In articles about breastfeeding, we repeatedly say that each couple - mother and child - is unique, each problem requires individual consideration. However, there are almost always some general recommendations that in any case will not harm and, perhaps, will even help the mother figure out the situation on her own.

Attaching to the breast

The first thing a young mother should learn is correct application baby to the breast. It ensures effective sucking, breast stimulation, and helps avoid pain during feeding and nipple injuries. But perhaps the most important thing for getting enough milk is the principle feeding on demand, and not according to a schedule. Moreover, if the baby sleeps for a long time in the first weeks of life and does not ask for the breast, he should be woken up and offered the breast at least once every one and a half to two hours. Thus, 10-12 (or more) attachments per day ensure sufficient nutrition for the baby, maintenance of lactation and health of the mother’s breast. Frequent breastfeeding even before the milk comes in, when there is only colostrum in the breast, ensures the laying of the necessary number of receptors for successful lactation, contributes to the emotional comfort of the mother, and helps to avoid or mildly cope with the phenomenon of postpartum depression. The benefit of on-demand feeding is the presence of mother and baby together in the maternity hospital.

Even if for some reason there is a decline in milk production, frequent feeding is the key to good milk supply.

Technology also helps your baby get more milk than he can suck on his own. "chest compression". This works well when the baby is still very small and quickly gets tired of sucking; when the baby is often put to the breast and sucks for a long time, but the mother still notices a slight increase in the child’s weight. This technique helps if the mother suffers from repeated stagnation of milk. What does it look like? Mom takes the breast with her hand in the same way as she gives it, but further from the nipple: the thumb is on one side, the rest are on the other. Gently squeezes the breast, making sure that the baby does not lose the nipple and remains properly attached. The technique can be used immediately (if the baby initially finds it difficult to suck milk on his own) or after the active sips have ended, and when the breast is compressed, the baby will take a few more effective sips of milk.

Increased lactation

To increase lactation and the number of hot flashes in one feeding, you can repeatedly transfer the baby from one breast to the other, i.e. feed both breasts at one feeding. How do you know if you can offer your baby a second breast? It is important to prevent an imbalance of foremilk and hindmilk, so this is done only after the baby stops swallowing milk and just sucks for some time. This technique can be combined with chest compressions.

Peace of mind and peace of mind for mom no less important for success. This is worth taking care of at home. If the mother is frightened or has experienced a strong shock or pain, then special breathing exercises or simply deep, calm breathing, a warm bath (possibly with the baby), a pleasant activity, or delicious food will help calm her down. Light physical activity (housework, walking, even just carrying a child) reduces adrenaline levels. It is also necessary to encourage your baby to breastfeed frequently.

Stimulation of lactation is facilitated by everything that allows mother and baby feel each other's skin: feeding with maximum undress, sleeping together, carrying in arms, light massage and stroking with mother’s hands, simply laying the baby on mother’s bare stomach and chest. Such contacts through psychological sensations trigger regulation at the hormonal level.

But even with established lactation, if possible, it is necessary to prevent the breasts from becoming too full. A special inhibitor protein appears in the milk accumulated in the breast - a substance that triggers a mechanism for reducing milk production.

False hypogalactia

We have already mentioned that sometimes so-called false hypogalactia occurs, i.e. a condition when the mother thinks that she has little milk, but in fact there may be enough milk. When does this happen? When a mother, ignoring reliable signs, begins to focus only on the following indicators and situations.

The mother does “control feedings” - weighs the baby before and after feeding. She is nervous, worried about what number she will see on the scale. The baby feels the mother’s tension, is distracted, and sucks less effectively. Babies can latch on to the breast for various reasons during the day, including just to calm down a little or “get something to drink,” but mothers most often regard each latch as “full nutrition” and are very upset when they see only a few grams on the scale. If the weighing takes place in a clinic, this is even worse, because... A strictly limited time is given for feeding, after which the baby, who has fallen asleep or has not yet nursed enough, is placed on the scales. And there is also the error of the scales, the baby spending energy on sucking itself...

Little or no milk is expressed. An imaginary sign, because It is impossible to reproduce the baby's sucking mechanism either with a milk pump or with your hands. There is such a thing as breast capacity - the volume of milk that can accumulate in it. It is different for every woman. And even the left and right breasts of one woman can accumulate different amounts of milk. The capacity has nothing to do with the ability to produce milk, but it is precisely this amount that, at best, the mother expresses, i.e., even if she succeeded in expressing, the resulting volume is much less than what the baby is able to suck.

The baby does not calm down after feeding or is restless during it. Often mothers remember that they have “little milk” in the evening, when many children are especially restless. Babies may cry and worry for a variety of reasons. By the way, research shows that little children do not experience hunger as such until a certain point, and a truly hungry child will rather sleep than worry. In addition, sometimes anxiety is a sign of normal aging behavior.

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One of the most common and painful problems that mothers face when breastfeeding is a lack of milk. How can a nursing mother figure out whether her baby has enough milk and, if necessary, how to increase its quantity?

