What means increase the lactation of breast milk. Medicinal teas and supplements. Constant contact with the baby

A situation familiar to many women: the amount of milk that was enough in the first month after childbirth suddenly decreased noticeably, and the baby is no longer enough. Sometimes there are no visible reasons for this - the mother eats well, does not get sick, the baby willingly takes the breast, but there is still not enough milk. How to understand this problem and increase lactation during breastfeeding?

If there is not enough breast milk, the reasons may be the following:

  • fatigue or anxiety;
  • poor nutrition;
  • low fluid intake;
  • hormonal changes;
  • laziness or weakness of the baby;
  • Improper breastfeeding.

These are the most common causes of decreased lactation, although there may be others. If possible, try to avoid unrest, communication with unpleasant, scandalous people, walk more with the child and carry it in your arms. When the baby sleeps, mom should also rest, and not strive to redo all the housework. Great attention should be paid to your diet, because everything you eat determines the quality of milk.

With a change in the hormonal background, a decrease in lactation is usually observed for about 7-10 days, after which the volume of milk gradually increases. During this period, it is recommended to feed the baby more often, and give him both breasts at one time. They do the same when the baby is lazy, sucks briefly and weakly, begins to fall asleep during feeding. As soon as the sucking weakens, you need to slightly push the breast towards the nipple so that the milk runs a little stronger. If the child falls asleep, shake him slightly on the cheek, wake him up so that he eats longer.

The volume of milk production largely depends on the diet of a woman. After childbirth, the body is exhausted, so it is required to take 700-1100 kilocalories more per day than before. In the daily diet of the mother, there should be lean meat (200 g) or fish in the same amount, fresh cottage cheese (100 g), vegetables (500 g) and various types of fruits (200 g). Be sure to drink about a liter of kefir or milk per day, eat a piece of hard cheese. Fats should be no more than 30 g per day, and it is desirable that it be butter or sunflower oil.

The recommended amount of liquid per day is approximately 2 liters, including milk, juices, tea, broth or soup. This rate should not be greatly exceeded, even if there is more milk, because at the same time, the amount of vitamins and necessary proteins in its composition decreases. But mushrooms, smoked meats, spicy snacks, citrus fruits and chocolate should be excluded from your diet for a long time, since their use can cause allergies in the baby. In addition, the taste of milk changes from products with a pungent odor, and the child does not want to eat.

Nursing mom food diary

Correct attachment

Milk production is dependent on two hormones, prolactin and oxytocin. Both of them are associated with the sucking activity of the baby, so if the baby does not latch correctly, this activity is noticeably reduced. Incorrect grip is especially common in children who are given pacifiers and milk from a bottle. With proper attachment, the baby deeply captures the nipple and areola, evenly “expressing” milk from the entire breast. With a shallow grip, the baby sucks out only a small part of the milk located at the areola.

Unfortunately, according to the description and even from the photo, it is difficult to learn how to properly attach, especially if pain is present. This is usually taught by lactation consultants in the maternity hospital itself or by local pediatricians. You can also look for another breastfeeding woman who already has a similar experience and does not have nipple problems. For many, when the baby’s grip on the chest changes, painful sensations appear, because of which there is a desire to leave everything as it is. But keep in mind that proper application will ensure stable lactation, and the pain will disappear over time.


Only 3% of nursing mothers have serious problems with lactation, in other cases of lack of milk, these are only temporary consequences of improper feeding. It often happens that the mother's milk is enough for the child, but the woman herself considers its amount insufficient. Much depends on the quality of milk, appetite and characteristics of the child's body.

So, if you notice a decrease in lactation, first make sure that you are properly attaching your baby to the breast. Insufficient stimulation of the mammary glands will necessarily lead to a decrease in the amount of milk. In addition, feeding should be frequent and regular; children who are given pacifiers require breasts less often, which also negatively affects lactation.

Many mothers give babies some water, as well as tea for swelling of the tummy, various mixtures that prevent dysbacteriosis. The volume of such additives reaches 150 ml per day, which means that the amount of milk consumed is reduced by the same amount. If you exclude such supplements from the baby's diet, the amount of milk will be restored very quickly. As a rule, in the first 4 months, one milk is enough for a child, because it contains all the microelements so necessary for him. Here it is important to estimate the weight gain of the baby per week: just divide the monthly gain by the number of weeks. The lowest indicator from day 14 is 125 g, the optimal one is within 300 g. You should contact a specialist if the baby, eating milk alone and receiving it on demand, gains less than 500 g per month.

There is another good way to determine if a baby is getting enough milk. It should be within 1-2 days to count the number of urination. To do this, the baby must be without a diaper and not receive bait and additional liquids. If there is enough milk, the child will write more than 6 times, usually 8-12 times. If less than 6, milk is clearly not enough.

It is not so difficult to increase the production of milk in the body, the main thing is not to be afraid and not resort to complementary foods.

First, remove the pacifier, stop giving both tea and water. Organize hourly feedings from 4 am to 12 am, even if the baby does not ask for a breast. In the morning, 2-3 applications are required, because at this time the highest concentration of prolactin is formed in the body. And, of course, include in the diet drinks from natural lactation stimulants - carrots, dandelion leaves, fennel, cumin seeds, anise and lettuce.

