Where’s the Milk?
Every family has that one sage woman who knows all of the different tips and tricks to getting breast milk production at an all time high. It could be your aunt Carol who had 8 kids, all of them exclusively breastfed. Or maybe it’s your mom, who had no problem with her milk supply with you but had to pull out the big guns of Fenugreek and Oatmeal cookies for your younger sibling.
No matter how many times sweet aunt Carol tells you to “just relax and your milk will let down”, sometimes the act of feeding our baby doesn’t happen as easily as we hope. In this post, we will discuss some tips and tricks to try if you are breastfeeding or chestfeeding and find yourself struggling.
You said “chestfeeding” - what does that mean?
Chestfeeding and breastfeeding are the same act of feeding your baby with your milk supply, however it is sometimes referred to as chest feeding within the masculine-identified trans and non binary community. Breasts, being inherently associated with the feminine, create another hurdle of gender dysphoria for trans and non-binary parents to navigate during their parenting journeys.
Not every trans or non-binary person wants to chestfeed their baby, even though some still have the capability after top surgery and milk supplies may still come in. Just as with cis-gendered parents, chest feeding is a choice that trans and non-binary parents will make when deciding how to best care for their baby.
Okay… so if you want to breastfeed or chestfeed and you aren’t sure where to start, what do you do?
Unless you’ve done it before, most parents have no idea how to facilitate feeding your baby at your nipple short of popping them on and hoping for the best. Thankfully, for thousands of years babies have known exactly what to do, and that works for a lot of folks.
Working with a lactation consultant or a doula, especially if it’s your first time, can be crucial in your success towards achieving your nursing goals.These are trained professionals who are knowledgeable and supportive of your feeding journey. They will be able to tell if your baby is latching correctly, instruct you on different holds and positions that make it easier for them (and you!), and will be your constant cheerleaders through this transitional time in you and your baby’s life.
What if I’m struggling even after asking my doula or lactation consultant for help?
Even if you feel like you are doing everything exactly right, you may still struggle. This is normal, even for parents who exclusively nurse their babies. Many factors such as growth spurts, changes in sleep cycles (for parent and baby!), decreased hydration, change in diet, starting daycare, illness - there are so many factors that play into milk production and perceived success of nursing your baby.
The most important thing to remember is that a fed baby is a happy baby and a happy baby is fed in whatever way works best for them and you. If you are struggling to produce enough milk through nursing, it is okay to supplement with formula. If you want to stick with breast milk, you could consider getting milk from a milk bank. Any way you can keep that baby fed that is beneficial to you and to them is a successful method.
What are some ways in which I can work on increasing my supply?
When it comes to increasing milk supply, Aunt Carol wasn’t too far off with telling you to relax. Stress can absolutely affect the amount of milk produced and your supply. That being said, relaxing as a new parent is easier said than done more often than not. Here are some other things you can try:
Stay Hydrated
Especially when nursing parents return to work, they often forget to stay hydrated. Hydrating is one of the most important things you can do to keep your milk supply flowing.
Eat When You’re Hungry
Nursing burns A LOT of calories! Make sure you eat when you’re hungry, snack on high protein foods throughout the day, and do not restrict yourself. You are still fully supporting another human, just as you were when you were growing them inside you for 9 months. It takes a lot of energy!
Increase Frequency of Feedings/Pumping
Nursing is truly a “use it or lose it” skill. Your body knows that when the feedings slow, the milk production needs to slow as well to match and will eventually dry up altogether. This is great for weaning your baby off of your nipple and onto other nourishment options, but not if you’re trying to feed exclusively from nursing. Increase the amount of times you’re feeding your baby throughout the day if you can, or if you are a working parent or your baby goes to daycare, increase the amount of pumping you’re doing while away from your baby. This will help the overall amount of your supply increase, as you are using it more frequently.
Increase the Output of Your Supply
Envision your milk supply like the contents of a pitcher of water. If you empty the pitcher only half way and then refill it, you’ve only got half the amount of new water in the pitcher. Your milk supply works similarly - if you drain your milk supply fully instead of only using what you need at the time, you’ll increase your supply by needing to produce more to refill.
Take or Eat Certain Supplements and Foods
Some foods and/or supplements contain galactagogues, which can help increase milk supply in addition to other supply increasing methods, such as increasing frequency of feeding/pumping or output of supply. Some galactagogues include oatmeal, Fenugreek, blessed thistle, and alfalfa.
Of course, all of these are suggestions any new parent should speak about to their doctor or a trusted medical professional. There are many ways to help with milk production - our doulas at Beautiful Births and Beyond pride ourselves in helping all of our clients through the 4th trimester, including providing support around feeding your newborn, whatever that looks like for you and your family!
