Products that cause lactation. What foods will help increase lactation

With the birth of a baby, the question of how to increase lactation worries every mother. Indeed, despite the fact that there are many different mixtures, mother's milk is not only the best food, but also contributes to the development of the newborn.

Unfortunately, young mothers are sometimes faced with. What to do in such a situation? Some try to deal with this problem, using all possible ways to stimulate lactation. And others believe that it is simply not given to them by nature. However, this is an erroneous opinion. Only in 1% of all cases, a woman really cannot feed a baby. In the rest, lactation can be restored, only this will require a lot of strength and patience. Moreover, it is even possible to resume the production of breast milk after a break of several weeks.

There are many ways to increase lactation in a nursing mother, and it is best to use them in combination. First of all, you need to establish a daily routine for mom and baby. Organize a complete and balanced diet, sufficient drinking regimen. You can also improve lactation with the use of special pharmacological preparations, teas and other folk methods. The main thing is to be patient and not lose heart. You will definitely succeed!

Baby feeding

How to increase lactation while breastfeeding? First of all, you should apply the baby to the breast as much as possible. During suckling, even in the absence of milk, prolactin and oxytocin are released. These hormones play an important role in the establishment of lactation, as they stimulate this process.

It is necessary to apply the baby to the breast on demand. Feeding should not take place strictly on time. In order for the baby to take the breast more actively, you should not give him a dummy, which can partially satisfy the sucking reflex.

If the baby falls asleep during feeding, he needs to be stirred up a little so that he suckles more actively. And if it is difficult for the baby to eat on his own, help - massage the mammary gland to increase the flow of milk. Or express a little before attaching to the breast, so that it is easier for the baby to properly latch on to the nipple.

Stimulation of lactation is also carried out with the help of pumping. This can be done manually or with a breast pump. A woman's body produces milk in response to need - the more the baby eats, the faster it is produced.

Good results for increasing lactation give night application. It is advisable to feed the baby at least 2-3 times a night. This will keep the level of prolactin at high parameters. However, there is no need to specifically wake the child.

If the baby does not have enough milk, do not give him a bottle of formula. An infant may simply refuse to breastfeed in favor of a bottle. After all, sucking from it is much easier than getting your own food on your own. Therefore, you just need to survive this moment, applying the crumbs to the chest as often as possible.

Sufficient fluid intake will help improve lactation - at least 2 liters per day. You need to drink 1 hour before feeding and 30-40 after it. The best option for a drinking regimen is so that a woman does not feel thirsty. In this case, you do not need to drink through force. The liquid should be warm, but not too hot. This triggers the release of oxytocin, which is responsible for milk production. You can drink green or black tea, uzvar, rosehip broth, compote.

It is necessary to exclude sweet carbonated drinks and juices from potentially allergenic fruits - orange, tomato.

Special teas to stimulate milk production

Teas for increasing lactation based on medicinal herbs are very popular. They are easy to use, their choice is so large that every woman will definitely pick up something to her liking. You can improve lactation with fennel, cumin, lemon balm, anise and many other herbs. There are also special fees, consisting of several components. Most Popular:

• Granulated Humana tea. It contains extracts of fennel, rooibos and fenugreek. Enriched with ascorbic acid. It is used not only to enhance lactation, but also for the speedy recovery of a woman's body after childbirth.
• Granulated HiPP tea. Consists of fennel, anise, cumin, lemon balm, nettle extract and galega grass. It has a complex effect - stimulates the production of milk and has a calming effect.
• Tea Lactavit. Available in filter bags that are brewed in boiling water. Contains only natural ingredients - crushed herbs. The composition includes fennel, cumin, anise, nettle leaves.

The tea method does not exert its lactogenic effect immediately. Herbal remedies gently but steadily stimulate milk production.