Drinks that increase lactation


Mom's food. Products that affect lactation

Products that positively affect lactationProducts that reduce lactation
Warm tea (green with honey or black with milk)canned food
Caraway seeds and black bread with caraway seeds, as well as a drink from a teaspoon of caraway seeds and a glass of boiling milk, leave for 2 hours, drink half a glass before feeding for half an hour)Smoked meats
Boil or compote of dried apples, plums and a small amount of pearsCondiments and hot spices
Pine nuts, walnuts. Almonds (not roasted and not salted) improve lactation. A couple of pieces can be eaten every other day, but it must be remembered that almonds cause gas in a child and can cause severe constipationSage
Dill tea (1 table spoon of dill seeds pour a glass of boiling water and insist in a thermos for 2 hours. You need to drink this tea half a glass 2 times a day. Instead of dill seeds, you can take cumin or anise).
However, it is worth remembering that both anise and dill can cause allergies.
Parsley
Juices.
Among the juices that improve lactation are currant juice, carrot juice, blackthorn juice. But it is important that the juices are fresh, without preservatives, diluted with water.
Mint
Radish with honey.
Radish juice with honey, diluted 1 to 1 with chilled boiled water (per 100 g of radish - 100 g of water and 1 tablespoon of honey) is an excellent product for improving lactation
Watermelons (buy only high-quality, ripe ones)
Hercules and buckwheat, barley broth
Brynza and Adyghe cheese
Broths and soups meat (not fatty)

In order for lactation to remain stable throughout the feeding period, it must be constantly maintained. It is not difficult to do this, because the main condition here is the comfort of both mother and child.

So, to maintain lactation, you will need:

  • observe the regime, use as much time as possible for sleep, allocate at least 2 hours for walks;
  • drink about 2 liters of liquid daily - dried fruit compote, herbal teas, milk;
  • be sure to feed the baby at night, because night feedings provide better and longer lactation, due to the increased production of prolactin;
  • if possible, express milk after feeding, and then massage the breast for 5-10 minutes, pouring hot water over it. It is recommended to perform the procedures twice daily for each breast;
  • about half an hour before feeding, drink warm tea with milk;
  • take multivitamins. The complex of vitamins is specially designed for a nursing woman, so its intake benefits both mother and baby at the same time. But only a doctor should prescribe vitamins;
  • take the baby to bed at night. Firstly, the child sleeps better when he feels his mother's warmth, secondly, the baby's touch contributes to better milk production, and thirdly, it is more convenient because you do not need to get out of bed at night.

A warm bath helps a lot with lactation, so if possible, feed the baby directly in the water. If this is not possible, try replacing the bath with a basin of hot water: you need to sit comfortably, take the baby in your arms, put your legs in hot water and wrap a blanket on top. After that, you can drink warm tea or milk with cookies. Within 5 minutes you will feel a pleasant warmth in the body and a strong rush of milk.

For a newborn in the first months, there is no healthier food than mother's breast milk. Only there are a number of factors that can affect the natural feeding of the baby. Have you also had cases when, for some reason, there was less breast milk, or even not at all? Then you need to be sure to familiarize yourself with ways to increase lactation for a nursing mother. The instructions below will help you learn not only the causes of a decrease in breast milk, but also methods to combat it.

Why breast milk disappears

The following factors are the first in the list of reasons for the decrease in the amount of milk produced:

  • improper diet of a nursing mother, both before childbirth and during lactation;
  • chronic lack of sleep;
  • feeding the baby breast milk on a schedule, and not as needed;
  • too early transition from breast milk to formula feeding;
  • bad habits;
  • stress, negative experiences;
  • wrong psychological attitude of the mother or lack of desire to breastfeed the baby.

These reasons are more understandable at first glance, but how to feed the baby to mothers who do not have the above factors in their lives? If the production of breast milk has completely stopped, then this is already a disease - true hypogalactia, which is very rare, in only 5% of cases and is the result of hormonal imbalances. If the disease is not detected, then it is worth knowing that the amount of breast milk may decrease due to lactation crises that occur from 3 to 6 weeks of a baby's life, and also at 3-4 and at 7-8 months. These periods have several important features:

  1. The reason for the decrease in the amount of breast milk is the spasmodic development of the child, when he has an increased need for more food, and the mother's body simply does not have time to rebuild in time.
  2. Another reason is the wrong mode of lactation, the use of pacifiers and the lack of expressing breast milk.
  3. The first lactation crisis is the most difficult, so having overcome it once, then you will already know how to return breast milk.
  4. The most common mistake during this period is the introduction of complementary foods, less frequent attachment of the baby to the breast, or a quick transition from breastfeeding to artificial feeding.

How to increase lactation for a nursing mother

If the reason is a jump in the development of the child, then the problem of how to increase lactation for nursing mothers is solved by itself. Moms only need to put the baby to the breast more often so that breast milk begins to be produced in the amount that is needed. In lactation crises, doctors still recommend adherence to methods that increase lactation:

  1. Maintain proper nutrition and use foods that contribute to the production of breast milk.
  2. Taking recommended medications.
  3. Use of folk recipes.

