Low supply of breast milk 307

Low Supply Of Breast Milk

Almost all mothers who breast feed go through a

period of questioning whether or not their supply

of milk is adequate. Some mothers simply aren't

able to produce enough milk to meet the needs of

her baby. According to many experts, true

insufficiencies of milk are very rare.

A lot of women think their milk supply is low when

it actually isn't. Thinking this can happen if

you lose the feeling of fullness in your breasts

or if the milk stops leaking from your nipples.

Babies that go through growth spurts may want

more milk than usual, and these more frequent

feedings may leave your breasts less than full.

Causes of it

A mother's milk supply may diminish for a brief

period of time if she isn't feeding her baby

often enough due to nipple pain, or a poor latch

on technique. Illnesses or estrogen containing

birth control pills may also affect the production

of milk.

What you should do

The best way to handle a low supply of breast

milk is through a doctor's care. You should

make sure that your baby gets frequent feedings

and that nothing is wrong with your nipples or

your milk ducts. Doctors are the best ones to

ask, as they can run tests to see if everything

is fine within your body.

A low supply of breast milk can affect your

baby, although it's more of a mental condition

than anything else. If your baby isn't gaining

any weight or if he is losing weight, you

should call a doctor immediately. Improved

techniques for breast feeding will normally

help, although in some cases weight gain or

weight loss will indicate a serious concern.

In most cases, you can still nurse with a

temporary decrease in milk supply, although

frequent breast feeding is the key to boosting

your production of milk.

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