What is good to drink for lactation. What foods improve lactation?

The article contains information necessary for a nursing mother who is faced with the problem of lack of milk.

When a young mother begins to lose milk or simply does not have enough milk, all possible methods are used. With persistent struggle, it is quite possible to return milk and feed the baby with pleasure.

How to increase breast milk supply?

• Follow the diet (read below)
• Consumption of certain foods (read below)
• Follow the drinking regime: 2-3 liters of liquid, including soups. Try to drink water 10-15 minutes before feeding
• Sleep well. When there is a shortage of milk, you must start taking care of yourself: rest, sleep with your baby
• Co-sleeping. Co-sleeping allows your baby to breastfeed whenever he wants without any problems.

• Feeding on demand and increasing the number of attachments. Offer your baby the breast more often than you did before. This way you will give a signal to the body that it needs more milk, as a result of which the hormone and milk will begin to be produced
• Night feedings are required between 2 and 6 am. At this time, the body produces more of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for milk production. If the baby “hangs” on the chest all night, then this is the best way to increase lactation
• Taking lactogenic drugs (read below)
• Using traditional methods (read below)
• Additional pumping (read more in the article)

• Warm shower. Taking a warm shower causes milk flow
• Do not be nervous. Due to stress and nerves, milk may become less

IMPORTANT: To increase lactation you need to act comprehensively: use all the methods that are available to you

How to increase lactation in the first month?

In the first month, the body is still trying to figure out how much milk it needs to produce.

Therefore, in the first month, the best way is to put the baby to the breast.

• If your baby sleeps a lot, give him breastfeeding while he sleeps.

• Do not allow 3 hours between feedings if you feel a lack of milk
• If there is little milk and the baby sleeps a lot, then express milk
• If in the first month you feed only once every three hours, then when the baby stops sleeping so much and wants to eat more, you will see a lack of milk
• Other methods of increasing lactation in the first month also occur

Nutrition for lactation milk

It is a mistaken belief that a nursing mother should eat more than others.

A nursing mother should eat nutritiously and be sure to eat protein foods:

• Lean meat
• Cottage cheese
• Milk
• Kefir
• Hard cheese

In addition to proteins, eat vegetables, fruits and greens - this will give an excellent effect.

IMPORTANT: No diets during lactation. But only eat foods that the child is not allergic to or has a bad intestinal reaction.

• You should eat not once a day, but 5-6 times, but little by little
• 30-40 minutes before the intended feeding, be sure to eat and drink warm tea
• And after feeding, be sure to drink a glass of water

Products for lactation

• Cereals
• Broths
• Carrots, pumpkin, onions, radishes
• Greens (can be added to soup or eaten fresh)
• Fresh juices
• Herbal teas
• Walnuts
• Milk

Video on the topic: Menu for a young mother to increase lactation

Beer for milk lactation in nursing women

You can find many reviews from mothers about the effect of beer on lactation: some talk about the incredibly fast flow of milk, others are disappointedly struggling with increasing lactation using other methods.

From a medical point of view, scientists explained the effect of beer on lactation:

• When drinking beer, fluid is retained in the mammary glands
• As a result, the breasts become swollen
• Mothers mistake this for milk flow
• In real life, breast engorgement has nothing to do with milk.

IMPORTANT: As you can see, medicine is clear on this issue: beer does not increase lactation

In addition, beer contains alcohol, which is absolutely not necessary for a child.

Tea to increase lactation

Hot tea is a great way to increase lactation. It could be:

• Classic black or green tea
• Tea with milk
• Herbal tea (with cumin, anise, lemon balm)
• Specialized teas for lactation

Ginger tea:

• Bring ginger root to a boil and cool
• It will be effective to add honey and lemon
• Drink a little decoction 3 times a day

Chamomile tea:

• Brew chamomile according to instructions
• Add chamomile infusion to tea

IMPORTANT: Monitor your child’s reaction to the components of the tea

Specialty teas:

• Tea to increase lactation HIPP. Expensive granulated tea with the following composition: maltodextrin, dextrose, extracts of lemon balm, nettle, caraway, anise, fennel, galega herb, lemon grass. The composition is quite questionable for allergic children

• Organic tea to increase lactation HIPP Mama. Bagged organic tea with the following ingredients: anise seeds, fennel seeds, caraway seeds, lemon verbena fox seeds, organic lemon balm leaves

