (but good nutrition is still important for your own health). Drinking enough water is also important in maintaining milk production, especially in hot weather. But don’t overdo it — some researchers have found women who drink too much water can actually end up with lower milk supplies, so just drink enough that you don’t feel thirsty.

5. Check any medications you are taking to see if they might affect your milk production. Some over-the-counter cold medications, for example, contain pseudoephredine, which may suppress milk production, and birth control pills may decrease milk supply in some women. Herbs such as sage in large quantities can also cause problems.

6. Eat oatmeal. No scientific research on this has been done (as far as I know) but many mothers find eating a bowl of real — not instant — oatmeal each day seems to increase their milk production, without any harmful side effects.

7. Consider pumping after or between feedings. If your baby is not nursing effectively (perhaps because he was born prematurely or has some other health problems), you may find it helpful to pump as well as breastfeed. At first, you probably won’t get much milk when you pump, but don’t worry — you are sending your breasts the signal to make more milk and the amount will increase over time. (Of course, you may not see much of that increase, as the baby may drink it all!) Save any milk you get and feed it to your baby with a lactation aid at the breast. A lactation aid uses a small tube positioned beside your nipple to give the baby extra milk while he is breastfeeding.

8. Try herbal supplements to boost your milk production. There are a number of herbs that are traditionally said to help moms make more milk, but research to confirm this is scarce. Toronto paediatrician Jack Newman has had good results with mothers taking fenugreek and blessed thistle together (fenugreek is one of the few herbs with research to support its effectiveness in increasing milk production). Other women recommend goat’s rue or vervain, among others. If you are interested in using herbal supplements, be sure to check with a health care practitioner as some can cause allergic reactions or interact with other medications.

9. Discuss domperidone with your doctor. Domperidone is a prescription medication that can increase milk production for many women. Your doctor can help you decide if it is appropriate for you. Some women who take domperidone need to keep taking it as long as they are breastfeeding, but others are able to wean off the drug after a month or two and continue to have a full supply.

10. If despite all your efforts, you’re still not able to make enough milk to meet your baby’s needs, remember that you don’t need to give up breastfeeding. You may need to supplement with formula, but your baby still gets valuable nutrients, antibodies, immune factors and enzymes from your milk, as well as the irreplaceable experience of breastfeeding. To help you keep breastfeeding going even though you are supplementing, consider giving the supplement through a lactation aid at the breast. If you decide instead to use a bottle, give the supplement first, and then finish the feeding at the breast. That way, the baby may nurse longer and gets that happy, full feeling while breastfeeding (rather than from the bottle), so breastfeeding is more likely to continue. Often when the baby starts on solid foods, you can drop the formula supplements and continue with just breastfeeding and added solids.