How new moms can boost their milk supply

For many expectant moms, how high or low their milk supply will be is something that is constantly on their minds. And over the first few weeks after delivery, they’ll do everything they can to achieve breastfeeding success.
The first four to six weeks after birth are a learning process for both you and your little one. You’ll spend them getting used to each other and laying the foundations of a mother-child relationship that will last your whole lives. Among the things you’ll both need to get the hang of is how to breastfeed. Your little one will need to figure out how to latch and how to suckle while you learn the best positions, most comfortable routine, and how to establish a healthy and robust milk supply.
Speaking of milk supply, one of the main issues a lot of new moms deal with is low milk supply in those early months. If this is what you are going through, is there anything you can do to boost your milk supply?
The golden rule of breast milk supply
If there is just one thing you take away from this guide, let it be this: the higher the demand for your milk, the more your supply will be. This is the golden rule of breast milk supply.
Over 9 months, your body has learnt to anticipate and cater to your little one’s needs. This does not change after delivery. Instinctively, your body knows that your little one needs nurturing, so works to produce enough milk with the right nutritional content to meet that need.
So what does this mean? Well, for nursing moms, the more the baby feeds, the more breastmilk will be produced. Which means if you feed your baby more often, you’ll end up producing more breastmilk over time. You can also trick your body into making even more breastmilk by pumping more.
Here are some more tips for boosting your breast milk supply:
1. Breastfeed your baby often
Pregnancy and delivery bring with them lots of changes to your body. One of the areas that go through lots of changes is the breasts. Over the nine months of your pregnancy and up to 6 months after delivery, your bra size will change drastically because of this.
As your breasts start to produce milk, they will become bigger and heavier. A good nursing bra will help provide the extra support you need when these changes happen, providing some much-needed comfort. At the same time, good nursing bras also help make the task of breastfeeding more convenient for you. This means no more fumbling and struggling every time your little one needs to feed!
2. Pump frequently between feeds
Pumping using a breast pump between feeds can also help increase milk production. When you express milk by pumping, it triggers more milk production, boosting your supply. This is why experts recommend pumping in a wide variety of situations, such as:
- When there is a missed feeding session
- When there is leftover milk in the breast after feeding
- When the mother is not around the child, for example, working mothers in their workplaces
- When the breasts feel full or are leaking