Naturally Increasing Your Breast Milk Supply

In order for breastfeeding to be successful, you need to devote four to six weeks to it, especially if you’re a first-time mother. During this time, you and your baby are figuring everything out and finding a routine that works for you both. Breast milk production is also established during this time.

It is common for new moms to worry that they won’t be able to supply enough breast milk to their babies even after a few weeks. Most mothers fear that they won’t be able to produce enough breast milk, but there are only a small number who actually have this problem. There are a few easy steps you can take to increase your breast milk supply naturally if it is low.

Natural ways to increase breast milk supply

New mothers often ask me, “How do I increase my breast milk supply? For most women, the amount of milk they produce is just right for their babies. According to the most credible research on the subject, only 2-5% of women have an inadequate milk supply.

To increase milk supply, there is no magic formula. A supply-demand relationship maintains the supply of breast milk. Breastfeeding and draining the breast will make you produce more milk. In spite of this, some moms find success with supplementation or galactagogues for increasing supply.

The use of galactagogues has been shown to improve milk supply in some cases. You can get brewer’s yeast from coconut oil, fenugreek, fennel, oatmeal, and coconut oil. These active ingredients are in lots of lactation teas and cookies. A nursing relationship should be built around these products.

Here are a few things you can do if your milk supply is declining:

Have your infant’s latch checked by a lactation consultant?
Don’t just allow your baby to suckle at the breast; ensure that he or she drinks from it. Dr. Jack Newman’s International Breastfeeding Centre has great videos that demonstrate the significant pause that occurs when baby drinks milk.
If your baby shows signs of hunger, feed him. I probably would get upset if I withheld water from you if you woke up thirsty in the middle of the night.

So why do this to your new baby?

The following tips may help you if you feel like your supply could use a little boost since your baby is latching properly and drinking on demand at the breast.
Healthy fats and milk-boosting ingredients can be found in oatmeal (not instant) in the morning with coconut oil.
To make a healthy smoothie with full-fat yogurt, you can add a tablespoon of Brewers Yeast.
When you’re on the go, breastfeeding bars or cookies are a great way to incorporate these ingredients into your diet.

Power Bites from Momma’s Milk

Energy bites that don’t require baking are a healthy snack that boosts breast milk production

THE INGREDIENTS ARE:

Using old-fashioned oats, I used 1 cup (dry) oatmeal
Coconut flakes toasted to 1/3 cup
A half cup of almond butter (the consistency may need to be adjusted)
Flax seed ground to 1/2 cup
You can also add cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips (optional)
Cherries or cranberries, 1/4 cup
A pitted date or two and a medjool date
The equivalent of 1/3 cup of honey or maple syrup
The seeds of chia are optional (one tablespoon).
It is optional to add hemp seeds to this recipe.
Brewer’s yeast (active ingredient): 2 tablespoons
Vanilla extract, one teaspoon
Coconut oil, two tablespoons

Follow these directions:

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and stir well. Depending on the size of the balls, roll them into them. The balls should be about 1″ in diameter. Spread them on a parchment-covered cookie sheet and place them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

For up to 1 week, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It is also great to freeze these! You can customize this recipe to your taste by adding or omitting whatever you like. Approximately 20-25 balls can be made from this recipe.