Foods that increase lactation

The basis of a healthy state of any person is proper nutrition. Products for lactation of a nursing mother must meet several criteria:

  • balance, i.e. the presence of all the necessary trace elements and vitamins;
  • sufficient calories;
  • the absence of allergy provocateurs, such as chocolate, citrus fruits, honey, etc.;
  • inclusion in the diet of fruits, vegetables, cereals and meat, dairy products;
  • a large amount of liquid.

If you adhere to the basics of proper nutrition, but the baby’s breast milk is still not enough, try to include foods that increase lactation in your daily diet. Among them are:

  1. Hazelnuts that increase the fat content of milk: walnuts, pine nuts, almonds.
  2. Black currant.
  3. Vegetables: lettuce, carrots, radish.
  4. Cereals: buckwheat, oatmeal, brown rice, pumpkin.
  5. Protein foods: meat, fish, chicken eggs.

Drinking products effectively cope with the task of how to increase the volume of breast milk and improve lactation:

  • ginger tea;
  • herbal decoctions with rose hips, lemon balm, oregano;
  • fruit compotes;
  • fresh juices;
  • decoction of oatmeal;
  • green tea;
  • Dill water.

Pharmacy funds

Official medicine preparations are represented by a wide range of drugs aimed at solving the problem of how to increase the amount of breast milk and improve lactation:

  1. "Laktovit" - tea for lactation. The phytocollection is packaged in special filters that are convenient to brew. The composition of the tea includes fennel, cumin, anise and nettle leaves. The ingredients improve the composition and blood flow, stimulate digestion, stimulate the formation of breast milk, which increases lactation. To properly brew tea, you need to pour 200 ml of boiling water into one bag, using ceramic or glassware. Drink the infusion 15-20 minutes after brewing at breakfast and dinner. The price of 20 bags - from 300 rubles.
  2. "Mlekoin" - tablets to increase lactation. Indications for use are early and late hypolactia, prolongation of natural breastfeeding. Half an hour before meals, you need to dissolve 5 tablets per 1 dose up to 2 times a day. The treatment time is 1.5 weeks immediately after delivery. Price - from 136 rubles.
  3. Apilac is a dietary supplement that contains royal jelly, potato starch, lactose monohydrate talc and other excipients. Increases the amount of breast milk. Use during lactation after consulting a doctor. A single dose is 1 tablet of 10 mg. Take three times a day for up to 2 weeks.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine recipes bring no less effective results when deciding how to increase breast milk lactation. Choose the method that suits you and use it regularly to improve feeding:

  1. Walnuts in milk. Take a thermos, place 0.5 cups of walnuts in it, then pour 0.5 liters of hot milk over them. After 4 hours of infusion, the product will be ready for use. Drink 2 times a day for 1/3 cup in small sips.
  2. Carrots boiled in milk. Mix 0.5 l of warm milk and 3-4 tbsp. l. grated carrots. Drink a whole glass up to 3 times daily. Try adding some honey to your drink before bed to relieve tension.
  3. Fennel decoction. Pour a mixture of 1 tsp. fennel, anise and dill with a glass of boiling water. Drink half a glass after an hour of infusion, but be sure to wait a little time after eating. Consume twice a day.
  4. Cumin with sour cream. Take a glass of sour cream and a couple of cumin fruits, which are pre-softened. Boil the mixture for about 5 minutes. Take 1 tbsp. l. 3 times daily.
  5. Anise infusion. Take 1 tsp. anise seeds, pour them with a glass of boiling water. Wait an hour. After that, take 2 tbsp. l. infusion. Repeat the procedure up to 4 times a day.
  6. Dandelion syrup. Take 4 cups of dandelion flowers picked in the morning in sunny weather. Pour in 2 cups of water. Add one crushed peeled lemon to the mixture. Cook over low heat for about an hour, and then enter 0.5 tbsp. l. sugar syrup. Wait for the mixture to boil, strain, pour into prepared bottles. Store in the refrigerator, use as a flavoring for tea, water or other drinks.
  7. Radish with honey. Mix one chopped radish with 2 tbsp. l. honey. Add some boiled water. Take up to 4 tbsp. l. in one dose three times a day.
  8. Ginger drink. Take 1 tbsp. l. ginger, pour 1 liter of water. Boil for about 5 minutes. Drink half a glass of warm infusion at a time. It is recommended to drink up to 3 times a day.

Ways to increase lactation of breast milk

Doctors offer some simple tips on how to increase lactation for nursing mothers:

  1. Half an hour before the proposed feeding, drink a glass of warm tea with the addition of milk.
  2. Before you start feeding your baby, massage the breast with soft stroking movements in a clockwise direction. You can use castor oil while avoiding the area of ​​the nipple and areola.
  3. After finishing feeding, massage your breasts with a shower, moving from the nipple to the sides. It is better that the shower was a contrast.
  4. Breastfeed your baby more often and not on a schedule, but on demand to stimulate the production of breast milk.
  5. To stabilize lactation, try to get enough sleep. Lie down to rest even during the day, at least for a little.
  6. Often mothers pay more attention to proper nutrition. It is necessary, but do not forget about the amount of fluid you drink per day: water, tea, herbal infusions.
  7. Try taking a therapeutic bath before bed. Take a larger bowl, pour not too hot water into it. Put the container on the table, lower your chest there. The procedure should last about 15 minutes, so do not forget to add hot water. At the end, wipe your chest with a towel and poison yourself to sleep.
  8. Try to go outside more, walk in the fresh air.
  9. Provide yourself with positive emotions by enlisting the support of loved ones.

