What if there is not enough milk in the breast?

One fine morning you suddenly find out that your little one is acting up at the breast, persistently continuing to suck. He is hungry, and it seems that the milk has become smaller. Do not be scared. It is periodic and always easy to solve. Breastfeeding has natural periods of decreasing the amount of milk produced.

Most often this condition appears on the 3rd, 7th, 12th weeks of a child's life. And due to the fact that the growing crumb requires no longer the breast, which is used to produce milk for him at the moment. Precisely because the baby grows fast in this period, the mother's body simply does not have time to adapt to the new baby's needs in milk. In addition, my mother periodically has a temporary change in the hormonal background, which also affects the production of milk. But in the feeding mode, in no case should you be scared. All of them are temporary (usually not more than 2-3, rarely 7 days), and you will be able to cope with them if you apply the baby to your breast at the first request. How to cope with the problems of such a plan, we will tell in the article on the topic "What to do if there are not enough milk in the breast".

Causes

The amount of milk produced is not always the same for different reasons - the activity and mood of the baby, the state of health and the emotional situation in the home, the mood of the mother, who have a strong influence on lactation. Some experts believe that the jump in the growth of a child, which occurs almost every six weeks, can be called "hungry." And superimposed fatigue, overwork, violation of the drinking and nutrition of the mother give the ground for the development of a decrease in milk.

What to do?

Doctors advise mothers in the first place to pay attention to their own diet and rest. Responsible Mom simply must rest and eat at least five times a day. During the period of milk reduction, use more liquid - at least 2.5 liters per day. This is very important for the production of milk. Pour into the bottles the necessary amount of tea with milk, phyto tea to increase lactation or compote of dried fruits and drink regularly! Do not constantly think about the lack of milk and worry about the feeding, you need to banal and relax. And the milk will appear. Transfer part of household duties to relatives. During periods of low milk, wear your baby in your arms or in a sling, squeeze the crumb to your skin, talk to him, take warm warm baths, put the baby next to you while you sleep. And the secret mechanisms of starting milk will necessarily work in the near future.

Remember - it is the crumb that will help you restore lactation. And that is why during the crisis period the baby asks for breast more often, thanks to which the volume of milk produced is regulated. A crumb like "orders" more milk, and my mother's body responds to his request. Remember: lactation works on the principle of "demand-supply", the more the baby sucks milk, the more it will be produced in the following days. Do not refuse to feed, even if milk, as you think, no. While you are lying next to you, let the child suck. Tell the little one how important it is that he tries to help you overcome temporary difficulties, as you need his effort, his understanding. Stroke the crumb on the back, ass, head. Let the babies do not always catch the literal meaning of what has been said, but the emotional message and the basic idea are learned accurately. In addition, the contact "skin to skin" during feeding will help the production of milk. Experienced breastfeeding consultants advise temporary pumping to increase lactation during a decrease in milk. Spend a lot of time in the open air, make long walks with the stroller. It is advisable not to shop for groceries, but to the park. Try also to organize your regime in such a way as to allocate time for night feeding - because without it your body "does not understand" how much milk really needs to be produced now. Usually such measures are sufficient to restore the normal mode of feeding and to forget about the decline. In extreme cases, you can resort to additional stimulation of lactation.

What is not worth doing?

At laktatsionnom reduction in any case it is impossible to supplement, dopaivat and calm a child with a pacifier. Do not use the bottle, regardless of its contents. Supplementing the child with the formula is acceptable, only starting from the sixth day, after the beginning of the milk reduction. Until then, you must understand that the baby is not really hungry yet, he just would like to get a little more milk. Try to reduce communication with others so that they do not feed the child. Check if the baby is in the right position when you put it to your chest, so does it grab the nipple? Was he ill or not having a cold? Refuse to feed according to the schedule, if you have previously been led by delusion or the insistence of their loved ones.

Cheerful final

Treat the situation optimistically. It is not good for a baby to have a sad and dull mom next to her. In reality nothing tragic has happened, and everything will surely be adjusted. Be dear to what you have, strive to increase the volume and quality of milk, but calmly and a large drop of mother's milk is an invaluable contribution to the health of crumbs. Consult breastfeeding counselors and they will help you to restore and preserve breastfeeding. Now we know what to do if there is not enough milk in the breast.