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Enough Is Enough
Making Sense of Your Milk Supply
By Brenda Nixon
To increase breast milk, allow your baby to suckle. Remember, quantity is based on a demand/supply ratio. The more your baby takes, the more your body makes. When she goes through a growth spurt and demands more, your body accommodates. When appetite decreases, so does milk production. Also, drink an abundance of water. The body requires liquid to make milk.
"In my experience, when it was necessary for me to pump (after my son's surgery), it was easy, and I pumped a ton of milk," Lee says. "With my daughter, I had just as much milk, but found it very difficult to pump. I seemed to have the same amount with both children."
Milk supply is a serious issue, but often, everything is really fine. "Some moms who worry they aren't producing enough, actually are," Lee says. "Don't fret about it." Follow the tips above. "Purchase a baby scale and monitor the baby's weight gain" to put your mind at ease, Sarah says. If your baby is constantly fussy and losing weight, check with your breastfeeding-friendly pediatrician. Finally, surround yourself with support: a lactation consultant (LC) or certified lactation educator (CLE), your husband and other women who have or are still breastfeeding.
* Last name withheld to protect privacy.