Video: how to improve lactation - Dr. Komarovsky

Feeding a baby with breast milk is a special stage, both in the life of a child and a mother. It is important not only good nutrition of the baby, but also bodily contact with the mother, so doctors do not recommend neglecting the lactation period and early weaning the baby from the breast, noticing a decrease in the amount of milk. To keep you and your baby calm, watch the helpful video below on how to improve lactation.

Breastfeeding is a special period in the life of a new mother. Breastfeeding helps to recover faster after childbirth, provide protection from mastopathy and establish close relationships with the baby. Often breastfeeding mothers face a shortage of milk. Today we will tell you how to increase lactation at home, and what to do if there is practically no milk in the chest.

5 main factors influencing the increase and maintenance of lactation

Proper development of a child is impossible without proper nutrition. Mother's milk is ideally suited to the ability of the baby's body to absorb food. From breast milk, the baby receives everything he needs: enzymes, growth factors, immunoglobulins that protect the child's body from infections.

Important! Every baby should receive breast milk for at least 6 months, because it is completely tailored to the individual needs of the crumbs.

Among the many factors affecting the occurrence, increase and preservation of milk secretion, the most important are:

  1. The health status of the nursing mother and baby.
  2. The mother's desire and will to breastfeed her baby.
  3. The state of mind of a nursing mother and the situation in the family.
  4. Regular attachment of the newborn to the breast;
  5. Conscientious preparation and learning of proper breastfeeding technique.

What to do if there is not enough milk? We will definitely talk about many effective ways to improve lactation, but first we advise you to watch this video:

Before concluding that the mother has little milk, the above factors must be excluded. If there are errors in the correct attachment of the breast, the physical fatigue of a nursing mother or excessive mental stress (excitement, anxiety), then a lack of milk is only a consequence of existing problems. Their solution will help to avoid a decrease in lactation and premature weaning.

Menu for a nursing mother: a list of products to increase the amount of milk

The quality of milk and its quantity directly depend on the diet and diet followed by a nursing mother. A varied diet stimulates the improvement of lactation and helps to establish proper breastfeeding.

Foods that should be included in the daily diet of the mother:

  • boiled milk and fermented milk products (kefir, curdled milk) - at least 0.5 l / day;
  • cottage cheese or curd products - 50-100 g / day;
  • boiled meat - at least 200 g / day;
  • fresh vegetables (carrots, onions, sweet peppers, radishes) - 600 g / day;
  • butter - 30 g / day;
  • boiled chicken eggs - 1-2 pcs.;
  • fruits (green apple, pear) - at least 300 g / day;
  • black bread with cumin - 400 g / day.

Also in the lactation period, it is recommended to use vegetable oil daily as a dressing for fresh vegetables or dishes with cereals (about 20 g / day). Sunflower oil is a natural source of vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids. We talked about it in one of the previous issues.

Foods that increase lactation:

  • warm green tea (low brewed);
  • hot chicken broth;
  • liquid cereals in milk from rice and barley groats;
  • bee honey (as a substitute for sugar);
  • watermelons;
  • walnuts;
  • first courses with sea and river fish.

Nursing mothers need to monitor the amount of fluid consumed per day. It must be at least 2.5 liters (including all liquid dishes). 10-15 minutes before the next feeding, it is useful to drink a glass of warm milk with a teaspoon of honey - this simple drink helps increase lactation and stimulates the flow of milk in the breast.

What foods to avoid when lactating:

  • natural coffe;
  • meat semi-finished products;
  • fast food, chips and crackers with flavorings;
  • store-bought sauces (mayonnaise, ketchup, cheese sauces, etc.);
  • canned products of industrial origin;
  • foods high in cocoa (including chocolate);
  • any alcoholic beverages (strictly prohibited!).

Note! In recent years, there has been a tendency for infants to be born with a deficiency of the immune system. Try to avoid eating foods that can cause allergies in your baby.

Increasing lactation folk remedies

Home methods to increase milk production were used by our grandmothers. Complaints about the lack of breast milk occurred at all times, and nursing mothers tried all available methods to solve the problem of breastfeeding. Many of them are relevant to this day.

More liquid!

Drinking fluids helps increase milk production - this is a well-known fact. Try to drink whenever possible as often as possible. Lactation improves with the use of warm herbal decoctions, milk, special herbal drinks for mothers.

Many of the herbs can be found in drugstores for pennies: dill seeds, anise, cumin, and fennel. A vitamin drink will help to cope with a lactation crisis.