Worries about whether her baby has enough milk happen at least once to every young mother, especially in the first months after childbirth. Unfortunately, for many mothers, doubts about the sufficiency of milk end with the transfer of the baby to artificial feeding. Often, when faced with the first difficulties, a nursing mother makes a hasty conclusion about her hopeless “non-dairy” (although the amount of milk may be quite sufficient) and, with the “support” of grandmothers or friends, who often have no experience of successful breastfeeding, begins to supplement the baby with formula or completely refuses breastfeeding. Most often, this happens due to insufficient knowledge about the mechanism of lactation and the criteria by which a mother can independently verify whether her baby has enough milk.

What you need to know about lactation. Lactation is a very delicate and complex physiological process that is initiated under the influence of hormones and is further supported by emptying the breast, as well as the frequency and quality of the baby’s sucking. The main role in the mechanism of lactation is played by two hormones - prolactin and oxytocin. They begin to be produced by the pituitary gland immediately after childbirth, when the restraining effect of the placenta on milk production is eliminated. Prolactin is a hormone responsible for the secretion of breast milk, it is also called the “motherhood hormone”. The amount of milk a mother has depends on it - the more prolactin the pituitary gland produces, the more milk in the mother’s breast. Active production of prolactin is promoted by regular and complete emptying of the mammary gland and vigorous sucking of the breast by a hungry baby. In this case, nerve impulses from the nipple areola receptors and the ducts of the empty breast send information to the brain that milk is in demand. Thus, the pituitary gland receives a signal to release prolactin, which in turn stimulates the secretory cells of the mammary gland to produce a new portion of milk. The more often and more actively the sucking occurs and the more completely the breasts are emptied, the greater the release of prolactin and, accordingly, the greater the amount of milk will be produced. This is how the “supply and demand” principle works, and the baby receives as much milk as he needs. Prolactin is produced during feedings, but begins to “work” only after a few hours, i.e. While the baby is breastfeeding, the mother “stocks up” prolactin for the next feeding. Prolactin is produced most at night and in the early morning hours, so it is very important to maintain night feedings in order to provide the baby with milk during the next day.

The second hormone actively involved in the lactation process is oxytocin. This hormone promotes the release of milk from the breast. It is produced with a slight delay in response to active stimulation of the nipple during sucking, and many mothers feel a “rush” of milk or even pain in the breast. Under the influence of oxytocin, the muscle fibers located around the lobes of the mammary gland contract and squeeze milk into the ducts towards the nipple. Decreased oxytocin production makes it difficult to empty the breast, even if there is milk in it. In this case, the baby has to make significant efforts to extract his food, so during feeding he may behave restlessly and even get angry. When trying to express milk, in this case, the mother will be able to squeeze out only a few drops from the breast, remaining fully confident that she does not have enough milk. The amount of oxytocin produced depends on the emotional state of the mother (it’s not for nothing that oxytocin is also called the “love hormone”). The more positive emotions and pleasure a woman receives from the feeling of motherhood, the more this hormone is produced. The amount of oxytocin increases from pleasant touches, when a mother cuddles her baby, strokes, kisses him, or carries him in her arms. While stress, anxiety and other negative emotions reduce the production of oxytocin, since this releases a large amount of the “anxiety hormone” adrenaline into the blood, which is the worst “enemy” of oxytocin, blocking its production. This is why a comfortable and calm environment around her and her baby is so important for a nursing woman.

Why did the milk “run away”?

Lactation is a very fluid process, which is influenced by many different factors (the mother’s health, the frequency of feedings, the severity of the baby’s sucking reflex, etc.). Breast milk cannot be produced “on schedule” and for certain reasons its quantity may decrease. Insufficient milk production in the mother is called hypogalactia. Depending on the causes that cause it, primary (true) and secondary hypogalactia are distinguished.

True inability to lactation (primary hypogalactia) occurs, according to various sources, in only 3 - 8% of women in labor. It usually develops in mothers suffering from endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, diffuse toxic goiter, infantilism and others). With these diseases, the mother’s body often experiences underdevelopment of the mammary glands, as well as disruption of the processes of hormonal stimulation of lactation, as a result of which her mammary glands are simply not able to produce a sufficient amount of milk. Treatment of this form of hypogalactia is quite difficult; in such cases, hormonal drugs are prescribed to correct it.

Secondary hypogalactia is much more common. A decrease in milk production is mainly associated with improperly organized breastfeeding (irregular attachment to the breast, long breaks between feedings, improper latching of the breast), as well as physical and mental fatigue, lack of sleep, poor diet, and illnesses of the nursing mother. The causes of hypogalactia can also be complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, prematurity of the baby, taking certain medications and much more. A decrease in lactation can be triggered by a mother’s reluctance to breastfeed her baby or her lack of confidence in her own abilities and a preference for artificial feeding. In most cases, secondary hypogalactia is a temporary condition. If the cause that caused the decrease in milk production is correctly identified and eliminated, lactation will normalize within 3-10 days.