• Tea for nursing mothers Babushkino Lukoshko with anise or rosehip. Ingredients: anise (or rosehip), cumin, nettle, fennel, lemon balm

• Lactation tea packaged Lactofitol (formerly Lactovit). Ingredients: fennel, dill, anise, cumin, nettle

IMPORTANT: There are positive and negative reviews about each of the presented teas. Everything is selected individually

Preparations for milk lactation

The most popular lactation drugs that you can purchase at the pharmacy:

• Lactogone tablets. Ingredients: carrot juice, ginger, royal jelly, nettle, dill, oregano, potassium, sugar, starch, oats, calcium stearate, polyvinylpyrrolidone. Course - 1 month
• Apilak tablets. Ingredients: royal jelly, lactose, talc, calcium, starch. Course - 10-15 days
• Mlekoin homeopathic granules. Can be taken throughout the breastfeeding period

IMPORTANT: The drug may become addictive. Then it is advisable to take a break or change the drug

How to increase lactation using folk remedies?

Folk helpers for increasing lactation:

• Milk
• Nuts
• Herbs: lemon balm, chamomile, nettle, fennel, anise
• Carrot
• Radish

Radish and honey

• Squeeze finely grated radish in gauze to obtain juice
• Mix 100 radish juice with 100 g of chilled boiled water and 1 tbsp. natural honey
• Drink 1/3 glass 2-3 times a day

Dill seeds.

• 1 tbsp. l. dry dill seeds pour 1 cup boiling water
• Leave for 2 hours
• Strain
• Drink 1/2 glass 2 times a day, holding sips in your mouth

IMPORTANT: Folk remedies are very effective, but can cause an allergic reaction in the child. Use with caution

Milk with nuts for lactation

• 4-5 walnuts, crushed
• Boil 0.5 liters of milk
• Place nuts in a thermos
• Pour boiled milk
• Leave for 3 hours
• Drink warm before feeding

Carrots with milk for lactation

• Grate the carrots on the finest grater
• Pour a glass of warm milk
• Drink 2-3 times a day

Cumin to increase lactation

Cumin is popular as a product for increasing lactation.

Caraway drink.

• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 liter of boiled water
• 1 lemon, peeled and chopped
• 2 g citric acid
• 100 g sugar
• Pour everything into water
• Cook over low heat for 10 minutes after boiling.
• Cool
• Strain
• Drink 1/2 glass 2-3 times a day

Cumin with cream.

• In a ceramic bowl, mix 2 tbsp. cumin and 2 cups cream
• Place in the oven on low heat for 30 minutes
• Cool
• Drink 1 glass 2 times a day

Herbs for lactation milk

• Nettle
• Fennel
• Chamomile
• Dill

Herbs can be used to make infusions in various proportions - essentially like tea.

Cooking technique the same: mix, pour boiling water, let it brew, strain.

Only the proportions are different:

• 20 dry nettle leaves per 1 liter of boiling water. Drink 1 tbsp. 2 times a day
• Anise seeds and boiling water. Leave for 1 hour. Drink 2 tbsp. 2 times a day
• Anise and fennel in equal proportions
• Anise, cumin, nettle, dandelion root in equal proportions
• Anise, lemon balm, fennel fruit. 1:2:4 respectively
• Anise, dill seeds, oregano, fennel fruits in equal proportions

How to pump correctly to increase lactation

How to increase lactation in one breast

To increase lactation in one breast, you need to direct all actions only to this breast:

• Apply more often
• Do massage
• express

How to increase lactation Komarovsky

Dr. Komarovsky recommends one of the methods described at the beginning of the article to increase lactation: frequent feeding. According to the doctor, more frequent feeding for 3 days should restore lactation to the desired level.

Massage for lactation milk

• Place one hand on your chest, the other under your chest. Gently massage your breasts using circular movements for 5-10 minutes.
• Nipple irritation stimulates milk production well. Massage the nipple with your fingers, touch it, squeeze it, twirl it with your fingers
• Massage shower. Direct the hot stream under strong pressure onto your chest (everything is within reason and comfort). Massage your breasts in a circle like this: 5-7 minutes - one; then - the second

Only an integrated and responsible approach will help you return lactation to the desired level

Video on the topic: How to increase lactation in three days - Everything will be fine

Breastfeeding is a special period in the life of a young mother. Breastfeeding helps you recover faster after childbirth, provide protection from mastopathy and establish a close relationship with your baby. Often nursing mothers face a lack 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 breast.