Recipe 1. Take a teaspoon of cumin seeds, pour a glass of water. Bring to a boil over heat, then simmer covered for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, let it brew for half an hour, strain the resulting broth. To improve the taste, you can add 0.5 tsp. honey.

Recipe 2. Pour anise seeds into a thermos, pour 200 ml of boiled hot water. Close the lid and let it brew for 2-3 hours. Then strain the infusion and cool. Take a drink of 50 ml before each feeding.

Self-massage of the breasts

Kneading the breast after feeding develops the inflows well, stimulating the production of milk and its frequent flushes. Massage should be done on the breast that the baby was fed. Hand movements during the massage should be circular, from the nipple to the periphery, with light finger pressure over the entire surface, for 5-7 minutes.

Breastfeeding on demand

Feeding your baby on demand is the key to proper breastfeeding and the production of the right amount of milk for each feeding. Do not take night breaks, let the baby be applied to the breast as many times as his body requires. Frequent application is the best way to stimulate lactation without any additional methods. Try to do the first months without calculating feeding by the hour - the baby knows better when it is time for him to eat, and your breasts will “adjust” to his requirements.

What to do so that the child does not starve and how to improve lactation? New mom tips:

Medications to improve lactation

Currently, the question of how to increase lactation can be solved with one trip to the pharmacy. Many medicines have been tested by mothers and help to solve an acute problem with HB - a decrease in lactation and a lack of milk. If folk remedies do not help, and the lactation crisis has dragged on, then it's time to contact a breastfeeding specialist and find the right drug to increase the amount of milk.

Release form Titles Operating principle
Herbal teas for nursing mothersLactavit, Hipp, Humana, Grandmother's basket, LaktafitolLactogenic agents with a firming and tonic effect. Teas based on natural herbs (fennel, cumin, anise, etc.) have a pleasant taste and are used as daily drinks in the diet.
Tablets and granulesLactogon, Apilak, MlecoinEffective drugs to increase lactation. Taken with food as an active supplement when breastfeeding is over. As part of natural ingredients - nettle, ginger, royal jelly.
Milk mixtures to improve lactationLactamyl, Milky Way, Femilac, Bellakt Mama+, MD mil MamaNutritious milk formulas fill the needs of a nursing mother in vitamins, minerals and stimulate the glands to produce breast milk. It is enough to dilute the mixture with water and drink several times a day as a cocktail. Milk formula, when used regularly, helps to produce milk and increase its quantity.

Means for stimulating lactation can be a real help in reducing milk in the breast. But you should not expect a quick effect: in one case, it will take a couple of days to normalize feeding, in the other it will take a week.

On a note! A lactation consultant will help you choose the most suitable drug - having studied specifically your history of feeding and observing the process, it will be easier for a specialist to suggest the best solution to your problem and, if necessary, choose a drug with you.

5 best ways to stimulate milk production

Before resorting to medical methods, it is better to try simple methods that you can use at your own discretion and without the recommendation of a doctor.

  1. Frequent breastfeeding
    Nature herself made sure that the baby was full of mother's milk. At the time of each application to the breast in the body of a woman, two important hormones are released and activated: oxytocin and prolactin. They are responsible for the amount of milk produced during lactation. The more often the baby suckles the mother's breast, the more milk will arrive at each moment of feeding.
  2. Baby feeding at night
    A night break is detrimental to breastfeeding - if the baby does not suckle for a long time, there is less milk. The body of nursing mothers believes that the child will receive enough milk, which means that you can reduce its amount. So there is a decline in milk production. Try to feed your baby at least two times at night to maintain lactation at the proper level.
  3. Ensuring tactile contact with the baby
    “Skin to skin” is the basic recipe for more milk without any additional recipes. Lactogenic hormones wake up at the moment of communication between the mother and the baby, when the baby is rocked or carried in her arms. Caress your baby more often, and the problem with a lack of milk will be solved by itself.
  4. Rest, rest and only rest
    At the time of the formation of lactation, free yourself from at least some of the household chores and chores. Sufficient sleep - at least 7-8 hours a day, good nutrition and peace of mind - these are the main conditions for the full production of a sufficient amount of mother's milk.
  5. Easy and useful “chest” gymnastics
    Daily gymnastics for the chest stimulates the ducts, blood circulation and the production of breast milk. It is necessary to engage in standing or sitting on a fitball in a comfortable position. Place both hands together, palm to palm. Get them over your head. Tilt your head back, then press the back of your head vigorously on your folded arms several times. Repeat the exercise 2-3 more times.

P.S. Earlier we talked about the nutrition of a nursing mother and about products. Let's reinforce this topic once again, since it is proper nutrition that is the key to good lactation:

I must say right away that you will not have to use all the methods, most likely, 3-4 doses will be enough to increase the production of breast milk. All methods are needed in exceptional cases, when, for example, a mother wants to breastfeed a foster baby.

These methods of increasing lactation have been successfully applied even in cases with adopted children. From personal experience, I’ll say: I had to use many points personally, because with my first child I completely stopped lactation with Parlodel on the advice of a doctor due to stagnation, but after a month I ran out of frozen breast milk supplies, and the baby did not want to recognize the mixture, but I understood that I want to breastfeed ... in 3 weeks I returned a three-month-old child to full breastfeeding.