Folk methods to increase lactation

How to increase lactation with folk methods? Can they really help? Some products are actually able to enhance the work of the mammary glands. The main thing is to cook them correctly in order to get the expected result:

• Freshly made carrot juice. It should be taken 100 ml 2-3 times a day. To improve the taste, you can add 1 tsp to it. honey, cream or milk.
• Radish with . Grate, squeeze the juice and add 1 tsp. honey. The drink should be drunk 100 ml 2-3 times a day.
• Carrots with milk. 3-4 st. l. pour finely grated carrots with milk. For lactation, the drug should be taken 200 ml 2-3 times a day.
• Cumin drink. 1 st. l. seeds, pour 1 liter of boiled water, add lemon or 2 g of citric acid and 100 g of sugar. Boil the mixture for 5-10 minutes over low heat, cool and strain. Drink 100 ml several times a day.
• Dandelion juice. It will help to effectively improve lactation. Juice can be obtained from fresh washed leaves of the plant, which must be passed through a meat grinder. To improve the taste, you can add a little salt and leave for 30-40 minutes. You need to drink it 100 ml 1-2 times a day.
• . Increases lactation, subject to proper intake - 1 tbsp. l. seeds need to pour a glass of boiling water, insist for 2 hours and drink 1 tbsp. l. 5-8 times a day.

To increase lactation, herbs have a stimulating effect, resulting in an increase in the volume of milk produced. Phytocollection can be prepared independently at home. The most effective components are fennel, cumin and oregano. They must be mixed in equal proportions, 1 tbsp. l. collection, pour 200 ml of water, insist and strain. The drink should be drunk 100 ml 2-3 times a day.

Biologically active additives

In the absence of positive results from the use of various methods of breastfeeding, you should consult a doctor. In some cases, lactation for a nursing mother can be restored and improved with the help of dietary supplements.

However, in order to quickly achieve good results, tablets alone will not be enough. It is necessary to use different methods at the same time - feeding regimen, mother's nutrition, physical activity, etc.

The most popular products with lactogonal properties are Apilak, Mlekoin and Laktogon:

• Apilak. A natural preparation, the main active ingredient of which is royal jelly. Causes an increase in lactation due to natural properties. It has no contraindications except for individual intolerance to bee products. The course of treatment is 15 days.
• Mlekoin. This is a homeopathic remedy that increases the production of breast milk. It consists of stinging nettle, meadow backache and agnus cactus.
• Lactogon. A complex drug that increases lactation due to the therapeutic effect of the components - carrot juice, ginger, ascorbic acid, dill, nettle and royal jelly.

Breastfeeding women may occasionally experience lactation crises. They are characterized by a sharp decrease in the amount of milk, the child becomes restless, constantly asks for food, hangs on his chest for a long time. As a rule, the duration of the period is up to 5 days. Therefore, do not panic and supplement the baby with a mixture, it is better to use safe and effective methods to increase lactation, and everything will work out.

Breastfeeding is not always easy for everyone. From the outside it may seem that there is nothing complicated in this process - give the baby a breast, and then nature itself will do everything. In fact, this is not entirely true, because at the start, each woman ends up with a different amount of milk that her body can produce at a time. That is why, in the very first days after childbirth, some women suffer from stagnation, others calmly feed their children, and some are looking for ways and products that increase milk lactation.

Why does a breastfeeding mother have little milk?

There are a lot of reasons why a baby may not have enough milk, and among them:

Insufficiently frequent attachment of the baby to the breast or feeding by the hour. Frequent breastfeeding sends signals to your body that it needs more, so the frequency of breastfeeding affects the quality of lactation.

lactation crisis- the baby began to need more milk, as he grew up, and the woman's body had not yet had time to adapt to new needs.

Poor diet of a nursing mother. In the first month after childbirth, women who decide to breastfeed their baby are advised to refrain from many foods, including fried, salty, spicy, as well as foods that are more likely to cause allergies in crumbs - chicken, eggs, fish, nuts and etc. However, after the first month, familiar foods should gradually return to your diet, with the exception of those that are not suitable specifically for your baby.