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 baby's body's ability to absorb food. From breast milk, the baby receives everything it needs: enzymes, growth factors, immunoglobulins that protect the child’s body from infections.

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

Among the many factors influencing the occurrence, increase and maintenance of milk secretion, the most important are:

1. Health status of nursing mother and baby.
2. A mother's desire and will to breastfeed her baby.
3. The mental state of a nursing mother and the family situation.
4. Regular latching of the newborn to the breast;
5. Conscientious preparation and learning of proper breastfeeding techniques.

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

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

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

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

Products that should be included in a mother's daily diet:

• boiled milk and fermented milk products (kefir, yogurt) - 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 during the lactation period, daily consumption of vegetable oil is recommended 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.

Products that cause increased lactation:

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

A nursing mother needs 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 start of the next feeding, it is useful to drink a glass of warm milk with a teaspoon of honey - this simple drink helps enhance lactation and stimulates the flow of milk in the breast.

What foods to avoid during lactation:

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

Note! In recent years, there has been a trend of babies being born with a deficient immune system. Try to avoid eating foods that can cause allergies in your baby.

Increasing lactation with folk remedies

Homemade methods to increase milk production were used by our grandmothers. Complaints about a lack of breast milk have been encountered at all times, and nursing mothers have tried all available methods to solve the problem of breastfeeding. Many of them are still relevant today.

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 by consuming warm herbal infusions, milk, and special herbal drinks for mothers.

Many of the herbs can be found in the pharmacy at cheap prices: dill seeds, anise, caraway seeds and fennel. A vitamin drink will help cope with the lactation crisis.

Recipe 1. Take a teaspoon of cumin seeds and add a glass of water. Bring to a boil over heat, 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 and add 200 ml of boiled hot water. Close the lid and let it brew for 2-3 hours. Then strain the infusion and cool. Take 50 ml of the drink before each feeding.

Self-massage of the mammary glands

Kneading the breasts after feeding develops the inflows well, stimulating milk production and frequent flows. The massage should be done on the breast that the baby was fed on. 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 producing the right amount of milk for each feeding. Do not take night breaks; let the baby latch on 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 get by during the first months without calculating feeding by the hour - the baby knows better when it’s time for him to eat, and your breasts will “adjust” to his requirements.

What to do to prevent your child from starving and how to improve lactation? Advice for a young mother:

Medicines to improve lactation

Currently, the question of how to increase lactation can be solved with one trip to the pharmacy. Many medications have been tested by mothers and help solve an acute problem with breastfeeding - decreased lactation and 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 choose a suitable drug to increase your milk supply.

Means for stimulating lactation can provide real help in reducing milk in the breast. But you shouldn’t expect a quick effect: in one case it will take a couple of days to normalize feeding, in another it will take a week.

On a note! A lactation consultant will help you choose the most suitable drug - by studying your specific feeding history and observing the process, it will be easier for the specialist to suggest the optimal solution to your problem and, if necessary, choose a drug together with you.

5 Best Ways to Stimulate Milk Production

Before turning to medication, 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 itself made sure that the baby gets enough of its mother’s milk. At the time of each breastfeeding, two important hormones are released and activated in a woman’s body: oxytocin and prolactin. They are responsible for the amount of milk produced during lactation. The more often the baby suckles at the mother's breast, the more milk will arrive at each feeding moment.
2. Feeding your baby at night
   A night break is detrimental to breastfeeding - if the baby does not breastfeed for a long time, there is less milk. The body of a nursing mother believes that the baby will receive enough milk, which means that its amount can be reduced. This is how the decline in milk production occurs. Try to feed your baby at least twice at night to maintain lactation at the proper level.
3. Ensuring tactile contact with the baby
   “Skin to skin” is the basic recipe for increasing milk supply without any additional recipes. Lactogenic hormones wake up at the moment of communication between mother and baby, when the child is rocked or carried in her arms. Caress your baby more often, and the problem with lack of milk will be solved by itself.
4. Rest, rest and only rest
   During the period of lactation, free yourself from at least some 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 breast milk.
5. Easy and healthy “chest” gymnastics
   Daily breast exercises stimulate the functioning of the ducts, blood circulation and the production of breast milk. You need to exercise standing or sitting on a fitball in a comfortable position. Place both hands together, palm to palm. Place them behind your head. Tilt your head back, then vigorously press the back of your head onto your folded hands several times. Repeat the exercise 2-3 more times.

