27 Mar
by Kari Ney, RN
One of the most frustrating things when you are breastfeeding is how to increase your milk supply. This is the time when many decide to stop breastfeeding because it appears baby is so hungry and wants to eat all the time. The prevailing thought that crosses an exhausted mama’s mind is, “I must not be making enough; it must be my fault; breastfeeding must not be working for me!”
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| Nurse Kari Ney holds twin girls Alaina and Hope at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center. |
Our words of wisdom today are to encourage and petition you to keep feeding that baby! Your body is made for this! It is normal at about two weeks, six weeks and again at three months — give or take a few weeks — for babies to stimulate you to make more milk because they know they need more as they grow.
Every time a baby nurses, the breast knows it needs to replace that amount for the next feeding. So the minute the babe is done nursing, your body goes to work and begins to produce that same amount for the next time (supply). As babies grow, they need a certain amount to keep them satisfied and nourished (demand).
During a growth spurt, babies demand more supply by nursing more often, therefore telling your body to make more milk for their growing needs. For some moms, this increased demand only lasts about a day or two for the body to recognize it and catch up. The demand is met by allowing your babe to nurse when he or she needs to. Sometimes that looks like nursing every 45 minutes to an hour all day or night, and it can be exhausting!
We encourage you to be patient and allow your babe to nurse on demand. What you are providing is the best nourishment there is for your baby!
Here is a link to discussion about supply issues by Le Leche League. It is a wonderful resource for all things breastfeeding!