Not enough rest and sleep. The hormones responsible for the production of breast milk - oxytocin and prolactin - are produced much better when a woman does not experience stress and a strong feeling of fatigue or exhaustion. If you're having trouble getting enough milk, try asking your loved ones to take on some of the household and childcare responsibilities.

Taking hormonal drugs that suppress lactation. In this case, you should discuss your options with your healthcare provider.

Naturally reduced lactation. Although there is an opinion among lactation consultants that there are no “non-dairy” mothers (and we partly agree with this), nevertheless, the body's capabilities for each woman are individual. There is nothing wrong with that, you can still successfully breastfeed your baby, you just have to make a little effort to “build up” the body. This can be helped by regular frequent application, additional in the first 3 months, as well as products to improve lactation.

Lack of night feedings. During the night and morning hours, the hormones responsible for lactation work most actively.

If lactation is reduced, it is imperative to eliminate or minimize the reason why this happened, because no special diets will give the desired effect if, for example, you continue to feed your baby on schedule or are subjected to regular stress. Eliminated? Now let's help nature do its thing by spurring things on a little bit and find out how to improve lactation with the help of products.

Products that increase milk lactation

Cereals- a product that every housewife has in the house, in addition to a lot of useful qualities, helps to increase lactation. Try to include oatmeal in your daily diet, and after a few days, evaluate how much your breast milk will increase.

Plain yogurt without additives also well established itself as helping to improve lactation in many mothers. One serving a day, in addition to "milk" help, will provide the body with the necessary proteins, as well as lactic acid bacteria, useful for digestion.

Various nuts, especially almond also help many mothers around the world cope with the lack of breast milk. But don't overdo it! You can eat no more than 2-4 nuts a day, otherwise the baby may begin to suffer from colic, and instead of increasing lactation, you will get a sleepless night and a crying baby. Also, be sure to make sure that your crumbs are not allergic to nuts, start trying with a small portion, for example, halves of a nut, increasing the portion daily, but be sure to observe the reaction throughout the day.

Dill and his close relative fennel in small amounts they also help increase lactation, and are always present in lactogenic teas. You can boil the seeds with boiling water and drink this drink 1-2 times a day in small portions. Fennel seeds, in addition, help babies cope with colic, which is a big plus.

oily fruits avocado- excellent products that increase lactation of breast milk. They can be included in the diet in a small portion as part of a salad, for example, but be sure to watch the child's reaction to this product.

In addition, in the diet of a nursing mother, there must be foods containing protein - turkey from the first month of a child's life, and then gradually introduced eggs, chicken and fish, as well as lean meats. Dairy and sour-milk products should also be on the table daily (if there is no allergy to cow protein).

Carrot has a truly miraculous effect in improving lactation. It can be grated and eaten with sugar, or you can make a carrot drink. To do this, you need to take 3-4 tablespoons of grated carrots, pour it with freshly boiled milk, let it cool to a temperature of 38-40 degrees and drink without waiting for the drink to cool down. So even our great-grandmothers improved lactation! In general, vegetables and fruits, with the exception of those that cause allergies or increased gas formation in your baby, must be in the daily diet of a nursing woman. Among them: green apples, bananas, pumpkin, potatoes, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, onions and garlic in small quantities, bell peppers and so on. In the summer, watermelon helps to increase lactation, because it contains a lot of liquid.

Daily drink water and warm drinks - weak tea, fruit drink, dried fruit compote, but do not pour liters of liquid into yourself, drink as you thirst. An adequate volume of water per day is approximately 2-2.5 liters. Excessive fluid intake can play a trick on you, and instead of increasing lactation, on the contrary, it will reduce it. Many women report that they get good milk flushes after they drink warm tea with milk or condensed milk, so you can try this drink about 20 minutes before feeding. However, do not forget that black tea, like coffee, contains caffeine, which can excite the baby's nervous system, so limit the use of such tea to 2-3 cups a day, preferably in the morning. But carbonated drinks should be completely excluded from your diet, since they do not bring any benefit, but can cause colic in a child.