Already in the process of established breastfeeding, a nursing mother may encounter such a physiological phenomenon as a “lactation crisis,” when her milk supply suddenly decreases for no apparent reason. This is usually due to a discrepancy between the amount of milk and the baby’s needs and cyclic hormonal changes in the mother’s body. The fact is that the baby’s growth may not occur evenly, but in spurts; the most typical growth spurts are at 3, 6 weeks, 3, 4, 7 and 8 months. As the baby grows, his appetite also increases; in such a situation, the mammary gland simply does not have time to produce the required amount of milk. At the same time, the baby can receive the same amount of milk as before, but this amount is no longer enough for him. In addition, it is during these periods that a temporary change in hormonal levels may occur in the mother’s body, which also affects the amount of milk. This situation is reversible and does not pose a danger to the child's health. With an increase in the number of feedings and no additional feeding with formula, after a few days the mother’s breasts will “adjust” and provide the baby with sufficient nutrition. Most often, lactation crises occur in the first 3 months after childbirth and can sometimes occur at intervals of one to one and a half months, their duration is no more than 3-4 days (less often 6-8 days). It should be noted that lactation crisis It occurs more often in those women who are pre-prepared for its inevitable appearance and believe that they are not able to fully breastfeed the baby, as well as in those who consider it obligatory to feed the baby at strictly defined hours. Some women do not face such problems at all, so there is no need to expect a lactation crisis.

All of the above situations are true forms of hypogalactia, which are still not as common as false or “imaginary” hypogalactia, when a nursing mother produces enough milk, but at the same time she is convinced that she does not have enough milk. Before sounding the alarm and running to the store for a package of formula, the mother needs to figure out whether she really has little milk. The following complaints most often serve as the basis for doubts about the sufficiency of milk:

“The breasts are always soft, there is no rush of milk.” During the first few months after birth, lactation occurs as mother and baby adapt to each other. During this period, milk may be produced either more or less than the baby needs and, accordingly, both a feeling of fullness in the breast and a feeling of “empty” breast may occur. With the establishment of mature lactation, milk begins to be produced exactly as much as the baby needs for a given feeding, while the mammary gland may not be as full as before. In addition, milk continues to be produced directly during feeding. Thus, based on the feeling of breast fullness, it is impossible to draw a conclusion about the sufficiency or lack of milk.

“inability to express even a small amount of milk.” The best breast pump can match a baby's ability to extract milk from the breast (assuming the breast is latched correctly). In addition, the process of pumping requires a certain skill. Some women, having a lot of milk in the breast, can express only a few drops, so it is impossible to judge the sufficiency of lactation by the amount of expressed milk.

“the child is worried during or after feeding, often demands the breast, sucks for a very long time and does not let go of the breast.” All these signals may indicate a lack of milk, but they may also be the baby’s reaction to stress or fatigue (for example, with too many impressions during the day, new acquaintances, a change of environment), so the baby may react to the mother’s worries and nervousness. This behavior may also indicate that the baby is not feeling well (tummy hurts, teeth are being cut, etc.). Therefore, relying only on the child’s behavior, it is incorrect to draw conclusions about a decrease in lactation, but of course, in such a situation, the mother has a reason to pay attention to more reliable criteria.

You can quickly and reliably determine whether your baby has enough milk by counting the number of times he urinates. Do a wet diaper test by counting the number of times your baby urinates in 24 hours, without using disposable diapers and changing the diaper every time your baby pees. If the baby has soiled 12 or more diapers, and the urine is light, transparent and odorless, then the amount of milk he receives is quite enough and you need to look for another reason for his anxiety. According to WHO standards, 6-8 wet diapers per day is already an indicator that the amount of milk is sufficient for the normal development of the child and additional feeding is not required in this situation, but active and persistent efforts are required to increase lactation. If a child urinates rarely (less than 6-7 times a day) and the urine is concentrated with a pungent odor, this is a sign that the baby is starving.

Another reliable criterion for assessing the sufficiency of nutrition and normal development of a child is the dynamics of weight gain. Although the child’s growth is uneven, in the first six months of life the baby should gain weight by at least 500-600 g each month. The monthly gain is usually assessed when the baby is weighed by a doctor during the next examination. Currently, baby scales are widely used, on which parents weigh their baby at home, conducting so-called “control weighings.” Often this measuring device becomes an additional source of stress for a nursing mother, who begins to weigh her baby after each feeding, trying to determine how much milk he has received. Meanwhile, this control method is very uninformative. Firstly, milk standards are calculated for 7-8 feedings per day, and a child who is fed on demand sucks the breast much more often and, accordingly, may receive less milk per feeding than he is “supposed to”. In addition, the amount of milk sucked depends on the baby’s well-being, mood and appetite and can fluctuate significantly throughout the day. If a mother is concerned about the rate of weight gain of her child, it is more advisable in such cases to weigh the baby once a week, while observing strictly defined conditions (you need to weigh a completely undressed baby without a diaper in the morning before eating). According to WHO, a weekly weight gain of 125 g or more is evidence that the baby is receiving sufficient nutrition. From the age of 5-6 months, the child’s growth rate decreases, and he can gain 200-300 grams per month. If during the first months of life the baby gained a lot (1-1.5 kilograms per month), then in subsequent months he may gain less weight than his peers.

How to return milk? Only after the mother, based on reliable criteria, is convinced that her baby really needs more milk, does she need to take measures to stimulate lactation. In most cases, “escaped” milk can be returned. The most important criterion for success in this case is the mother’s self-confidence and a great desire to breastfeed. Only confidence in the correctness of her actions and a commitment to long-term breastfeeding will help her show the necessary persistence and patience and resist the “well-meaning” advice of relatives and friends to feed the “hungry” baby with formula.