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

How to make a significant contribution to the immunity of the baby in the first year of life? Just breastfeed the baby. Many mothers want a lot of milk. Is this really necessary and what role does the nutrition of a nursing woman play here?

From this article you will learn:

Only 5% of women in labor experience true hypogalactia (production of a small amount of milk). As a rule, this is associated with serious hormonal imbalances. In the first days after childbirth, colostrum is released and you should not specifically eat anything to increase milk supply. The baby only needs the drops that he feeds on until the milk “comes in,” because colostrum contains many nutrients.

In the first month after the baby is born, hyperlactation is more common. Breastfeeding women think about what to do with excess milk. Milk leaks between feedings. When lactation normalizes and the mammary glands are no longer swollen, women begin to sound the alarm. And very much in vain.

In the first year of breastfeeding, lactation crises occur. They happen up to five times a year, lasting three to four days each.

Mothers notice that there is less milk. The child is constantly hanging on the chest, it seems that he is not getting enough to eat. In fact, this is a consequence of the period of active growth of the child. Or the baby behaves this way to calm down or because of malaise. The child intuitively reaches out to the “reservoir” of immunoglobulins – the mother’s breast.

In addition to consuming foods that increase breast milk lactation, you need to drink enough fluids. Often a young mother does not have time not only to eat, but even to drink. And you need to monitor this, taking care of your own health, adequate nutrition of the child and his condition.

A baby can drink up to a liter of mother's milk a day. Now calculate your usual amount of drinking, including first courses. Compare both numbers. How much do you leave for your body's needs? Aim for 1.5-2.5 liters of fluid to maintain the required level of lactation.

Preparatory activities

Determine whether you need to increase your milk supply. If the child is calm and happy, then most likely he is full. This will be clear from weight gain in the first months of the baby’s life. If the indicators correspond to the norm, then additional stimulation is not needed. In the case of overfeeding, it is better to slightly limit the duration and frequency of feeding an insatiable baby. This way, the most nutritious hind milk will reach the baby in smaller quantities.

And if there is a lack of weight and problems with the baby’s digestive, endocrine and nervous systems are excluded, then you should think about products that increase lactation. You can determine whether the baby has enough milk before weighing if you use only diapers without diapers for a day. Rare and light urination indicates that the baby is experiencing a lack of nutrition.

There is another testing option, which involves weighing the child before and after feeding throughout the day. The total volume of milk is calculated. The error of this method is that the difference between consumed and digested milk can be significant. One day the baby may eat little, and another day it may eat too much.

There is no clear dependence of lactation on nutrition. Let's take the war years as an example. Did women of those years really have at least 20% of the diet possible in our time? But they only dreamed of “full” rest and a peaceful state. The female body is designed in such a way that it will produce enough milk to its detriment.

Do not rush to switch your baby to mixed or artificial feeding, or introduce complementary foods ahead of schedule. If the child begins to breastfeed less often, then the process of establishing breastfeeding will not start, even though you try all the products that increase lactation. Do not try to feed your baby expressed milk. He will get used to more accessible food and refuse to get it from your chest on his own. Choose comfortable bras that support but do not compress your breasts.

We improve our mood by receiving positive emotions and get more rest. Stress and depressed mood block the production of oxytocin, which affects milk production. It turns out that there is a lot of milk, but the child is not able to get it. Milk production is influenced by a hormone called prolactin, which is produced from mid-night to early morning.

During this time, it is especially important to breastfeed your baby. This way the brain will receive a signal that there is a good demand for milk. This is a kind of ordering a portion for the coming day.

Products that increase lactation

Include proteins, fats and vitamins, dietary fiber with minerals, especially iron, in your diet. Let vegetables, fruits and berries prevail over meat dishes. To minimize allergies, avoid red fruits. The following foods are four times more effective in solving lactation problems than not having them in your diet.

Eat:

• bran bread;
• carrots;
• radish;
• green onions;
• leaf lettuce;
• hazelnuts;
• raisins;
• dried apricots;
• ginger;
• cheese;
• honey;
• seeds;
• sesame;
• coriander;
• meat broth;
• buckwheat;
• oatmeal;
• yeast;
• corn oil.

Drink:

• water;
• fermented milk drinks;
• dried fruits compote;
• drinks made from chicory and barley;
• lactogonic teas;
• herbal preparations;
• Birch juice;
• extracts of hawthorn and chistets.