You can also add to your diet cinnamon, ginger, flax and cumin seeds- these spices have long been famous for their lactogenic properties. They will help increase lactation, and diversify food for a while, while mom temporarily refused spicy and fried foods.

Honey, which we are used to consuming mainly during the cold season, is another one on the list of products that increase milk lactation. Eat a spoon or two of honey a day and check its effect on your body.

Remember that each organism is individual, and if something from our list does not suit you, then another product will definitely do, which will help increase milk lactation. Just try them all, one at a time, until you find yours. Also, do not forget that the changes will not happen instantly. Give nature a little time, and soon lactation will definitely improve in the right amount.

We offer you to watch a video about products that increase lactation with good recipes for nursing mothers.

Foods that should not be consumed if you need to increase lactation.

What foods increase milk, we figured it out. Now we need to talk about lactation-reducing foods so that you can eliminate them from your diet or reduce their use to a minimum. There are no secrets here - everything that retains fluid in the body is detrimental to lactation.

Dishes with spices, especially spicy, not only interfere with the establishment of good lactation, but also do not affect the baby’s tummy in the best way if he is sensitive to your diet. Ginger, cumin, cinnamon, barberry or a drop of garlic are allowed spices that can be used to diversify almost any dish without harming breastfeeding. The rest will have to wait.

Use some herbs such as sage and mint, undesirable if you want to improve lactation. Many women have reported reduced milk production after regularly consuming these herbs.

Salt in large quantities is also the enemy of good lactation, because it retains water in your body. You should not completely refuse it, but you still need to know when to stop.

Recipes for cocktails to increase lactation:

Recently, smoothies have gained great popularity - cocktails that are prepared using a blender - submersible or in a special bowl. They deserve popular love for the ease of preparation - you just need to put a little of this, a little of that into the container, add ice and press the button. If you use products that increase milk lactation to prepare such cocktails, you can kill two birds with one stone - both help the problem and save cooking time.

Conclusions.

Reduced lactation is just a stage that any mother can face. Do not immediately despair or transfer the little one to the mixture. Breastfeeding is the healthiest food for a baby until at least 6 months of age. The situation can be corrected if you use products that improve lactation, which we talked about.

Breastfeeding is a special period in the life of a new mother. Breastfeeding helps to recover faster after childbirth, provide protection from mastopathy and establish close relationships with the baby. Often breastfeeding mothers face a shortage of milk. Today we will tell you how to increase lactation at home, and what to do if there is practically no milk in the chest.

5 main factors influencing the increase and maintenance of lactation

Proper development of a child is impossible without proper nutrition. Mother's milk is ideally suited to the ability of the baby's body to absorb food. From breast milk, the baby receives everything he needs: enzymes, growth factors, immunoglobulins that protect the child's body from infections.

Important! Every baby should receive breast milk for at least 6 months, because it is completely tailored to the individual needs of the crumbs.

Among the many factors affecting the occurrence, increase and preservation of milk secretion, the most important are:

1. The health status of the nursing mother and baby.
2. The mother's desire and will to breastfeed her baby.
3. The state of mind of a nursing mother and the situation in the family.
4. Regular attachment of the newborn to the breast;
5. Conscientious preparation and learning of proper breastfeeding technique.

What to do if there is not enough milk? We will definitely talk about many effective ways to improve lactation, but first we advise you to watch this video:

Before concluding that the mother has little milk, the above factors must be excluded. If there are errors in the correct attachment of the breast, the physical fatigue of a nursing mother or excessive mental stress (excitement, anxiety), then a lack of milk is only a consequence of existing problems. Their solution will help to avoid a decrease in lactation and premature weaning.

Menu for a nursing mother: a list of products to increase the amount of milk

The quality of milk and its quantity directly depend on the diet and diet followed by a nursing mother. A varied diet stimulates the improvement of lactation and helps to establish proper breastfeeding.

