Too little milk when breastfeeding: reasons and tips
A large MomaSquad survey found that around 40 percent of nursing mothers had problems with their milk not being enough. This problem is the most common reason for additional feeding and premature weaning. Almost every mother can produce enough milk, even for twins. Here you can find out how too little milk production occurs and what you can do about it.
Sometimes it can happen that a mother has too little milk and her baby is not fed by breastfeeding alone. In fact, at some point most mothers wonder if they are producing enough milk – especially if they have just started breastfeeding. What they don’t know is that a real breast milk deficiency is very rare. Many women believe that they have too little milk, when they actually produce enough milk. In a large MomaSquad survey of more than 1,000 mothers, around 40 percent said that they had problems breastfeeding with too little milk.
Doubts can arise if the milk donation reflex is not particularly strong or if there is no excess milk dripping from the breasts. However, this is nothing to worry about. For example, some babies become more efficient at drinking and finish faster, leading to mothers’ misconception that they don’t have enough milk.
The fact is: Only 2 percent of all mothers really can’t produce enough milk.
How does less milk occur?
- Type of breastfeeding: The most common reason for too little milk is the type of breastfeeding and not poor milk production. Thus, an incorrectbreastfeeding techniquecan lead to the baby not getting enough milk.
- Inflamed nipplesmay be a reason that mothers breastfeed irregularly. For this reason, too, there may be temporarily less milk.
- Regular falling asleepof the baby also leads to irregular production, as breastfeeding is interrupted several times.
- Perhaps apoor breastfeeding routine, stress, illness or injuriesare to blame for the irregular milk production. For some women, the reason for low milk production is also biological or physical – hormonal disorders or previous breast surgery can interfere with breastfeeding.
Is your baby getting enough milk?
First of all, you should rule out false alarms: If you can answer “yes” to the following questions, your baby will probably get enough food. This also means that you produce enough breast milk.
- Does your baby wet about five to eight diapers a day?
- Does your baby gain at least 115 to 230 grams per week and at least 450 grams per month of weight within the first three to four months? At least 85 to 140 grams per week within the fourth to sixth month? At least 40 to 85 grams per week within the months six to twelve?
- Do you regularly put your baby to the breast – every two to three hours and at least eight to twelve times a day?
- Do you hear your baby swallowing and can sometimes see milk in the corners of his mouth?
- Does your baby have a healthy appetite?
What can you do to boost milk production?
As part of our survey, the mothers surveyed also indicated what they would recommend to fix problems with too little milk. Here you can find out which methods are particularly popular with our MomaSquad:
Breastfeeding more frequently (74%):Â Breastfeeding is subject to the law of supply and demand. The more often you breastfeed, the more milk is produced. Therefore, breastfeed your baby as often and as long as he wants and offer both breasts every time. This method is also recommended by 74 percent of the mothers we surveyed.
Nursing tea (63%):Â Specialnursing teascan boost milk production if there is too little milk. Often they contain herbs such as anise, fennel or caraway. 63 percent of mothers said in our survey that they consider the use of nursing teas to be recommended.
Malt beer (37%):37Â percent of the mothers we surveyed recommend drinking malt beer if there is too little milk, as this is said to have a milk-forming effect. Although this effect has not yet been scientifically proven, since sufficient fluid intake is very important for milk production, additional drinks with too little milk can not hurt.
Warm towels (18%):Â Heat stimulates blood circulation. Since milk production also improves with good blood circulation, 18 percent of the MomaSquad we surveyed recommend the use of warm cloths with too little milk. They can simply be soaked in warm water and placed on the chest before breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding oil (11%):Breastfeeding oil is usually based on almond oiland also contains various herbs that are intended to stimulate blood circulation in the breast and thus milk production. In our survey, 11 percent of mothers said that they consider the use of breastfeeding oil with too little milk to be recommended.
More tips for too little milk
- Put your baby to the breast and pay attention to the correctbreastfeeding position.
- If your baby slows down when sucking and swallowing, change the breast. Repeat thechange to the other breast until your baby is satisfied and has drunk enough.
- Give your baby only breast milk andavoid any breast milk substitutes. This would only ensure that your baby does not drink as much from your breast as it actually could.
- Playing with your feetduring breastfeeding helps to keep the baby awake and thus not interrupt the flow of milk.
- Pay attention to your own need forrest and relaxation. Breathing and relaxation exercises, massages, a warm shower, a foot bath, a warm drink and music create a pleasant atmosphere. Organize additional help and relief for the household so as not to be under stress. Because breastfeeding needs a lot of rest and time.
- Seekhelp and encouragementfrom other breastfeeding mothers, friends, or in a breastfeeding group.
Above all, you should trust that you can increase your milk production at will with the right handling. Important: If you actually feel that you are not producing enough milk for a long time, you should consult with your midwife and perhaps consult a doctor.