In order to restore lactation, it is necessary to solve two main tasks: firstly, to find and, if possible, eliminate the cause of the problem (for example, fatigue, lack of sleep, improper attachment of the baby to the breast, etc.) and secondly, to establish hormonal the “demand-supply” mechanism, increasing the number of feedings (“requests”) of the baby, in response to which the mother’s body will respond by increasing the “supply” of milk.

Breast stimulation

Considering the decisive role of hormones in the lactation mechanism, the most important and effective way to increase milk production is to stimulate the breast by sucking the baby and emptying it completely. If milk production decreases, the mother should first take the following measures:

- increase the frequency of the baby's attachment to the breast - the more often the baby sucks the breast, the more often signals for the production of prolactin will be sent to the brain and, accordingly, more milk will be produced. It is necessary to give the baby the opportunity to suckle at the breast for as long as he wishes; artificially limiting sucking can lead to the fact that the baby does not get to the most nutritious “hind” milk and does not receive enough fat and protein (hence there may be poor weight gain). If there is not enough milk in one breast, you should offer the baby the second breast, but only after he has completely emptied the first. In this case, you need to start the next feeding from the breast that the baby sucked last.

- make sure that the baby is properly attached to the breast - effective stimulation of the nipple and emptying of the breast occurs only when the baby completely grasps the areola. In addition, if the breast is latched incorrectly, the baby can swallow a large amount of air, which can fill most of the stomach volume, while the amount of milk sucked will decrease. It is very important to choose the most comfortable position for feeding, in which the mother can relax and will not experience discomfort or pain.

- maintain night feedings - the maximum amount of prolactin is produced between 3 and 8 am. To ensure sufficient milk production the next day, there should be at least two feedings during the night and early morning periods.

- increase the time spent together with the baby - to stimulate milk production, it is very useful for a nursing mother to spend as much time as possible with her baby, carry him in her arms, cuddle him, co-sleeping with the baby and direct skin-to-skin contact are very useful for lactation .

Psychological comfort

In the life of any mother, there are inevitably worries and worries. The main thing is that her short-term momentary worries do not develop into constant anxiety. Nervousness, the burden of responsibility, and the fear of doing something wrong can cause chronic stress. In this state, a high level of the hormone adrenaline is constantly maintained in the blood of a nursing mother, which, as already noted, has a blocking effect on the production of oxytocin, and thereby prevents the release of milk. Hence the common misconception that the milk disappeared “from nerves.” In reality, the breast may produce enough milk, but if the mother is nervous or irritated, she cannot “give” it to the baby. Thus, the mother finds herself in a vicious circle when, as a result of stress, her milk production is poor - the baby cannot suck it from the breast and behaves restlessly - the mother concludes that she has little milk and begins to get nervous again, trying to feed the baby with formula - in As a result, the number of breastfeedings decreases - as a result, the production of prolactin is reduced and the amount of milk in the breast actually decreases. To avoid such situations, a nursing mother needs to learn to relax. This can be helped by breathing exercises, massage, a warm shower or bath with aromatic oils (lavender, bergamot, rose), pleasant music and other ways to create a calm and comfortable environment around you and, of course, the most important antidepressant - infinitely loved and in need of mother's love and warm little man.

Adequate rest and sleep

As a rule, a woman sitting at home with a baby bears the entire burden of housework, to say nothing of the fact that a nursing mother “only dreams of” a full 8-hour sleep. However, lack of sleep and physical overload are one of the most common reasons for a decrease in the amount of milk in the breast. In order to improve lactation, a mother needs to reconsider her daily routine and be sure to find a place in her busy schedule for naps and daily walks in the fresh air. Ideally, the mother’s daily routine should coincide with the child’s routine; as soon as the baby falls asleep, it is also better for the mother to lie down to rest. Perhaps, for this, some of the household responsibilities will have to be transferred to other family members, and some of the not very important things to be postponed for a while, because at the moment her primary task is to provide her child with the most valuable and necessary nutrition - breast milk and only after that to be an exemplary wife and the hostess.

Nutrition and drinking regime

The nutrition of a nursing mother has a greater effect on the quality of milk than on its quantity. However, the lactation period is not the time to go on a diet in pursuit of regaining your previous weight. It has been proven that even if the mother is malnourished, lactation can persist, but milk production will occur to the detriment of the mother’s health at the expense of her body’s own reserves.

Of course, for full milk production, a nursing mother needs additional energy, nutrients and fluid, and it is important that nutrition and drinking regimen are complete, but not excessive. The calorie content of a nursing mother's diet should be about 2700 -3000 kcal/day; during this period she needs high-quality proteins with increased nutritional value (found in meat, dairy products, eggs), fats enriched with unsaturated fatty acids (fish, vegetable oils), vitamins and microelements. It is very important to follow a meal schedule, as eating at certain times ensures a more rhythmic production of breast milk. Meals should be small, the optimal frequency of meals is 5-6 times a day, it is better to have a snack 30-40 minutes before feeding. When milk production decreases, it is advisable for a nursing mother to include in her diet foods that have lactogenic properties (i.e., promoting milk production) - carrots, lettuce, parsley, dill, fennel, seeds, Adyghe cheese, feta cheese, sour cream, as well as lactogenic drinks – carrot juice or carrot drink, blackcurrant juice (if the baby has no allergies).