Foods that should be included in the daily diet of the mother:

• boiled milk and fermented milk products (kefir, curdled milk) - at least 0.5 l / day;
• cottage cheese or curd products - 50-100 g / day;
• boiled meat - at least 200 g / day;
• fresh vegetables (carrots, onions, sweet peppers, radishes) - 600 g / day;
• butter - 30 g / day;
• boiled chicken eggs - 1-2 pcs.;
• fruits (green apple, pear) - at least 300 g / day;
• black bread with cumin - 400 g / day.

Also in the lactation period, it is recommended to use vegetable oil daily as a dressing for fresh vegetables or dishes with cereals (about 20 g / day). Sunflower oil is a natural source of vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids. We talked about it in one of the previous issues.

Foods that increase lactation:

• warm green tea (low brewed);
• hot chicken broth;
• liquid cereals in milk from rice and barley groats;
• bee honey (as a substitute for sugar);
• watermelons;
• walnuts;
• first courses with sea and river fish.

Nursing mothers need to monitor the amount of fluid consumed per day. It must be at least 2.5 liters (including all liquid dishes). 10-15 minutes before the next feeding, it is useful to drink a glass of warm milk with a teaspoon of honey - this simple drink helps increase lactation and stimulates the flow of milk in the breast.

What foods to avoid when lactating:

• natural coffe;
• meat semi-finished products;
• fast food, chips and crackers with flavorings;
• store-bought sauces (mayonnaise, ketchup, cheese sauces, etc.);
• canned products of industrial origin;
• foods high in cocoa (including chocolate);
• any alcoholic beverages (strictly prohibited!).

Note! In recent years, there has been a tendency for infants to be born with a deficiency of the immune system. Try to avoid eating foods that can cause allergies in your baby.

Increasing lactation folk remedies

Home methods to increase milk production were used by our grandmothers. Complaints about the lack of breast milk occurred at all times, and nursing mothers tried all available methods to solve the problem of breastfeeding. Many of them are relevant to this day.

More liquid!

Drinking fluids helps increase milk production - this is a well-known fact. Try to drink whenever possible as often as possible. Lactation improves with the use of warm herbal decoctions, milk, special herbal drinks for mothers.

Many of the herbs can be found in drugstores for pennies: dill seeds, anise, cumin, and fennel. A vitamin drink will help to cope with a lactation crisis.

Recipe 1. Take a teaspoon of cumin seeds, pour a glass of water. Bring to a boil over heat, then simmer covered for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, let it brew for half an hour, strain the resulting broth. To improve the taste, you can add 0.5 tsp. honey.

Recipe 2. Pour anise seeds into a thermos, pour 200 ml of boiled hot water. Close the lid and let it brew for 2-3 hours. Then strain the infusion and cool. Take a drink of 50 ml before each feeding.

Self-massage of the breasts

Kneading the breast after feeding develops the inflows well, stimulating the production of milk and its frequent flushes. Massage should be done on the breast that the baby was fed. Hand movements during the massage should be circular, from the nipple to the periphery, with light finger pressure over the entire surface, for 5-7 minutes.

Breastfeeding on demand

Feeding your baby on demand is the key to proper breastfeeding and the production of the right amount of milk for each feeding. Do not take night breaks, let the baby be applied to the breast as many times as his body requires. Frequent application is the best way to stimulate lactation without any additional methods. Try to do the first months without calculating feeding by the hour - the baby knows better when it is time for him to eat, and your breasts will “adjust” to his requirements.

What to do so that the child does not starve and how to improve lactation? New mom tips:

Medications to improve lactation

Currently, the question of how to increase lactation can be solved with one trip to the pharmacy. Many medicines have been tested by mothers and help to solve an acute problem with HB - a decrease in lactation and a lack of milk. If folk remedies do not help, and the lactation crisis has dragged on, then it's time to contact a breastfeeding specialist and find the right drug to increase the amount of milk.

