Do I have a low milk supply?

Breastfeeding is a long-standing natural way to feed a baby, but that doesn't mean it's going to be easy. Almost all women have difficulty breastfeeding at first, but many may later exclusively breastfeed or at least supplement. At the start of the postpartum period, many women wonder if they are breastfeeding enough for their baby. Since women cannot visually see how much milk a baby is drinking, it can be difficult to tell if enough milk is being produced. In most cases, women produce enough breast milk. However, some women struggle with what we call "lack of milk." Too little milk can be caused by many factors and can be very frustrating!

How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?

Although you can't always measure how much milk your baby is drinking, there are some signs that he is getting enough nutrition:

During feeding, your baby's cheeks are stuffed, not sucked.
Your baby is released from the breast or falls asleep and is released
Your baby looks happy and satisfied after feeding
Possible drowsiness after feeding.
You can see/hear your baby swallow while feeding
Your breasts are soft instead of firm after feeding

Keep in mind that babies may ask to be fed several times a day - this may make you feel like you don't need to produce enough milk at each feed. Fear not, as babies typically breastfeed 8-12 times a day (24 hours) once milk production is complete. Things that may worry many mothers but should have nothing to do with actual milk production:

Having a restless baby (this is common, unless you count enough milk)
Your baby wants to breastfeed frequently (every 1.5-2 hours is common for breastfed babies)
Your breasts do not produce milk or suddenly stop producing milk (this has nothing to do with milk production)
Your breasts are softer than before (this is quite natural when there is a full supply)
You get very little milk when you express after a feed (babies are more efficient at expressing milk than a pump and the amount of milk left is not a good indicator of milk production)
Your baby suddenly increases the frequency of feedings (probably corresponding to a growth spurt!)

What could be causing the low supply?

Many factors can reduce milk production, such as:

Taking oral contraceptives.
Having fewer milk ducts than usual (for example, after surgery or cancer)
Incorrect position during feeding
Incomplete lock
Ligament of the tongue or lips in infants
Supplementation (providing formula or bottled breast milk after breastfeeding)
Using nipples or breast pads.
Maternal health problems (postpartum reproductive problems such as retained placenta; others such as anemia)
Mom's medications (antihistamines, etc.)
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco smoking
Short feedings
Schedule feedings rather than feeding on demand
Baby sleeps too much/all night (reduces frequency of feedings - wake baby up more often to breastfeed)

How to increase the amount of milk?

Before attempting supplements or taking other steps to increase milk production, we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor or lactation specialist before self-diagnosing a lack of milk. The truth is that most women don't need to do anything extra to enjoy healthy breastfeeding and good nutrition. If you have been diagnosed with low or declining milk production, there are a few things you can try that can help increase your milk production, such as eating certain foods/herbs to pump more. Breastfeeding as much as possible also increases your supply. Increasing the frequency of pumping and emptying milk will tell your body that it needs more milk on a regular basis! Here is an overview of foods and herbs that are thought to help increase milk production:

Fenugreek
Blessed Thistle
Alfalfa
Goat’s Rue
Oatmeal
Vegetables/Leafy greens
Garlic (too much can change the taste of breast milk, be careful)
Sesame seeds

Before trying any herbal supplements, talk to your doctor about safety and dosage. Here are other steps to increase lactation:

Avoid alcohol and tobacco
Practice hand pumping/breast massage
Practice powerful pumping (pumping between feeds or continuing to pump after pumping the last drops of milk)
Encourage skin-to-skin contact with your baby
Breastfeed on demand (or more if the baby is not very demanding)
Offer both breasts at every feed.
Move from one breast to another several times if the baby gets tired/falls asleep too quickly
Make sure the frequency of feedings is sufficient (8 to 12 times every 24 hours, at least every 3 hours at night)
As a mom, get plenty of rest, try to eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water.