Establishing a milk supply is important as early as the first few hours postpartum. If your baby is not nursing at all or is not able to nurse properly at first, pumping can help you establish your milk supply at the onset. When you pump even for small drops of milk it can help jumpstart your supply plus your breast milk will be available for the baby when it’s time to feed.
Increase Milk Supply
When your baby is not able to breastfeed during the first six hours it’s important to consider pumping early on. You may consider renting a hospital-grade double pump that will allow you to pump both breasts at the same time.
You may also consider buying a pump that you may use even when you get home. And lastly, hand expression if both mentioned above is not available.
How much breast milk output should mom have?
Research shows that the pumping output for the first two weeks is critical and is an indicator of breastfeeding outcome. However, if you don’t see a good production, do not be discouraged, some moms get better milk production during the 9th week and so.
Moms should aim for (25-27 oz) per day on the second week postpartum. This should be doubled when you have twins. If you are producing less than 11 oz per day, you may consider galactagogues, these are prescription meds or herbs to increase supply.
Check out this post on Lactation Smoothies that will Help Increase Milk Supply Overnight
How often are the recommended pumping sessions per day?
It is recommended to pump 8-10 times per day to help establish your milk supply. You may add pumping sessions in between nursing sessions, an hour before and after. Avoid going beyond 5-6 hours without pumping, especially during the first few months.
How long should be the pumping session?
If your baby does not nurse at all, hand expression during the first few days should be done. While also double pumping could help extract additional milk and establish your supply.
If your baby nurses, you may add the pumping sessions before and after the feeding to help empty your breast and produce more milk.
Empty your breast as much as you can so that you can achieve optimum results in increasing your milk production. Additional 2-5 minutes even after the last drop can be done to help produce more milk in the next feeding or pumping.
BREASTFEEDING TIPS:
- Go into a relaxed position before pumping or nursing.
- Skin-to-skin can help in producing and establishing supply.
- If double pumping is quite difficult to do, you may single pump alternately.
- Avoid medications that may affect your milk supply (hormonal birth control, pseudoephedrine, ethanol/alcoholic beverages, bromocriptine, ergotamine, cabergoline).
- If supply is not increasing as expected by 7-10 days after birth, consider the use of galactagogues. Fenugreek, metoclopramide (Reglan), or domperidone (Motilium) can be helpful for increasing milk supply.
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How long is using domperidone safe for milk supply? I am currently taking domperidone because nothing else worked. But I had ran out of the meds for few days and my milk supply dropped alot. Thankfully it came back up when I got my meds back. So I’m thinking I have to take it for as long as I want to feed my baby mu milk?
Hi Sandeep, your milk supply should start to improve after 7 days to two weeks of taking the medicine. You can also pump your milk and practice responsive feeding to help with maintaining a good supply of milk.
I have a boy 3.5 month old i jave e decresa in my milk supply becase for 2 week i gove him formula soja because he have diarea end i didnt pump soni feed him every 5 hour,now im just breastfeeding him but my milk suply is to low i start pomping after nursing him but i dont see any change im taking now suplement funegreek i dont now how much i have to take it
Just keep on pumping and nursing on demand. You should be able to see the difference in two weeks. You may also want to add extra pumping sessions 30 minutes before and after each feeding.