Herbs and teas for lactation

Now there are special combined teas for increasing lactation from different companies, there are also just children's teas or fees and herbs sold in pharmacies that can help with a lack of breast milk to make it more. What herbs are useful for a nursing mother? Anise, fennel, cumin and dill increase the amount of breast milk well, and in addition to increasing lactation, these herbs, getting into breast milk, are still a good prevention of colic in an infant. Mint, lemon balm and oregano enhance lactation well, they also soothe and improve sleep for both mother and baby. Nettle is also good, and again, not only to increase the amount of breast milk, but also to prevent postpartum hemorrhage in a nursing mother.

Frequent breastfeeding

The main hormone that is responsible for the production of milk - prolactin, is also involved in lactation oxytocin. So: a huge release of hormones occurs during childbirth, especially oxytocin, so the first time after childbirth, most often there is enough milk, and then, suddenly, as if the tap was turned off, the hormones that stood out during childbirth disappeared. By the way, that is why, after cesarean, milk does not come for longer, there was no powerful release of hormones! So where do you get these hormones after a caesarean or some time after childbirth? Feed your newborn often, the more often the better. Prolactin and oxytocin are actively produced in response to the baby's sucking movements and nipple irritation. If there is not enough milk, then the child often and persistently sucks, making an “order”, more milk is needed, in response, the mother’s body starts the production of hormones that will increase the amount of milk and the baby will be able to eat enough. But if, with a lack of breast milk, the baby is given a mixture, then he will be full, so he will no longer want to suckle the breast often and actively, so he will not “order” breast milk for himself and lactation will gradually come to “no”. Well, and another bonus of frequent breastfeeding for mom: remember oxytocin, which is released when a newborn is breastfed? He also contracts the uterus after childbirth, therefore, if you feed the newborn with breast milk on demand, this will be an excellent prevention of postpartum hemorrhage.

Skin to skin contact

During skin-to-skin contact, the production of hormones that are responsible for the production of breast milk increases. Set aside a day, or better, a few days, when you can delegate things to someone, and lie down with a newborn in a warm bed, hug, lie down, enjoy each other's company and feed at least all day. Let the baby be naked or in one diaper, and you in your underwear.

Wool underwear to the chest

Wool perfectly relaxes the muscles, relieves their spasms and warms, so you can use woolen liners in a bra, put on a woolen vest right on your naked body, then the outflow of milk will be easier, it will be easier for the child to suck, so he pumps the right amount of milk better and faster.

Co-sleeping

When sleeping together, the biorhythms of mother and child begin to coincide, so she sleeps better, the child gets breasts faster when she wakes up, and her mother’s body “gets used” to produce milk when the baby has just stirred and grunted.

Night feeding

Remember the hormones that are released during breastfeeding: oxytocin and prolactin? So, best of all, they stand out at night in the interval from 2 to 4 hours, so feeding in this time interval helps to increase lactation. So the advice to take a break from breastfeeding from 12 to 6 and give him some water at this time, in fact, leads to a decrease in the amount of breast milk in a nursing mother.

Pumping after feeding with a poorly sucking baby

A healthy, strong baby is the best pump, so after breastfeeding a newborn, there is absolutely no reason to pump additionally with a breast pump and hands. It is necessary to express breast milk if the baby is premature or weakened, if his tone is reduced, while he falls asleep hungry from fatigue. Then pumping will help not only to increase the amount of breast milk due to the fact that with a breast pump or hands you imitate the sucking of a baby’s breast, but it will also make it possible to supplement the newborn not with a mixture, but with breast milk from a bottle. And, when the baby gets stronger and can suckle well and actively at the breast, you no longer have to express, and you can enjoy full breastfeeding.

Pumping in a warm shower

A warm shower relaxes and promotes better milk flow, while the sound of water stimulates the centers of the brain adjacent to the centers responsible for the production of hormones that start the process of milk production. That is why a warm shower and breast massage in it helps with a lack of milk and milk stagnation. You can just stand in a warm shower, massage your breasts, and then go feed the baby, or you can, if you express, then express milk directly in the shower, but not with an electric breast pump, why, I think, is understandable.

Feeding under the sound of water

Do you have a small waterfall at home? Or at least a record of the surf, river, stream? Turn them on while feeding, the sound of the sound of water sets the body to produce prolactin. And you can turn on the tap and feed to the sound of real water.

Rosehip in a thermos

Brew rose hips in a thermos and drink them as tea, they enhance lactation and contain many useful substances.

Milk formulas for mom

Do you know that it used to be often advised to drink tea with milk while breastfeeding? It still helps many now, because milk is easiest to make from what is most similar to it in composition, and what can be more similar to milk than milk? That's right, infant formula is much closer in composition to breast milk than cow's milk. If there is a shortage of breast milk, a nursing mother can drink infant milk formula or protein formula for nursing. Based on numerous experiments, it turned out that infant milk formula enhances lactation better than even formula for nursing mothers.

vitamins

If there are not enough vitamins, especially vitamin B6, vitamin E and vitamin D, then less milk will be produced, so you need to drink vitamins throughout breastfeeding, and, of course, eat a full variety of foods.

walks

In the open air, not only lactation increases, but the baby sucks better, so go for walks more often, especially in good weather, and feed in nature.