The drinking regime is much more important for maintaining lactation at the proper level and stimulating milk production when it decreases. A nursing woman needs to drink up to 1.5 - 2 liters of liquid per day (this volume includes purified and mineral water without gases, compotes and fruit drinks from seasonal berries and fruits, tea, dairy products, soups, broths). The exception is the first week after childbirth - the time when milk comes in, when a large amount of fluid can lead to the development of lactostasis (milk stagnation). Drinking a warm drink 20-30 minutes before feeding (this can be weak green tea or just warm boiled water) promotes better emptying of the breast. Often, to increase milk production, mothers try to drink large amounts of tea with milk or condensed milk. It should be noted that cow's milk protein is a strong allergen, and consuming large amounts of sweet condensed milk can lead to unwanted weight gain for a nursing mother, so the best drink for a nursing mother is clean drinking water.

Shower and massage

Quite effective ways to increase lactation are a hot or contrast shower and breast massage. These procedures increase blood flow to the breasts and improve milk secretion.

It is better to take a shower in the morning and evening after feedings, while directing streams of water to the breast, do a light massage with your hand clockwise and from the periphery to the nipple, 5-7 minutes on each breast.

To increase milk flow, you can massage your breasts. To do this, you need to lubricate your hands with olive or castor oil, place one palm under the chest, the other on the chest. You should massage the mammary gland with light circular movements clockwise (2-3 minutes each), without squeezing the breast with your fingers and trying to ensure that the oil does not get on the areola of the nipple. Then the same light strokes are carried out with the palms from the periphery to the center. This massage can be performed several times a day.

Herbal medicine and homeopathic remedies

It has been proven that some medicinal plants (anise, cumin, dill, fennel, lemon balm, oregano, nettle, etc.) have a positive effect on milk production, due to the content of essential oils that have a stimulating function and biologically active components with a hormone-like effect. They are consumed in the form of infusions and herbal teas, both separately and in the form of collections. The composition of the collection is selected individually. For example, dill, anise, cumin, fennel - recommended for digestive problems in a nursing mother; mint, lemon balm, oregano will help mom calm her nervous system; nettle is useful if a nursing mother has low hemoglobin or physical fatigue. You can also use industrially produced ready-made teas “for nursing mothers” (HIPP, Humana, Dania, Laktovit). It should be remembered that any plants can cause an allergic reaction, so stimulating lactation with herbs should be used with caution by nursing mothers whose babies suffer from allergies.

A fairly effective auxiliary method of increasing lactation is the use of homeopathic remedies, which must be selected and prescribed by a homeopathic doctor individually for each woman. Among the ready-made homeopathic remedies freely sold in pharmacies, the drug MLEKOIN is most often used.

Vitamins

Vitamins (A, B1, B6, C, E, PP) and microelements (calcium, iron, magnesium, etc.) have a stimulating effect on the lactation process; they activate cellular metabolic processes, improve tissue microcirculation and improve the composition of milk. They are usually prescribed in in the form of special vitamin and mineral complexes for nursing mothers (Materna, Vitrum-prenatal, Pregnavit, Elevit Pronatal, etc.).

A wide range of vitamins and minerals is contained in the biostimulating preparation based on royal jelly, APILAK, which is also widely used to stimulate lactation.

Most often, an increase in the number of feedings, adjustments to the mother’s daily routine and diet give positive results within a few days and lactation improves. If the above measures do not bring tangible results within 7-10 days, the nursing mother should discuss medication and physiotherapeutic methods of increasing lactation with her doctor.

Stress, health problems, or other troubles can lead to the fact that at a certain stage of breastfeeding the mother will run out of milk. We often encounter this situation. That is why you should prepare in advance to resolve the issue. In this case, it is necessary to consider in detail the situation of how to supplement the baby’s feeding if there is not enough milk for this. The question is quite relevant and interests many mothers who at some point were left without natural milk.

There are a number of moments when a nursing mother loses breast milk.

Among the main problems the following are identified:

• During the birth process, medications were used, which aggravated the production of milk in the woman’s glands.
• For certain reasons, early breastfeeding of the baby was not performed after childbirth.
• Psychological disorders and problems occurring in the female body after and during childbirth.

• The introduction of complementary foods for children is carried out at an early stage, before the due date.
• Feeding your baby on a schedule (if you do this more often, your milk supply will improve).
• The use of hormonal drugs by a woman, which provoke an abundant increase in hormones in the body.
• Lactation crises (when the mother’s body is temporarily unable to cope with the needs of a rapidly growing child).

These points are associated with a temporary or permanent decrease in the production of breast milk in a woman. If you encounter one of these situations, you need to look for an appropriate solution.

Only a specialist can accurately determine the cause of a decrease in milk production in a woman, for which an appropriate medical examination and consultation is carried out.

Signs of low milk production

A young mother has the opportunity to independently determine that she has a lack of milk fluid production. As a rule, the following common symptoms appear:

• the breasts of a nursing mother at the time of feeding are not heavy or full enough (physical manifestations are felt);
• The milk mixture leaks lightly, as evidenced by the behavior of the infant.

These are two main signs that allow you to determine the lack of formula for feeding, and also promptly contact a specialist to identify the reason why an insufficient amount of milk is produced.