A warm drink is recommended before feeding. This widens the ducts of the mammary gland, thereby making it easier for the baby to get milk. The baby will be able to enjoy a large volume of milk in equal periods of time.

Proper attachment to the breast at the baby's request increases the amount of milk. Teas with taurine and galega are good. From the collections you can prepare an infusion or decoction. Leaves, seeds, roots or fruits used:

• anise;
• yellow sweet clover;
• oregano;
• nettle;
• lemon balm;
• sea ​​buckthorn;
• dandelion;
• garden sow thistle;
• Greek fenugreek;
• parsley;
• licorice;
• caraway;
• yarrow;
• dill;
• fennel;
• rosehip.

When eating foods that increase milk production in breastfeeding women, it is important to be careful or stay away from a number of foods.

• Excessive drinking of cow's milk can cause problems with the baby's tummy.
• You should not drink beer (myth is that it increases lactation): babies do not have enzymes that break down alcohol. Therefore, the death of the baby in this case is highly likely.
• You should not eat canned food, smoked foods, ketchup with mayonnaise, or spicy foods. They retain water in a woman’s body, preventing it from forming breast milk. You should also be careful with flour.
• Active and passive smoking negatively affect the composition of milk. Consequently, the baby will be reluctant to eat such a poisonous treat. It won’t matter whether the mother has a lot or little milk.

If there is a suspicion of insufficient production of breast milk, a nursing woman should take measures to increase lactation.

An impressive list of food products and medicinal plants will help to establish breastfeeding. A pediatrician will help determine which ones are suitable for a particular mother-baby pair. He will also give cooking tips. Giving up unhealthy foods, alcohol and nicotine will make a significant contribution to improving the situation.

Hundreds of mothers of newborn babies sooner or later think about how to increase lactation. After all, it’s no secret that breast milk is best suited for feeding babies, especially in the first months of life. Most conscientious mothers strive to breastfeed their babies for as long as possible, but, in spite of everything, the day comes when the milk gradually decreases, and the baby, accustomed to or in need of breastfeeding, becomes restless and capricious.

From this article you will learn:

First, you need to calm down and not panic, urgently transferring the child to adapted formulas, of which there is a huge selection in stores, because the risk of losing breast milk will only increase significantly. And, despite the wide range of adapted formulas, not one of them compares with breast milk in terms of its benefits, not to mention the allergic reactions that adapted formulas can often cause. Only women's breast milk contains substances that are so vital for the full development of the baby's growth, for the development of the brain, for the formation of the nervous system. And it is mother’s milk that creates a solid foundation for the baby’s immunity.

Note: From the age of 6 months, the child’s father comes into the child’s field of vision and the connection with the mother begins to weaken, and somewhere around the age of 12 months, the child begins to let his grandparents approach him.

Why does breast milk lactation decrease?

In the female body, for a number of reasons, due to hormonal disorders, hypogalactia occurs - this is when the mammary glands reduce milk production and this is extremely rare; most often, the decrease in lactation is influenced by other causes that can be eliminated.

The first is the psychological readiness to breastfeed the baby, in other words, the woman herself refuses to breastfeed for a number of reasons.

The second is rare breastfeeding, when the nursing mother produces little milk and doctors advise supplementing the baby. Most often, this leads to the fact that artificial feeding completely replaces breastfeeding.

The third is an irrational diet, both during the period of bearing a baby and during breastfeeding.

Fourth is the establishment of a daily routine. Some doctors insist on feeding the baby strictly according to the clock, and not on demand. But during breastfeeding, the focus should still be on the needs of the newborn.

Fifth, this is an unfavorable psychological environment for a new mother. Constant lack of sleep, stress, quarrels, the need to go to work early - all this negatively affects breastfeeding, hence the decrease in lactation.

Sixth, early introduction of complementary foods.

During the third and sixth weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 7 months and 8 months of breastfeeding, a decrease in milk production may occur. In this case, there is no need to worry, since this phenomenon is temporary. During this period, the so-called lactation crisis occurs. The lactation crisis causes the baby’s appetite to increase with the growth of the body. A growing body requires more milk, and the mother’s body does not have time to orient itself in time, since restructuring takes time, hence the decrease in lactation. And here, out of powerlessness and anxiety, mistakes begin. Concerned mothers begin to introduce early complementary feeding, supplementary feeding, or completely transfer the child to artificial nutrition.

