Breastfeeding - How to Maintain Your Milk Supply

• Perform natural breastfeeding:
  • Feed on demand: nurse your baby every time she or he wants to, for as long as she or he wants to. Hide away all the clocks if necessary. Banish the phrase "she (or he) can't possibly be hungry." So what if you nursed your baby five minutes ago? If she or he wants to, nurse her or him ago. And don't worry. Nursing often and long will not cause sore nipples. Those are caused by improper latch-on.
  • In addition to feeding your baby whenever she or he wants it, feed her or him whenever you want or need to.
    • When your breasts begin to feel engorged.
    • When your milk starts leaking.
    • When you just feel like cuddling and nursing.
• Make sure your baby is nursing at least eight times a day. If necessary, wake her or him up to nurse. If your baby is too sleepy or tired to nurse, see the page on nursing a sleepy baby.
• If necessary, pump to provide extra milk and stimulate your breasts to produce more. This may be necessary if your baby is sick and can't nurse well for a while, or if you have to be away from your baby for a few hours.
• Make sure you are eating and drinking enough. Let hunger and thirst be your guide. You don't need anything beyond a regular well-balanced diet that includes a variety of good food. You don't have to drink any specific amount of fluids, though you will need to drink more than usual. Most women drink about eight glasses of fluids a day, but if you make sure you drink every time you feel thirsty, you don't need to count glasses.
• Try to get as much rest as you possibly can. Forget about cleaning the refrigerator, cooking a gourmet dinner, and so on. If anyone offers help, jump on it. Forget about politeness and deference. You need all the help you can get.
• Don't take birth-control pills. Although most women produce enough milk on the mini-pill, it's possible that some experience decreased milk production. Try other methods of birth control.
• Don't smoke. Smoking not only reduces your milk supply, but also increasing the risk of SIDS, asthma, cancer, and other diseases for your child.
• Don't drink more than one alcoholic drink a day. Alcohol not only passes to your milk and can harm your baby, it is also dehydrating and can adversely affect your milk supply.
• For the same reason, it's best not to have more than two or three cups of coffee a day (or equivalent amounts of tea, chocolate, etc.).

Go to:

• Breastfeeding problems and solutions.
• How to increase your milk supply

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