Full sleep

Lack of sleep greatly inhibits the production of hormones responsible for breastfeeding, so stop trying to have time to redo everything, entrust something to relatives, and do not forget to get enough sleep yourself. Believe me, successful breastfeeding will free you up a lot of time in the future.

Noshpa

Noshpa is an antispasmodic, if you drink 2 tablets of noshpa 20 minutes before breastfeeding, the milk will be easier to suck out, so noshpa should be in the arsenal of a nursing mother, especially if the baby is hypotonic or underweight and it is difficult for him to suckle breast.

Exercises

There are exercises that also increase the outflow of milk during breastfeeding, you can do them directly when the baby wants to eat, or you can, in between feedings:

Bend your arms at the elbows at chest level, join your palms, while pointing your fingers up. On the count of 1-2, firmly press the palms into each other, on the count of 3-4, relax them without changing the position of the hands.
Get down on all fours, raise your head up. In this position, move around the apartment. You will achieve a great effect if you take off your bra during gymnastics.
Spread your straight arms to the sides, then cross in front of you and spread them again. Raise them higher with each swing. For a count of 10, cross your arms over your head. Gradually return to the starting position.

Drinking at least 2 liters per day

drink enough. Carrot and pomegranate juices, licorice root, and brewed herbs (melissa, mint, oregano, nettle, fennel, cumin, anise, yarrow) enhance lactation well.

Herbal Blend for Lactation

A specific example of tea to increase the production of breast milk: brew in a thermos in equal proportions of cumin, dill, fennel, lemon balm and nettle. Let it brew for 2-3 hours and drink it. Drink at least a liter of such lactogenic tea per day. You need to put 8 tablespoons of herbs per liter of water (8 in total, not 8 of each herb) if you need to urgently strengthen the activation, and 4 tablespoons per liter of water to maintain the result.

Homeopathy

The pharmacy has a homeopathic remedy, for example, Mlekoin, or its analogues, which enhance lactation well. Even better, if there is an opportunity to pick up homeopathy individually from a good proven homeopath.

aromatherapy

Lack of milk is often caused by stress or fear that there will not be enough milk, so it is often good to use aroma pendants and aroma lamps with lavender, mint and lemon oils to enhance lactation. Lavender at bedtime, and in the afternoon a mixture of mint and lemon 1: 1.

Food

Some types of products also contribute to the strengthening of lactation: grated carrots with sour cream, sesame and flax seeds, nuts, lettuce.

Breastfeeding is a very important process for the health and physical development of the baby. Sometimes in the life of a young mother the situation develops in such an unfavorable way that the baby is sorely lacking in breast milk or it practically disappears altogether. If there is a desire and desire to continue feeding the newborn, you need to know how to improve lactation, by what methods you can increase the production of breast milk and provide the right amount of your child.

In order for the child to always have enough milk, the mother must monitor her lifestyle, nutrition and psychological balance.

In order to improve lactation, women are advised to follow a few simple tips that doctors usually give in such cases. They are aimed at stimulating the work of the mammary glands and increasing the amount of breast milk. They relate to the lifestyle of a young mother.

  1. Drink at least 1.5 liters of high-quality (filtered, mineral) water without gas per day.
  2. Special teas to increase lactation.
  3. Try to rest more in any free minutes, do not overwork.
  4. Get enough sleep: a nursing mother, according to doctors, needs at least 10 hours of sleep a day.
  5. Two hours a day - walks in the fresh air.
  6. Avoid stress, domestic, family quarrels and experiences, do not be nervous.
  7. Avoid excessive physical activity.
  8. No diets for weight loss.
  9. Frequent feeding (at least 10 times a day).
  10. Do not give up night feedings, which just the same contribute to the production of prolactin in the female body - a hormone that improves lactation.
  11. Do things you love that make you feel good. It can be knitting, reading and even watching your favorite movie. Grandma or dad can stay with the baby at this time.
  12. Do a special self-massage at home. Wet palms liberally with castor oil. Put your left hand under your chest, your right hand on it. Make light, massaging movements in a clockwise direction. Avoid getting oil on the nipple.
  13. Sign up for a massage with a specialist, but first be sure to warn him that you are a nursing mother.

In addition to these recommendations, which mainly affect the lifestyle of a nursing mother, her diet is very important. It should include products, from the use of which milk becomes significantly more.

Ginger is one of those foods that promote milk production, but don't get carried away: strictly follow the recommended portions.

To improve lactation, young mothers need to include drinks, meals, and certain foods that increase breast milk production in their daily menu. These include:

  • warm tea: black (weak) with milk or green with honey - it is recommended to drink half an hour before feeding the baby;
  • cumin: chew daily a small amount of cumin seeds or eat bread with this cereal;
  • fresh almonds, pine nuts, walnuts (be careful: they can cause profuse gas formation and constipation in a child);
  • herbal teas (from oregano, lemon balm, nettle, dill, hawthorn, anise);
  • juices: carrot, currant, blackthorn;
  • meat, but low-fat broths and soups,
  • fermented milk products, milk, cheese, Adyghe cheese;
  • carrots, watermelons, onions, lettuce;
  • buckwheat, hercules;
  • seeds, nuts;
  • barley coffee with honey and milk (the product can be found in a regular store);
  • ginger.