And only a few people think about what the real reason for the decrease in lactation is. Meanwhile, the risk of losing breast milk increases significantly.

The main thing to understand here is that the less often you put the baby to the breast, the less milk production will be.

The hardest thing for mothers is to overcome the first crisis. Having coped with the first lactation crisis, the next time it will be much easier and calmer, as the realization will come that it can be dealt with. I wrote about how to overcome the “first year” crisis in a child.

How to increase lactation by eating right?

Many mothers have heard more than once during breastfeeding that they need to eat for two, but this is not entirely true. The main thing is that the diet fully satisfies the nutritional needs of a nursing mother. Also, the food consumed must be completely balanced; it must include: proteins, vitamins necessary for a growing body. Be sure to include in your diet: cottage cheese at least 150 grams, kefir or milk at least 250 grams, protein products (fish, poultry breast, veal) at least 200 grams and, of course, hard cheese at least 30 grams per day .

Drinking regimen is no less important in increasing lactation. You need to drink at least 2 liters of liquid per day.

If desired, a nursing mother’s diet can be supplemented with special teas and mixtures designed to increase lactation. Before feeding, you can drink a mug of warm tea with milk.

Increasing lactation with drinks

There are many plants that allow increase lactation: carrots, licorice, dandelion, lettuce, radish, dill, nettle, rose hips, lemon balm, caraway, millennial, anise, fennel, mint, oregano. These plants can be taken both in the form of teas and in the form of decoctions, juices and tinctures.

How to make carrot juice to increase lactation

Take a peeled carrot and grate it on a fine grater. After this, squeeze out the juice, pour it into a glass and take half a glass twice a day. To make the taste not so nasty, you can add a small amount of honey or milk to the juice.

Preparing a carrot smoothie with milk

Grate the carrots on a fine grater, then take three tablespoons of carrots and put them in a glass. Pour warm milk into the same glass, filling it to the brim. If you wish, you can add a teaspoon of honey. But do not overuse honey - honey is an allergen. Take 1 glass of carrot smoothie twice a day.

How to prepare a decoction of dill seeds

You will need one tablespoon of dill seeds and one glass of boiling water. Take dill seeds and pour boiling water over them, let them brew for one hour, strain the broth and take half a glass twice a day.

Making a cocktail of walnuts and milk

Grind 14 walnut kernels and pour 500 ml of boiling milk over them, stir and leave to steep for two hours. Take 70 grams before feeding.

How to increase and maintain lactation

The first is stimulation of lactation through frequent feeding.

Productive and frequent breastfeeding helps an infant increase the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the production of breast milk. Therefore, as soon as you notice a decrease in lactation, start putting your baby to the breast as often as possible and, as practice shows, the results will not take long to arrive.

Best promote increase lactation night feedings from 3.00 to 8.00 in the morning, since it is at this time that the hormone prolactin is produced more productively.

Massage to increase breast milk

Lubricate your palms with massage oil. Place your right palm on your chest and cup your left palm underneath your chest. Gently massage your breasts using circular movements. The massage is done strictly clockwise. To be effective, the massage must be done for 3 minutes. After the massage, the breasts should be thoroughly washed, special attention should be paid to the nipples and areola.

Contrast shower or improving lactation

Direct elastic jets of water in a circular motion onto your chest, gradually changing the temperature of the water, starting from warm temperatures and going down to lower temperatures, but not cold. Finally, place your back—your spine—under the elastic jets of water.

A nursing mother must find time for proper rest, so in such a difficult period it is especially important for her to have close and dear people nearby. If the night was restless and the child did not let you sleep, then you definitely need to set aside time for a daytime nap. A walk in the fresh air will benefit both the baby and the nursing mother.

If you notice a decrease in breast milk lactation, then do not be afraid, give in to panic and withdraw into yourself, ask for advice from experienced mothers or consult a pediatrician, he will definitely tell you what to do.

Be healthy, love yourself and your loved ones!

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

If there is little breast milk, the reasons may be the following:

• fatigue or anxiety;
• poor nutrition;
• low fluid intake;
• changes in hormonal levels;
• laziness or weakness of the baby;
• Incorrect breast latching by the baby.

These are the most common reasons for decreased lactation, although there may be others. If possible, try to avoid excitement, communication with unpleasant, scandalous people, walk more with your child and carry him in your arms. When the baby is sleeping, the mother should also rest, and not try to redo all the housework. You need to pay great attention to your diet, because everything you eat determines the quality of the milk.

