Any mother would be able to tell you that taking care of a baby is no easy feat. Hand in hand with the joys of motherhood come the frustrations as well. Keeping your child healthy and well fed is something that can be disheartening at times, especially when you have trouble with your milk supply. Believe it or not, you don't need to blame yourself with what's happening. You're just one of the thousand mothers who have trouble with the diminishing flow of milk.
Don't worry about your predicament. Like all problems have a solution, you can get some tips here on how to ensure that the milk is constantly flowing. Fewer signs will tell you might be producing less milk than usual. If your baby is not gaining the appropriate weight boost, there is a big chance that you are indeed running low on supply. Of course, to make sure that he is okay, you will have to take him to a doctor for a regular check-up as well. In the meantime, you can check out the tips below.
When your baby does not want to feed anymore and has fallen asleep, don't leave it at that. If your breasts still feel full, use a pump to transfer it to a feeding bottle. It's important that you don't let any go to waste as thousands of babies across the world are in need of breast milk badly. That after feeding pump would also ensure that you keep on producing the milk supply that your baby needs.
Going back to work can become a problem when you are breastfeeding. It's not advisable to rush home just to feed your baby when your office is miles away and you only have an hour's breast. Bring an extra pump with you to the office and if your breasts feel full again, pop into the ladies' comfort room and relieve yourself. Having breasts full of milk can be painful when they are not expressed for a long gap in between feedings.
You have to remember that the more your baby grows, the less time he will spend on feeding from you. Normally, at the age of 6 months they are already introduced to solid food and might not have much love for breast milk as before. So, don't get yourself all hyped up for a perfectly normal phase in their life. Learn to incorporate drinking breast milk into their solid food eating schedules in order for them to become healthier and stronger.
Another important tip that you can do is to read a book like Milk Up! An Essential Guide to Boosting Your Milk Supply. You will immediately have access to the research done by Diane Walters to help mothers everywhere overcome the pains of a low supply of milk. Instead of getting free useless advice, invest in an important book that can actually aid you in producing a lot of breast milk. Like us, she has been in the same boat which prompted her to do her extensive research. Now, it's available for us to peruse and obtain some very important aspects of breastfeeding.
Many mothers may stop breastfeeding when they don't produce enough milk. You don't have to be like them. Check this out Good luck!
Being a first time mom can leave you worried and flustered especially if you don't have a clue what is going on. Feeding time can also be stressful if you were not guided on how to do it properly. It is important for an infant to be fed properly to ensure that he is healthy and to promote growth. Let's explore some of the common mistakes mothers make during breastfeeding. In that way, you can also check if you are doing the right thing.
.Poor Eating Habits
Mothers tend to focus more on their children and the numerous responsibilities they have that they forget to eat at the right time. It's not surprising that they also have trouble with eating the right food to keep their strength up. Unbeknownst to most, this is a big mistake that should be avoided at all costs. Since you are breastfeeding, your child also gets the nutrients from you and if you are eating unhealthy meals, it's also affecting the baby.
.Taking Medicines Without Consultation
Sure, we get headaches and probably reach for the first pain reliever that we see in our medicine cabinet. But did you stop to think if it's going to be okay taking that since you still breastfeeding? I don't think so. In any case, you should always ask your medical practitioner on what drugs are safe to take when nursing your baby. The same thing goes when taking contraceptive pills. Generally, it's a big no and should avoid doing so.
.Drinking Alcohol and Smoking
It does not need to be reiterated that even though you are not breastfeeding, both substances are potentially harmful. When you are smoking, nicotine affects the quality of your milk. Your child will have trouble falling asleep and he will also be exposed to the several health risks. It's not easy to quit smoking but you have to think about your child's welfare first. The harmful chemicals found in intoxicating substances affect the development of your child's brain as well. You'll find out too late that he is slower than most kids his age especially if their mothers are non-smokers and don't drink.
.Taking Long, Unnecessary Breaks From Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding regularly ensures that your breasts do not harden or get infected with clogged milk ducts. With the latter, it happens when you allow too much gaps between breastfeeding. If you are working, then it's best that you bring along a breast pump and feeding bottle and relieve yourself during the day. In that way, you can be sure to have ample supply whenever your baby needs to feed.
.Study and Learn About Natural Methods
To ensure a constant flow of milk, it is essential that you read about natural ways and methods. As mentioned, drugs are not exactly healthy. Milk Up! Your Essential Guide to Boosting Your Milk is one of the many books that you should consider reading. You'll be learning quite a lot especially the natural methods of increasing your milk supply.