Means for stimulating lactation can be a real help in reducing milk in the breast. But you should not expect a quick effect: in one case, it will take a couple of days to normalize feeding, in the other it will take a week.

On a note! A lactation consultant will help you choose the most suitable drug - having studied specifically your history of feeding and observing the process, it will be easier for a specialist to suggest the best solution to your problem and, if necessary, choose a drug with you.

5 best ways to stimulate milk production

Before resorting to medical methods, it is better to try simple methods that you can use at your own discretion and without the recommendation of a doctor.

1. Frequent breastfeeding
   Nature herself made sure that the baby was full of mother's milk. At the time of each application to the breast in the body of a woman, two important hormones are released and activated: oxytocin and prolactin. They are responsible for the amount of milk produced during lactation. The more often the baby suckles the mother's breast, the more milk will arrive at each moment of feeding.
2. Baby feeding at night
   A night break is detrimental to breastfeeding - if the baby does not suckle for a long time, there is less milk. The body of nursing mothers believes that the child will receive enough milk, which means that you can reduce its amount. So there is a decline in milk production. Try to feed your baby at least two times at night to maintain lactation at the proper level.
3. Ensuring tactile contact with the baby
   “Skin to skin” is the basic recipe for more milk without any additional recipes. Lactogenic hormones wake up at the moment of communication between the mother and the baby, when the baby is rocked or carried in her arms. Caress your baby more often, and the problem with a lack of milk will be solved by itself.
4. Rest, rest and only rest
   At the time of the formation of lactation, free yourself from at least some of the household chores and chores. Sufficient sleep - at least 7-8 hours a day, good nutrition and peace of mind - these are the main conditions for the full production of a sufficient amount of mother's milk.
5. Easy and useful “chest” gymnastics
   Daily gymnastics for the chest stimulates the ducts, blood circulation and the production of breast milk. It is necessary to engage in standing or sitting on a fitball in a comfortable position. Place both hands together, palm to palm. Get them over your head. Tilt your head back, then vigorously press the back of your head against your folded arms several times. Repeat the exercise 2-3 more times.

P.S. Earlier we talked about the nutrition of a nursing mother and about products. Let's reinforce this topic once again, since it is proper nutrition that is the key to good lactation:

Not every mother can feed a baby with breast milk, sometimes the baby does not have enough food. In this case, the woman faces the question: how to increase lactation? Sometimes the volume of milk is large, but the baby still remains hungry. Weigh it before feeding and after eating: if the child sucks the required number of grams, but looks undernourished, it is not the quantity that is to blame, but the quality of the product. When the fat content of milk is low, a lot of empty liquid enters the stomach of the newborn, which will soon spill into the diaper, and the body receives few necessary components. If you think you're under-lactated, check with your doctor first. With good health and the absence of hormonal disruptions, all difficulties with breastfeeding can be eliminated.

Why is there not enough milk in the breast?

If the doctor did not find serious problems with the mother's health, and there is not enough milk, pay attention to your regimen, lifestyle, and emotional state. Sometimes a woman is completely absorbed in her career or studies, refuses maternity leave, takes work home and sits at the computer at night to turn in the assignment on time. Some "good Samaritans" are constantly immersed in the imaginary and real troubles of their girlfriends and relatives. Mom is not up to the child, she suffers along with her neighbor, who for the hundredth time broke up with her husband for good; for several hours consoles her sister on the phone, who is about to commit suicide, because her beloved did not call her for a whole day. You like this kind of life, but what does the little man have to do with it, who doesn’t care about these worries, he wants his mother to be there and feed him delicious milk.

What causes a breastfeeding mother to reduce her milk supply? There are not so many of them, and any woman can rid herself of these problems. Lactation is reduced or completely stopped when:

• maternal malnutrition;
• stress, negative emotions;
• lack of desire in a woman to breastfeed a baby, fear of spoiling the figure;
• overwork, lack of sleep;
• rare or improper feeding of the child, when he does not empty the breast completely;
• early introduction of complementary foods.