When hormonal levels change, 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, and begins to fall asleep during feeding. As soon as the sucking weakens, you need to slightly press the breast towards the nipple so that the milk flows a little stronger. If the child falls asleep, lightly shake his cheek and wake him up so that he can eat longer.

The volume of milk production largely depends on a woman’s diet. After childbirth, the body is exhausted, so you need to take 700-1100 kilocalories more per day than before. Mom’s daily diet should include lean meat (200 g) or fish in the same quantity, 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 a day, eat a piece of hard cheese. There should be no more than 30 g of fat per day, and preferably it should be butter or sunflower oil.

The recommended amount of fluid per day is approximately 2 liters, including milk, juice, tea, broth or soup. This norm should not be greatly exceeded, even if there is more milk, because this reduces the amount of vitamins and essential proteins in its composition. But mushrooms, smoked meats, spicy snacks, citrus fruits and chocolate should be excluded from your diet for a long time, since their consumption can cause allergies in the baby. In addition, products with a strong smell change the taste of milk, and the child will not want to eat.

Diary of a nursing mother

Correct application

Milk production depends on two hormones - prolactin and oxytocin. Both of them are associated with the baby's sucking activity, so if the baby does not latch onto the breast correctly, this activity will be noticeably reduced. Improper latch is especially common in children who are given pacifiers and milk from a bottle. When applied correctly, the baby deeply grasps the nipple and areola, evenly “expressing” milk from the entire breast. With a shallow latch, the baby sucks out only a small portion of the milk located at the areola.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to learn how to apply correctly from the description and even from the photo, especially if there is pain. This is usually taught by lactation consultants in the maternity hospital or local pediatricians. You can also look for another breastfeeding woman who already has similar experience and does not have nipple problems. Many people experience painful sensations when their baby’s latch on the breast changes, which makes them want to leave everything as it is. But keep in mind that proper attachment will ensure stable lactation, and the pain will disappear over time.

Only 3% of nursing mothers have serious problems with lactation; in other cases, lack of milk is only a temporary consequence of improper feeding. It often happens that a child has enough mother’s milk, but the woman herself considers its quantity insufficient. Much depends on the quality of milk, appetite and the characteristics of the child’s body.

So, if you notice a decrease in lactation, first make sure that you are latching your baby to the breast correctly. Insufficient stimulation of the mammary glands will certainly lead to a decrease in milk supply. In addition, feedings should be frequent and regular; Children who are given pacifiers require breastfeeding less often, which also negatively affects lactation.

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

There is another good way to determine whether your baby is getting enough milk. The number of urinations should be counted for 1-2 days. To do this, the baby must be without a diaper and not receive bait or additional liquids. If there is enough milk, the baby will pee more than 6 times, usually 8-12 times. If less than 6, there is clearly not enough milk.

Increasing milk production in the body is not so difficult, the main thing is not to be scared and not resort to complementary foods.

First, remove the pacifier and stop giving both tea and water. Organize hourly feedings from 4 am to 12 midnight, even if the baby does not ask for the 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, introduce into your diet drinks made from natural lactation stimulants - carrots, dandelion leaves, fennel, cumin seeds, anise and lettuce.

Drinks that increase lactation

Mom's nutrition. Products that affect lactation

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

So, to maintain lactation you will need:

• follow a routine, use as much time as possible to 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 your baby at night, because night feedings provide better and longer lactation due to increased production of prolactin;
• If possible, express milk after feeding, and then massage the breasts for 5-10 minutes, pouring hot water over them. It is recommended to perform the procedure twice for each breast daily;
• about half an hour before feeding, drink warm tea with milk;
• take multivitamins. The vitamin complex is specially designed for a nursing woman, so taking it benefits both mother and baby. But only a doctor should prescribe vitamins;
• take the baby to your bed at night. Firstly, the baby sleeps better when he feels his mother’s warmth, secondly, the baby’s touch promotes better milk production, and thirdly, it’s more convenient because you don’t have to get out of bed at night.

A warm bath helps a lot with lactation, so if possible, feed your 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 feet in hot water and wrap a blanket on top. After this, you can drink warm tea or milk with cookies. Within 5 minutes you will feel a pleasant warmth in your body and a strong flow of milk.

Video - How to increase lactation while breastfeeding