Rebuilding your supply.

Hey!

I went to the Breast Beginning Support Group yesterday and really enjoyed it. There is nothing like getting a group of Moms together and exchanging support/information. Listening to the group there were a few things that I felt would be helpful discussing here on the blog. First things first - Rebuilding the Supply. I have never had a supply "problem" but I do need to pay attention to my supply because I am breastfeeding for two babies. I give milk locally to a little baby boy. Therefore, supply is something that I have had to pay attention to. 

The key to building a strong supply begins shortly after birth of baby. Your body works on a supply/demand system. It's best to keep that in mind when your baby is attached to you constantly in the beginning, it's important to feed on demand as much as possible. At that moment you're setting the bar for supply. Now...what happens when that is compromised by hospital protocol, post natal recovery and nipple pain? Simple. Frustration. But there is a way to rebuild!

We are blessed with miraculous bodies that are made to support life. It's the way God intended it! Yes, you will have challenges, but overcoming theses difficulties will make breastfeeding even more rewarding! Trust me...

Rebuilding The Supply

.Drink plenty of water. Like a lot!

.Don't stress! Relax and know it will return. Think good/happy thoughts

.Eat more oatmeal. Did you know that oatmeal is a natural milk producing power food? This is also true for brown rice, alfalfa and barley. Eat more!!

.Perfect the latch. Sometimes low weight gain is caused by inefficiency. If baby's latch is "off" it can result in a baby that's not nursing often enough or not nursing well enough.

.Feed/pump often. If you have the choice to pump or breastfeed at a given moment BREASTFEED A working and breastfeeding relationship goes far more smoothly when it’s founded on plenty of nursing instead of plenty of pumping. You may have fallen out of the habit of those little “just because” nursings that aren’t about food, but those casual, quick nursings are what keep a milk supply robust. Try to breastfeed 8-12 per day.

.Pump after breastfeeding. Because your body works on a supply/demand system you can innate to your body to produce more milk by pumping after feeding. Avoid doing it for longer than 5 mins you don't want oversupply either!
.Have more breast-a-thons. A breast-a-thon includes staying home with your baby, skin-to-skin contact (lots of it) and breastfeeding often. Enjoy your baby, and enjoy being a mama.

.Eat more cookies! Lactation cookies that is! 

                       

Lactation Cookies

Major Milk Makin' Cookies

Recipe by Kathleen Major

1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

1 3/4 c. oats

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3/4 c. almond butter or peanut butter

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 c. flax

3 T brewer's yeast

1/3 c. water

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 large eggs

2 c. (12oz) chocolate chips

1 c. chopped nuts of your choice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.

In a large bowl, beat almond butter, butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, brewer's yeast, flax and water until creamy.

Mix in eggs.

Gradually beat in flour mixture.

Mix in nuts and chocolate chips.

Add oats slowly, mixing along the way.

Place balls of dough onto greased baking sheets or baking stones.

Press down each ball lightly with a fork.

Bake 12 minutes.

Resources

.The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

.The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk: Foreword by Martha Sears, RN