“Any mom that’s considered to be of advanced maternal age should get the best stimulation early on to have the best chance of breastfeeding,” says Nancy Clark, BS, IBCLC-RN, a lactation consultant with Northern Virginia Lactation Consultants. Women over the age of 35 who give birth for the first time will much more likely need to find ways to increase milk supply than their younger counterparts. Before taking any medications that may impact milk supply, be sure to consult your doctor first.Īdvanced maternal age. Certain medications can also affect milk supply, like a combined contraceptive pill or a decongestant.

But other health conditions, like polycystic ovary syndrome or thyroid issues, can have a more lasting impact on breast milk production, as can prior breast surgery. It’s common for a mom’s breast milk supply to take a (temporary) dip if she’s sick with a cold or the flu. If you don’t, your milk production can take a big hit. “If baby was born prematurely-or was separated from you after birth-it’s important to begin pumping right away to establish a good milk supply,” Nguyen says. Preemie babies are sometimes too small and weak to breastfeed, so you may have to try pumping to increase milk supply.

If you’re having issues with low milk supply, avoid these substances.īorn prematurely. Smoking can also slow your let-down reflex, making it harder for baby to nurse. Both of these things can decrease milk supply. If you’re planning on using a pacifier, wait until baby is 3 or 4 weeks old and your milk supply is well established before introducing it.ĭrinking alcohol or smoking. “If baby is using a pacifier throughout the day, it can satisfy their need to and they may not show hunger cues,” Nguyen says. “Baby removes less milk, so mom produces less milk.” When a baby has a good latch, more milk comes out, and more milk is made. “A poor latch can be detrimental to the entire breastfeeding process,” Nguyen says. Sometimes, the problem isn’t with how often baby is breastfeeding but how they’re feeding at the breast. (More on this below.) Otherwise, if you skip the session entirely, your body will be tricked into thinking baby needs less milk and start to shrink the supply.Īn ineffective latch. If you’re introducing bottles instead of nursing at the breast, still keep pumping while baby bottle-feeds. Generally speaking, your body is built to produce as much milk as baby needs-so when baby breastfeeds often, your body understands there’s a high demand for milk and ramps up production to meet it. For the first few weeks, you should be breastfeeding eight to 12 times a day, which shakes out to about every two or three hours. “Take off any hats, which keep them too warm, and remove mittens so they can suck on those little hands they’ve been sucking on for months before they’re even born.” These techniques should arouse baby enough to pack in all those daily recommended feedings. How? “Unswaddle them! Swaddling suppresses hunger cues and normal waking cycles,” says Barbara Cohen, IBCLC, RLC, LLLL, a board-certified lactation consultant in New York City. But if not, wake your snoozer up to nurse. If they’re packing on the pounds regardless, by all means, let a sleeping baby lie. In the first few weeks following delivery, babies can be super sleepy and sometimes snooze right through feedings. They also look thin, losing that chubby baby look as their body uses the energy from their stored fat to power the brain, adrenal glands and more.” Trust your parental instincts on this one. “They may not wake as often or be as active when they wake. “Babies who aren’t getting enough to eat are lethargic,” Page says. Take a peek inside: If the urine is light yellow or colorless and their poop is big, seedy and mustard-colored, they’re likely getting enough milk.ĭecrease in baby activity. Starting around day 5, “a baby who is well fed should have at least two to five dirty diapers with yellow poop and at least four to six wet diapers with clear urine,” says Leigh Anne O’Connor, IBCLC, BA, LLL, a board-certified lactation consultant in New York City. During baby’s first several days, they should wet the same number of diapers as their age in days. “The most important thing is that babies are continuing to grow, even if slowly.” On average, a well-fed baby gains four to seven ounces a week.įewer dirty diapers. “It’s important to know that newborn weight charts are based on standards set from formula-fed babies, who may gain weight faster than breastfed babies because the fat content in formula is higher and constant at every feeding,” Page says.

If baby struggles to put those pounds back on, low supply may be an issue. Babies normally lose up to 10 percent of their birth weight in the first few days, but they should regain that by the time they hit the 2-week mark.

Im pro life onesie