In each individual case of lack of formula milk, other symptoms are also present that allow the specialist to determine the cause of the lack of milk production.

The breasts are not so heavy and dense at the time of feeding

Here, there is a lack of production of the substance by the mammary glands; it manifests itself as natural symptoms, when a woman can independently determine that her breasts have become lighter or do not have the necessary density. In addition to visual perception, this reason is felt naturally. The manifestation of these two symptoms is a reason to consult a specialist.

Milk does not flow intensively

Another bad symptom is slight leakage of milk fluid during feeding. This is usually accompanied by the whims of the child, who does not receive the required amount of natural food product. The mother can also feel this on her own, since the permeability of the mixture will be significantly reduced compared to the initial feedings.

How does lack of feeding affect a child?

A young mother can immediately identify when her baby is not receiving much needed nutrition, as the baby reacts vividly to it. If there is not enough power, the following occurs:

• the behavior of the newborn changes significantly due to a lack of the required amount of nutrients;
• the excretory function of the newborn baby’s body decreases (the baby goes to the toilet less often);
• If children eat little, they noticeably lose weight or do not gain it for a long time.

This symptomatology is typical, provided that the mother’s mammary glands cannot cope with secreting the required amount of milk fluid.

If there is a lack of milk, the child will be capricious and constantly demand the breast, which, naturally, his mother should notice.

The child is losing weight or not gaining weight

For an attentive mother, such a symptom will not go unnoticed. Lack of nutrients affects the child's body quickly. Within a week, the first signs of weight loss will be noticeable. In addition, the child’s behavior will change and he will sleep more often. The blush will disappear from the surface of the skin, and the skin will have a pale tint.

Decreased excretory function of the body

The mother will also notice this symptom immediately, since stool and urination will occur less frequently than usual. As a rule, such a manifestation does not take long to appear. The symptom is visible within one or two days after the reduction in the amount of formula for the child’s nutrition begins.

Is naughty and often demands the breast

The natural reaction of a child’s body to a lack of milk is frequent whims. If the baby cries more often than usual or does not want to leave the breast, this is a symptom of a lack of milk. In this case, the nursing mother should immediately visit a specialist to identify the cause of weak milk production, and also, if possible, determine what to use for subsequent feeding.

How and what to supplement your baby with if there is not enough breast milk

Modern mothers often have to deal with situations of insufficient milk formula in the glands. Here it becomes necessary to feed the child so that his growth and development do not slow down. Supplemental feeding of children can be done using the following:

• special milk formulas (selected based on the age of the baby who does not receive enough breast milk);
• baby food designed for the baby's gradual cessation of breastfeeding;
• products that are used in complementary feeding of children over six months (porridge, milk, vegetables, fruits, meat).

The most common supplementary feeding option is formula feeding, which allows you to gradually wean your baby completely off the breast.

The composition of the formula used is determined depending on the age and tastes of the baby who is experiencing a lack of breast milk.

Types of mixtures

Depending on the age and health status of the baby, an option is selected regarding which formula will be used for supplementary feeding.

There are the following types of dairy products:

• adapted formulations;
• ordinary milk formulas for feeding;
• hypoallergenic consumer products;
• fermented milk mixtures for supplementary feeding;
• specialized food products for babies.

The exact option for supplementary feeding can be advised by a doctor who monitors the mother and child who need additional feeding due to a lack of breast milk.

Of no small importance when choosing the composition of the diet is the age and health of the child (if there is an allergy, it is necessary to select hypoallergenic compositions for the diet).

Adapted

Here the mixture is prepared in proportions so that the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates necessary for a growing organism is present. Such compositions must be selected depending on the age of the baby. Due to the complicated production technology, formulas are expensive, but at the same time they perfectly complement and, if necessary, replace mother’s breast milk.

Dairy

A regular mixture of dried or fresh milk of animal origin, which is not subject to special processing. The cost of such a composition is quite low, but not every growing organism easily accepts such compositions.

In addition, for children with allergic reactions, it is not recommended to supplement with pure milk formula, otherwise this can have a detrimental effect on their health.

Hypoallergenic

Specialized mixtures that are made from powdered or fresh milk that has undergone appropriate purification. At the processing stage, all components that can cause allergic reactions are removed from the composition. The cost of such products is quite high, which is why not every mother can afford to supplement with such food products.

Fermented milk

Here the product is made from powdered or liquid milk. Based on their composition, products are divided into adapted, partially adapted and non-adapted formulations. Prescribed to children who have already reached a certain age. Depending on the composition, the product undergoes processing. As for non-adapted products, they are similar to conventional fermented milk compositions (kefir or yogurt).

Specialized Blend

The compositions are used for certain categories of children (premature babies, those with certain diseases, underweight). Taking into account the deviation, the necessary components are added to the product to compensate for the missing substances. These products are selected depending on the deviation present in the child’s body. These compositions are developed according to a special program and are quite expensive.

Every day the number of questions young mothers ask doctors increases: there is not enough breast milk - what to do? That is why we decided to look into this issue and tell young mothers who have given birth to a baby about what to do if breast milk has become very small and is not enough for the normal nutrition of your baby.