Be in a good mood, do not overwork, organize yourself the right daily routine, eat foods that increase lactation, perhaps after that breastfeeding will return to normal and no additional measures will be needed.

If you have a weak character, you cannot interrupt an unnerving conversation with a friend or refuse a boss who asks you to urgently make a complex report overnight, act not on your own behalf, but be guided by the requirements of the baby. For this period, he should become for you both the director, and the best friend, and the most important member of the family. Ignore your husband's grumbling about an unprepared dinner or unwashed dishes. Adults can take care of themselves, and a baby needs a cheerful, rested mother with a full breast of delicious milk.

Everything was going fine, but suddenly mom notices that the baby is not getting enough milk. Take your time to reduce breastfeeding and introduce complementary foods, such phenomena are familiar to many women, and they almost always go away on their own. The baby began a period of active growth, his appetite increased, and his mother's body did not have time to react correctly. Be patient for a few days, during this period, to improve lactation, breastfeed your baby more often. Soon the flow of milk will increase, and the newborn will be full again. Do not torture yourself with the question of how to increase the amount of breast milk: the more you worry about this, the worse the situation becomes. Let the body adapt to the increased needs of the baby, nature will quickly put everything in its place.

A situation familiar to many women: the amount of milk that was enough in the first month after childbirth suddenly decreased noticeably, and the baby is no longer enough. Sometimes there are no visible reasons for this - the mother eats well, does not get sick, the baby willingly takes the breast, but there is still not enough milk. How to understand this problem and increase lactation during breastfeeding?

If there is not enough breast milk, the reasons may be the following:

• fatigue or anxiety;
• poor nutrition;
• low fluid intake;
• hormonal changes;
• laziness or weakness of the baby;
• Improper breastfeeding.

These are the most common causes of decreased lactation, although there may be others. If possible, try to avoid unrest, communication with unpleasant, scandalous people, walk more with the child and carry it in your arms. When the baby sleeps, mom should also rest, and not strive to redo all the housework. Great attention should be paid to your diet, because everything you eat determines the quality of milk.

With a change in the hormonal background, a decrease in lactation is usually observed for about 7-10 days, after which the volume of milk gradually increases. During this period, it is recommended to feed the baby more often, and give him both breasts at one time. They do the same when the baby is lazy, sucks briefly and weakly, begins to fall asleep during feeding. As soon as the sucking weakens, you need to slightly push the breast towards the nipple so that the milk runs a little stronger. If the child falls asleep, shake him slightly on the cheek, wake him up so that he eats longer.

The volume of milk production largely depends on the diet of a woman. After childbirth, the body is exhausted, so it is required to take 700-1100 kilocalories more per day than before. In the daily diet of the mother, there should be lean meat (200 g) or fish in the same amount, fresh cottage cheese (100 g), vegetables (500 g) and various types of fruits (200 g). Be sure to drink about a liter of kefir or milk per day, eat a piece of hard cheese. Fats should be no more than 30 g per day, and it is desirable that it be butter or sunflower oil.

The recommended amount of liquid per day is approximately 2 liters, including milk, juices, tea, broth or soup. This rate should not be greatly exceeded, even if there is more milk, because at the same time, the amount of vitamins and necessary proteins in its composition decreases. But mushrooms, smoked meats, spicy snacks, citrus fruits and chocolate should be excluded from your diet for a long time, since their use can cause allergies in the baby. In addition, the taste of milk changes from products with a pungent odor, and the child does not want to eat.

Nursing mom food diary

Correct attachment

Milk production is dependent on two hormones, prolactin and oxytocin. Both of them are associated with the sucking activity of the baby, so if the baby does not latch correctly, this activity is noticeably reduced. Incorrect grip is especially common in children who are given pacifiers and milk from a bottle. With proper attachment, the baby deeply captures the nipple and areola, evenly “expressing” milk from the entire breast. With a shallow grip, the baby sucks out only a small part of the milk located at the areola.

