Ravina Sewani

Milk production is in abundance during the early days, which is good. But as soon as the baby settles in – in most cases – the flow regulates on its own. Sometimes though, the breastmilk volume may still be high and there may be a very forceful spurt of milk with a forceful let down. This may cause problems for you and your baby. Usually babies develop a breastfeeding pattern within the first month. If after a month, your baby is still restless during the feeding, or pulls off your breast, coughs, chokes, gulps quickly, has painful cries, holds on to your nipple with a bite like hold, oversupply might be the issue here. You, on the other hand, might experience engorgement, have bouts of mastitis, or you may feel a strong let-down, and leaking breasts. Due to oversupply, a condition called Milk Ejection Reflex occurs in which the milk is released from the milk ducts in a forceful and in an almost explosive manner. Oversupply could be either due to your body making more milk, or when you don’t empty your one breast fully before offering the other, or thyroid. You can handle this situation by trying a reclined position while you breastfeed, you can try using nursing pads, and express little milk before feeding. You can use breast pumps and store the milk. Just be careful that your child does not choke while breastfeeding. If none of the methods work, you should consult your lactation consultant.

It is possible to have an oversupply of milk.

Oversupply of breastmilk

Reduced milk production can be due to pain through breast pump, infection, or poor latching, any breast surgeries you’ve had, stress, high blood pressure, insulin dependent diabetes, obesity, or thyroid. If your baby was born prematurely, it might be a while before your little one gets the knack of proper feeding. And because your baby takes a while to adjust to breastfeeding it too impacts your milk supply. Do not feel guilty about low milk supply as most of the factors are out of your control. Following are the ways which will help you to increase your breast milk production: <ul><li>Evaluate Your Baby’s Latch: Make sure the baby is latching on your breasts correctly.</li><li>Continue to Breastfeed: Your body works on the principle of demand and supply. As you keep feeding, it will produce enough milk. If your milk supply is low, try to express at least 8 times in 24 hours and at least once overnight. Milk producing hormones are secreted the highest at night, so do not skip the night-time expressing.</li><li>Stimulate Your Breasts: Use a breast pump or a hand expression technique to stimulate your breasts after you finish breastfeeding your baby. The extra stimulation will tell your body that you need more breast milk.</li><li>Use a formula supplement: When the milk flow is low or slow, the child may refuse to suck so you can use a formula supplement.</li><li>Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes: Smoking, taking a combination of birth pills, stress and fatigue can also adversely affect milk production.</li><li>Breastfeed Longer at Each Feeding: Your newborn should be breastfeeding for at least 10 minutes on each side. If (s)he falls asleep, try to wake him/her up gently to continue nursing. The more time your baby spends at the breast, the more stimulation you're getting.</li><li>Breastfeed From Both Breasts at Each Feeding: During the first few weeks, breastfeeding from both sides during each feeding will help to build up a stronger supply of breast milk.</li><li>Try to Keep Your Baby Awake During Feedings: Yes! When you are feeding your baby try to keep your child awake and actively sucking so that there is stimulation which helps in milk production.</li><li>Spend Some Time in Direct Skin-to-Skin Contact: The&nbsp;kangaroo care technique that is skin to skin connection between the newborn and mother stimulates their bodies and has a very positive impact on the baby and the mother.</li><li>Eat Well: Eat some milk boosting food such as oatmeal (porridge or upma), spinach, fenugreek, garlic, apricot.</li><li>Drink Plenty of Fluids: Breast milk is made up of about 90 percent water. Drinking about 6 to 8 glasses of water or other healthy liquids such as milk, juice, or tea proves beneficial.</li><li>Try to Get Some Rest: Exhaustion and stress can have a negative effect on your milk supply. Try to take a nap when the baby is sleeping, and know that it's OK to ask for help.</li></ul>

It is very rare that mothers have to deal with less breastmilk production. Nevertheless, there are always ways to deal with it.

Low Breastmilk Supply

Samiksha Choithani

Uneven supply of milk totally depends on mother and child’s comfort, if the baby is comfortable in feeding on one breast, the body naturally produces milk in the same breast. It is upon the mother and the child to decide whether they are comfortable feeding from one or both the breasts. If both of you are comfortable, continue the process. But, if you are willing to have even milk in both the breasts, here is something you can try:<ul><li>Babies tend to suck the breast that produces more milk; you can try to feed your baby from the slow side/less productive side. Encourage this habit to have an equal supply for future feedings.</li><li>Massage the less productive breast.</li><li>Try to pump the less productive breast after each feed.</li><li>Try new feeding positions that could be comfortable for baby while feeding on the less productive breast.</li></ul>

Do not worry about this as it will only make this problem worse.

When only one breast produces milk

Read the article to know how you can have equal milk supply from both the breasts.

milk production from only one breast

Read the article to know how you can have equal milk supply from both the breasts.

Oversupply of breastmilk

Low Breastmilk Supply

When only one breast produces milk

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