Every young mother should understand that breastfeeding a baby is a completely natural process. Only with breast milk does the child receive all the necessary substances for normal growth and further development of the small organism. Plus, along with milk, the child’s body receives vitamins necessary for the formation of strong immunity.

Still, sometimes women notice that there is significantly less milk in the breast than usual. This causes concern for most young mothers who are not yet familiar with this phenomenon.

How to find out if your baby has enough milk?

Experienced pediatricians have carefully studied the process of breastfeeding and drawn unique conclusions. The results showed that by the baby's movements it is possible to recognize whether there is actually milk in the breast or whether the baby is simply trying to take it, but it is not really there.

With normal feeding, the baby not only grabs the breast, but also makes characteristic movements. Experienced pediatricians describe this cycle in three short phrases: the baby’s mouth is wide open – a pause of varying lengths – the mouth is closed. If such a pause is observed, you can be sure that there is still milk in the breast. The longer this pause lasts, the more milk the baby received with this sip.

The second sign that there is less milk is the nature of the baby's stool. On the first day after birth, the baby has dark green stool.

If there is not enough milk, then the color of the child’s stool does not change, but when the child has enough of it, the shade of the stool on the 4th day will already be brown and slightly light in color. If the baby does not poop every day, then you should think about the fact that the growing body really does not have enough breast milk.

Professionals also recommend monitoring the number of urinations per day. The mother's milk supply is sufficient if the baby urinates at least six times a day. With all this, the urine should be very light and practically without a characteristic unpleasant odor.

In addition, experts have identified the main signs that indicate that every day there is less and less milk for the baby’s normal nutrition. When the baby is full, by the end of feeding he becomes calm and practically falls asleep. If there is very little milk and the baby has not eaten enough, then the baby will be very anxious and start crying.

If there really is not enough of it, the baby begins to ask for food very often. Typically, the breaks between feedings in this case are less than 2 hours. And, of course, it is necessary to monitor the baby’s breastfeeding process. If he sucks it sluggishly for a long time and does not let go of his hands, then we can conclude that there is little or no breast milk.

What to do if there is not enough milk

Once an experienced specialist and the young mother herself have determined that there is less milk, and this amount is not enough for the child’s normal nutrition, this problem should be immediately prevented. You cannot cope with this phenomenon on your own, and only a breastfeeding specialist can help solve this problem.

However, if the baby is reluctant to ask for food and gradually begins to lose weight, then it is necessary to put him to the breast approximately every 2-3 hours. Well, we must not forget that even at night the child should receive a sufficient amount of nutrients.

During the period of normalization of nutrition, you should discard various pacifiers and nipples, as they can cause the baby to be reluctant to breastfeed. If mother's milk has not been restored, you can use special infant formula. They need to be fed with a small teaspoon, but in no case through a bottle.

If a woman has low milk supply, she needs to monitor her diet; perhaps it is the main cause of this problem. A young mother should eat a lot of lean meat, fish, liver, cereals and pasta, as well as vegetables every day. After a month of feeding, you can introduce fermented milk products and raw vegetables and fruits. And, of course, we must not forget about the correct drinking regime. The mother should drink at least 1.5 liters of clean water per day. Green tea also has a good effect on the lactation process.

What remedies will help increase lactation?

It is very difficult to find out why young mothers lose milk. Experts say there may be many reasons for this.

The main ones are:

• poor nutrition;
• bad habits;
• nervous breakdowns, stress;
• taking certain medications, etc.

In any of these cases, the problem should be eliminated as quickly as possible, since the future health of your baby depends on the presence of milk in the breast.

First of all, specialists prescribe special lactogenic drugs, herbal teas and even vitamins. Lactogenic products can be divided into 2 large groups. The first of them is necessary to correct the diet for the main nutrients. The main representatives of such substances are Femilak, Dumil Mama Plus, Enfa-mama, Olympic, etc. The second group contains lactogenic additives. Typically, such preparations are based on extracts of various herbs. A typical example of such a medicine is Milky Way.

If the milk has disappeared due to maternal vitamin deficiency, then the woman must undergo a course of treatment with vitamin complexes. Among them, the most famous and suitable for young breastfeeding mothers are Gendevit and Materna.

Various folk methods often help increase lactation. With great success, women use freshly squeezed juices, herbal and green teas, as well as decoctions of medicinal herbs.

The most common option for increasing lactation at home is drinking carrot juice. It is very important that the drink is prepared independently, using fresh carrots. You need to drink 100 ml of this mixture daily. After just a few days, the amount of mother's milk increases.

In most pharmacies you can find entire sets of lactogenic herbs, on the basis of which drinks are made that increase the amount of breast milk.

All of the above methods can really help you conserve breast milk and thereby provide your baby with the best nutrition that can be given to a baby his age.

Breastfeeding is a natural process, as a result of which the baby receives all the necessary substances for its growth and further normal development. If the mother notices that the amount of milk is becoming less every day and that it is not enough for the child, she should contact a specialist. He will prescribe the proper treatment that is suitable for you.

Video

The video will tell you in detail how to reliably find out if your baby has enough milk.

Very often, women, having waited for the happiest moment in their lives - the birth of a baby, having endured all the hardships of pregnancy and childbirth, are faced with another problem - a lack of milk. As a rule, this is accompanied by panic and a rash transfer to supplementary feeding with artificial formulas. But such a decision is correct only in some cases; in general, almost all women can maintain lactation for as long as the baby needs. The main problem is not in the female body, but in the young woman’s lack of awareness of what to do if a nursing mother has little milk.

