How to increase milk supply after it decreases

RESUMING BREASTFEEDING AFTER AN INTERRUPTION

The good news is relactation is possible. It requires time, patience, determination and a cooperative baby! Whether you stopped breastfeeding due a medical procedure, separation from baby, or simply bad advice, many individuals find they can rebuild a milk supply successfully. Providing human milk for a newly adopted baby is also a relactation opportunity.

Table of Contents Show

Many moms worry about low milk supply, even though most make exactly what baby needs.
Am I Making Enough Milk?
Causes of Low Milk Supply
Increasing Your Milk Supply
Consider Charting Your Progress
Still Have Questions?
Browse WIC Breastfeeding Topics
How can I increase my milk supply when pumping?
How to decrease breast milk supply?
Why does milk supply change at 3 months?
How do I get my milk supply back to normal?
How can I regain my milk supply quickly?
Why did my milk supply suddenly decrease?

Sometimes, relactation produces enough breastmilk to supply all of baby’s needs. Other times, supplementation may still be needed. We recommend the following strategies for relactation and induced lactation to stimulate milk production:

Hand express or pump at least eight to twelve times per day for 20-30 minutes, including at night
Give expressed/pumped milk and supplements in a cup, or use an at-breast supplementer
If baby will latch on – put them to your breast before and after each feeding
Put baby to your breast for comfort between feedings as often as possible instead of using a dummy/pacifier – it will help build your milk supply
Get support from your local LLL group/Leader – find local support here
Accept any offers of support with shopping, housework etc

It’s important to empty your breasts completely and frequently. Not only will it increase supply, it will also help avoid breast infections or plugged ducts.

If you do use herbs or medications to increase your supply, be sure to consult a lactation-focused health care professional about your specific medical history as well as your breastfeeding goals.

Remember – breastfeeding is not just about the milk. Baby will get immune benefits from skin-to-skin contact. Every drop of human milk is important.

lll sUPPORT

This La Leche League Facebook group offers support to those inducing lactation and wanting to relactate (use this group for all other questions about breastfeeding).
Find local LLL support here.

RESOURCES

LLLGB Relactation and Induced Lactation Article
LLL Greece Relactation Guide
Borstvoedingorganisatie La Leche League Relacteren Artikel
La Leche League Italia È Possibile Rilattare? Articolo
My Relacation Story – from South Africa
LLL USA Induced Lactation and Relactation Article
Drip-Drop Feeding Technique
Feed The Baby: Building A Milk Supply
Volver al pecho
The Baby Who Doesn’t Nurse
Suplementación al pecho
At-Breast Supplementer Nursing
Breastfeeding An Adopted Baby
Breastfeeding Without Giving Birth

Many moms worry about low milk supply, even though most make exactly what baby needs.

Many moms worry about low milk supply, but most of the time your body makes exactly what your baby needs, even if you don't realize it. There are also ways to tell if your baby is getting enough milk. If you aren't making enough, there are ways you can build your supply. And your WIC breastfeeding staff is always there to help!

Am I Making Enough Milk?

First, look for these signs that your baby is getting enough milk. For example, pay attention to the number of wet and dirty diapers and your baby's weight gain.

Things you should NOT worry about:

How your breasts feel. Your breasts will feel softer and less full as your milk supply adjusts to your baby's needs. This does not mean you have low supply.
If your baby nurses for shorter periods of time, such as only 5 minutes on each breast.
If your baby's feeds are bunched together. This is called cluster feeding and happens when your baby starts nursing more often and for longer. This can happen in the evenings or because of growth spurts.
Not getting much milk when you express. Your baby is much more effective than a pump or hand expression at getting out milk. Find tips to help you pump.

If you are still concerned, talk to your baby's doctor about their growth.

Causes of Low Milk Supply

While most moms make plenty of milk, some do have low milk supply. This might happen if you:

Limit your baby's breastfeeding sessions. Remember, the more you feed on demand, the more milk you make.
Give your baby infant formula instead of breastfeeding.
Introduce solid foods before baby is 4-6 months old.
Take certain birth control pills or other medicine.
Don't get enough sleep.
Drink alcohol or smoke.
Have had breast surgery.

Talk to your doctor if you have hepatitis B or C, herpes, or diabetes. These conditions may also affect milk supply.

Increasing Your Milk Supply

Breastfeeding frequently—especially in the first hours, days, and weeks—is the main way to increase your milk supply. Your body will make milk to meet your baby's demand.

Try these tips to help you make more milk:

Breastfeed every time your baby is hungry. In the early weeks, your baby will eat 8-12 times every 24 hours. It's best not to put your baby on a strict feeding schedule. Follow your baby's cues, and let your baby tell you when it's time to eat.
Make sure your baby is latching well.
Offer both breasts at each feeding. Let your baby finish the first side, then offer the other side.
Empty your breasts at each feeding. Hand express or pump after a feeding to draw out all the milk and signal your body to make more.
Avoid bottles and pacifiers in the early weeks. Feed your baby from your breast whenever you can.
Get plenty of sleep, and eat a healthy diet.
Pump or express your milk. Pumping or expressing milk frequently between nursing sessions, and consistently when you're away from your baby, can help build your milk supply.
Relax and massage. Relax, hold your baby skin-to-skin, and massage your breasts before feeding to encourage your milk to let down.
Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, eat well, drink enough fluids, and let others help you.

Consider Charting Your Progress

Record how often your baby is breastfeeding, for how long, and on which sides. If you are supplementing with infant formula, record how much your baby is getting and decrease the infant formula as your milk supply increases. WIC breastfeeding staff can help you determine how much infant formula your baby needs.

Still Have Questions?

Contact your WIC breastfeeding expert. They can talk to you about supply concerns and give you tips to increase your supply to meet your baby's needs.

Browse WIC Breastfeeding Topics

How can I increase my milk supply when pumping?

The number one way to increase your milk supply when pumping is to increase how often you pump. Cluster pumping is a technique of pumping every five minutes to give your breasts repeated stimulation.

How to decrease breast milk supply?

When you’re trying to figure out how to decrease milk supply, one of the ways to do it is to drain your breast to the maximum every day, as soon as you wake up. You probably won’t be able to accomplish this successfully if you hand express only. In that case, the best solution is to get yourself an electric breast pump.

Why does milk supply change at 3 months?

Another common reason milk supply changes at 3 months is a decrease in the number of feedings or pumping sessions. By 3 months babies who initially nursed 10-12 times per day (or more) may be feeding fewer than 8 times per day. Exclusively pumping moms may have also scaled back on the number of pumping sessions per day.

How do I get my milk supply back to normal?

Most breastfeeding moms find that their supply goes back to normal after following a few easy strategies. They include power pumping, eating delicious lactation cookies, and using warm compresses to get the milk flowing again. So, read on to get all the details on what causes a sudden drop in milk supply and how to treat it.

How can I regain my milk supply quickly?

The most natural way to increase milk supply is to take care of yourself and breastfeed your baby often. Get plenty of sleep, reduce stress, and eat enough food, including oatmeal or fennel seed tea, to help milk production too.

Why did my milk supply suddenly decrease?

Sudden drops in milk supply can be caused by stress, diet, hormonal imbalances, and some medical conditions. Eating healthy and taking supplements can improve your milk supply. Stress management and self care will help you avoid sudden drops in milk production.