Breast-feeding: ensuring a good milk supply

Your wellbeing and health will directly impact milk supply so it's important that you get plenty of support, a good diet and lots of fluids.

• Rest as much as you can, particularly during the first weeks after the birth of your baby. This is a time when you should sit rather than stand, and lie rather than sit.

• Your milk flow will be affected if you are tense so go through your antenatal relaxation routines and make sure that you have a period to yourself every day when you can lie down.

• Go to bed as early as you can. You will be quite tired anyway and your sleep patterns will probably be broken by your baby.

• As far as the house is concerned, let the housework go. Don't do anything but the most urgent things.

• Make sure that your diet is well balanced and fairly rich in protein. Don't eat a lot of highly refined and processed carbohydrates (cakes, biscuits, sweets, chocolates, etc).

• You may need some iron supplements and possibly some vitamin supplements, so ask your doctor about this.

• Drink about 3 litres (5 pints) of fluid every day while you're breast-feeding; some women find they need a drink by them while breast-feeding.

• Most of your milk is produced in the morning when you are rested so if you consistently rush about or become tense during the day you'll find by evening that your supply is poor.

• If your baby doesn't take all the milk available in the early feeds of the day, express the remainder. This will ensure that the supply is topped up throughout the day.

• Get help and support from everyone around you who is positive and optimistic. Use your midwife and health visitor; speak to friends who've had babies and get advice from them.

• If you are unable to give your baby a feed because you're away or because you're ill, express milk to keep the supply going.

Dr Miriam Stoppard

New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard

Posted 30.06.2010

Get more on this subject…