According to WHO, true hypogalactia (the inability of the female body to produce sufficient milk) is detected in only 3% of women. For others, the problem is temporary and easily fixable.

What signs are most often mistaken for lack of lactation?

Typically, nursing mothers make their, most often, erroneous conclusions about a lack of lactation based on the following signs:

• poor expression of the remaining milk from the breast after feeding. But this may also be a physiological phenomenon, in which the breast simply reacts incorrectly to pumping (in the form of a spasm of the ducts), but does not prevent the baby from sucking out milk in sufficient quantities;
• soft breasts. Here it should be understood that already 1.5 months after the birth of the child, the mother’s breasts can become full only at the beginning of direct feeding (most often this is a “habit” of the body, developed by following the baby’s diet);
• small breast size;
• disappointing results of control weighing (carried out before and after feeding the child). Do not forget that at different times the baby sucks out different volumes of milk;
• anxiety, frequent crying of the baby after feeding (the problem may be hidden in the functioning of the digestive system, which is just being adjusted);
• the need for numerous feedings (every 40 minutes, an hour and a half);
• long duration of each feeding.

Useful properties and rules for storing human breast milk

How can you accurately determine that the problem is insufficient lactation?

You can make sure that a nursing mother does not have enough milk in one of three ways.

1. Weekly control weighing.

This is a more objective option than weighing before and after feeding. At one time, a child can eat from 15 grams to 100 grams of breast milk, so the result cannot be objective, but if the baby has gained at least 150 grams in his own weight in a week, then this already indicates sufficient nutrition.

1. Counting daily urination.

A newborn up to six weeks should wet diapers at least 10 times a day and walk “largely” 3 times. Pay attention to the color of your urine - it is normally pale yellow or colorless.

1. Monitoring the baby's condition.

A cause for concern is that the baby is lethargic, sucks poorly, the urine is dark, the weekly weight gain is less than 130 grams, the breast grabs greedily and strongly draws milk, but does not swallow (outwardly this can be seen by the wide-open mouth). You can talk about a lack of nutrition if a newborn sleeps for more than four hours in the first month and has an increase in body temperature.

Reasons that can lead to decreased lactation

There are actually many reasons why a nursing mother has little milk. Very often they are associated with fatigue, poor nutrition of the mother herself, insufficient rest and increased nervousness (at first the young mother is unreasonably worried and nervous about any, even harmless, reason).

Attempts to adhere to a feeding schedule strictly according to the clock disrupt the process of breast stimulation. Today, doctors do not recommend doing this: you need to give your newborn the breast when he asks. Moreover, in the first month this should be 12 times a day.

Brief feeding and supplementing the newborn with water will also lead to a decrease in lactation, because the baby simply will not pull out from the breast everything that he is supposed to have for proper feeding. All attempts to accumulate milk for the next feeding will fail, because the body perceives the remaining milk in the milk ducts as an excess and begins to produce less of the next portions.

After mothers begin to give their babies pacifiers or, “feeling sorry” for their baby, periodically feed them from a bottle, the babies, having satisfied their natural need for sucking, pull at the breast less, which leads to a decrease in milk production.

Mommy’s uncomfortable posture and tension during feeding also affect the lactation process.

Hormonal disorders in the female body, stress, taking diuretics, long separation from the newborn after childbirth - this and much more can be the reason why a nursing mother has little milk.

What to do to improve lactation

In order for a nursing mother to have more milk, the first thing to do is:

• establish a complete, balanced diet for women;
• ensure a sufficient volume of fluid entering the woman’s body;
• make time for your own rest and worry less about it.

There is no need to constantly worry, be afraid and think that the baby is missing something. Scientists have long noticed one interesting fact about this: in underdeveloped countries there are much fewer problems with lactation than in European ones. But here this topic receives a lot of attention from doctors and young mothers. This means that one of the main roles is played not by the standard of living and security, but by the psychological mood of the woman. Try to perceive feeding the baby as a natural process, pleasant for the mother, useful for the baby, and regulated by nature. Just enjoy putting your baby to your breast.

What determines the quality of breast milk and how to improve it

The following dietary adjustments will help increase lactation:

• hot meals should be consumed at least twice a day;
• Drinking plenty of warm water is a must. Tea with milk helps very well to increase lactation, it can also be rosehip decoction, dried fruit compote, herbal teas;
• Despite many restrictions, nutrition should be balanced. Whole grain porridges, protein products containing complex carbohydrates, and vegetable oil are especially recommended;
• It is undesirable to consume fermented milk products in the first month.

If the problem is “empty” milk in a nursing mother, you should pay attention to the presence of lactogonic agents in the diet. These are: walnuts, feta cheese, fatty fish, ginger. Some grain spices are useful: cumin, dill, fennel.

In addition to the above, do not forget that you need to feed your baby on demand, no breaks for three hours. There is no need to ignore night feedings; they are most useful for the process of milk separation, because... It is at night that the greatest amount of prolactin (the hormone responsible for this process) is produced. And also be sure to work through the possible causes of lactation problems, eliminating them as much as possible.