Not enough milk? Below are some tips on boosting lactation.
Mothers often believe that they're not producing enough milk. This can happen, but it doesn't have to. Of course, there may be a temporary shortage, which is quite normal, and it doesn't mean that the baby "isn't getting enough". Below you will find some information about how you can boost lactation.
Young and inexperienced mothers often have the feeling that they will be unable to produce enough milk to feed their baby. The best-known reasons for inadequate lactation are: bra too tight, incorrect positioning of the baby on the breast, stress, irritation, extreme sleep deprivation, and hormonal imbalances. The recommendations below will help you with milk "production".
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Supply and demand
Nature ensures that nursing mothers always have enough milk to feed their offspring. The amount of milk adapts to the baby's needs in accordance with the principle of supply and demand. In other words, the more often a mother feeds her baby, the more milk is produced. So, when the baby wants to breastfeed, you should put it on the breast because your body will react automatically to the baby's needs and produce more milk.Time
The stresses and strains of everyday life can inhibit the flow of milk, so make sure you take plenty of time to breastfeed. Learn to relax by adopting a comfortable breastfeeding posture.Nutrition
Some foods can have a positive or negative effect on milk production. To increase the flow of milk you should ensure that you drink plenty of water or tea. Malted drinks and various varieties of tea (e.g. fennel, cumin, aniseed and special nursing teas) are said to stimulate lactation. In contrast, alcohol, coffee, sage tea and peppermint tea have the opposite effect. Some foods – particularly whole-grain products (e.g. bread, rice, semolina and porridge oats) and nuts (especially almonds) – stimulate milk production. Midwives also have a special recipe for mini-cookies that can help to increase milk flow. They're made from a mixture of oats, barley and wheat.01.06.2015
If you have any questions about feeding and caring for your baby, SWICA customers can contact the santé24 telemedicine service free of charge on +41 44 404 86 86. A telemedicine practice licence allows santé24 physicians to provide additional medical services in cases that are suited to a telemedicine approach. SWICA customers can also use the BENECURA medical app to carry out a digital SymptomCheck and receive recommendations about what to do next. During a subsequent phone call with santé24, customers can decide for themselves whether to release their information from SymptomCheck to santé24.