The right breakfast for a mom who wants to improve lactation: oatmeal porridge with dried apricots, milk and a few walnuts.

By including enough of these healthy foods in your diet, women can be sure that they will have more milk after 3-4 days of a new diet. However, there are products that have exactly the opposite properties - they should be avoided by those who have problems with lactation.

Too spicy foods, as you know, are strongly discouraged from breastfeeding.

You will have to remove foods from the diet that reduce lactation by retaining fluid in the body. These include:

  • hot seasonings, spices;
  • parsley, sage, mint;
  • smoked meats;
  • canned foods.

Those women who regularly consume these products will not be able to avoid problems with lactation: they will have much less milk with such food incontinence. And if they do not take urgent measures to somehow improve lactation, do not exclude these products from their menu, the baby will soon have to be transferred to artificial feeding. To make more milk, it is recommended to prepare various folk remedies.

Uzvar is a wonderful folk remedy for increasing lactation, besides, it saturates the body of a young mother with vitamins necessary for her and her child.

You can improve lactation with the help of certain foods and drinks that contribute to the active production of breast milk by the body of a young mother. It is necessary to choose one of the recipes from the whole variety, which can be prepared daily and consumed throughout the day: the results are usually not long in coming.

  • caraway drink

Pour cumin (1 teaspoon) with boiling milk (200 ml), insist under the lid for 2 hours. Take 100 ml shortly (15 minutes) before feeding.

  • Uzvar

Rinse dried fruits (200 g of dried pears and apples, prunes, raisins), pour cold water for 10 minutes. Then pour pears and apples with 3 liters of water, cook for 15 minutes over low heat. Add raisins and prunes, cook for another 15 minutes. Add 200 g of honey, wait until it boils, remove from heat, cover with a lid, leave for 3 hours. Uzvar is considered one of the most effective means to improve lactation in case of problems with the production of breast milk.

  • Cedar cocktail

Fresh pine nuts (1 tablespoon) pour water (200 ml) overnight. Boil in the morning, add honey (2 tablespoons), drink.

  • dill tea

Dill seeds (1 tablespoon) pour boiling water (200 ml), leave in a thermos for 2 hours. Drink 100 ml twice a day.

  • dill cocktail

Grind and mix together anise and dill seeds (20 g each), hay fenugreek seeds and fennel fruits (30 g each). Pour 1 teaspoon of the resulting mixture with boiling water (200 ml), leave covered for 2 hours. Drink 100 ml twice a day.

  • Milk dill cocktail

Grind dill seeds (1 tablespoon), pour kefir (200 ml), add nutmeg and salt to taste. Drink before breakfast.

  • nut milk

Peeled ground walnuts (100 g) boil in milk (500 ml) until thick, add sugar to taste. Drink 30 minutes before feeding.

  • Radish with honey

Grate the radish, squeeze the juice out of it (100 ml), dilute with boiled, but already cold water (100 ml), add honey (1 tablespoon).

  • Dandelion juice

Grind young, fresh dandelion leaves in a meat grinder, squeeze the juice out of them, add salt, let it brew for half an hour. Drink 100 ml twice a day in small sips. To remove bitterness, add a little lemon juice, honey or granulated sugar.

  • Decoction of dandelions

Grind the roots and leaves of dandelions in a meat grinder (1 teaspoon), pour boiling water (200 ml), leave for 1 hour under the lid. Strain, drink 4 times a day, 50 ml, half an hour before meals.

  • Dandelion milkshake

Grind dill leaves and dandelion petals, mix. Take 1 tablespoon of the mixture, add grated walnuts (10 g) to it, pour kefir (4 cups), beat with a mixer, drink 100 ml for breakfast.

  • Ginger tea

Grind fresh ginger root (3 tablespoons), pour a liter of water, boil. Add lemon and honey to taste. Drink 60 ml three times a day.

  • vitamin mass

Mix dried apricots, raisins, figs, prunes, peeled walnuts (1 tablespoon each). Grind, add honey. Eat half an hour before feeding, drink warm tea.

  • Herbal decoctions

Herbs that improve lactation must be chosen wisely, as each plant will only work in a certain case:

  • for stomach problems: anise, cumin, fennel, dill;
  • under stress: lemon balm, oregano;
  • with anemia: nettle.

Any herb (1 teaspoon) is poured with boiling water (200 ml), boiled for 10 minutes, infused under the lid for half an hour. Drink every hour 50 ml.

Knowing how to improve lactation, young mothers will be able to provide their baby with enough breast milk even in the most critical situations, when its production is on the verge of stopping. It is very easy to follow the above tips, it is also quite possible to organize a kind of lactation diet, and it is a pleasure to prepare tasty and healthy folk remedies that improve lactation. Enjoy and make your baby happy.