Unfortunately, according to the description and even from the photo, it is difficult to learn how to properly attach, especially if pain is present. This is usually taught by lactation consultants in the maternity hospital itself or by local pediatricians. You can also look for another breastfeeding woman who already has a similar experience and does not have nipple problems. For many, when the baby’s grip on the chest changes, painful sensations appear, because of which there is a desire to leave everything as it is. But keep in mind that proper application will ensure stable lactation, and the pain will disappear over time.

Only 3% of nursing mothers have serious problems with lactation, in other cases of lack of milk, these are only temporary consequences of improper feeding. It often happens that the mother's milk is enough for the child, but the woman herself considers its amount insufficient. Much depends on the quality of milk, appetite and characteristics of the child's body.

So, if you notice a decrease in lactation, first make sure that you are properly attaching the baby to the breast. Insufficient stimulation of the mammary glands will necessarily lead to a decrease in the amount of milk. In addition, feeding should be frequent and regular; children who are given pacifiers require breasts less often, which also negatively affects lactation.

Many mothers give babies some water, as well as tea for swelling of the tummy, various mixtures that prevent dysbacteriosis. The volume of such additives reaches 150 ml per day, which means that the amount of milk consumed is reduced by the same amount. If you exclude such supplements from the baby's diet, the amount of milk will be restored very quickly. As a rule, in the first 4 months, one milk is enough for a child, because it contains all the microelements so necessary for him. Here it is important to estimate the weight gain of the baby per week: just divide the monthly gain by the number of weeks. The lowest indicator from day 14 is 125 g, the optimal one is within 300 g. You should contact a specialist if the baby, eating milk alone and receiving it on demand, gains less than 500 g per month.

There is another good way to determine if a baby is getting enough milk. It should be within 1-2 days to count the number of urination. To do this, the baby must be without a diaper and not receive bait and additional liquids. If there is enough milk, the child will write more than 6 times, usually 8-12 times. If less than 6, milk is clearly not enough.

It is not so difficult to increase the production of milk in the body, the main thing is not to be afraid and not resort to complementary foods.

First, remove the pacifier, stop giving both tea and water. Organize hourly feedings from 4 am to 12 am, even if the baby does not ask for a breast. In the morning, 2-3 applications are required, because at this time the highest concentration of prolactin is formed in the body. And, of course, include in the diet drinks from natural lactation stimulants - carrots, dandelion leaves, fennel, cumin seeds, anise and lettuce.

Drinks that increase lactation

Mom's food. Products that affect lactation

In order for lactation to remain stable throughout the feeding period, it must be constantly maintained. It is not difficult to do this, because the main condition here is the comfort of both mother and child.

So, to maintain lactation, you will need:

• observe the regime, use as much time as possible for sleep, allocate at least 2 hours for walks;
• drink about 2 liters of liquid daily - dried fruit compote, herbal teas, milk;
• be sure to feed the baby at night, because night feedings provide better and longer lactation, due to the increased production of prolactin;
• if possible, express milk after feeding, and then massage the breast for 5-10 minutes, pouring hot water over it. It is recommended to perform the procedures twice daily for each breast;
• about half an hour before feeding, drink warm tea with milk;
• take multivitamins. The complex of vitamins is specially designed for a nursing woman, so its intake benefits both mother and baby at the same time. But only a doctor should prescribe vitamins;
• take the baby to bed at night. Firstly, the child sleeps better when he feels his mother's warmth, secondly, the baby's touch contributes to better milk production, and thirdly, it is more convenient because you do not need to get out of bed at night.

A warm bath helps a lot with lactation, so if possible, feed the baby directly in the water. If this is not possible, try replacing the bath with a basin of hot water: you need to sit comfortably, take the baby in your arms, put your legs in hot water and wrap a blanket on top. After that, you can drink warm tea or milk with cookies. Within 5 minutes you will feel a pleasant warmth in the body and a strong rush of milk.

Video - How to increase lactation while breastfeeding