This article is specially for Breastfeeding moms. Breastfeeding is a natural physiological process, but many new mothers still take detours on the breastfeeding journey due to various negative distractions and insufficient preparation. Delays in establishing a breastfeeding relationship between mother and baby place psychological pressure and financial burden on families. Failure to promptly address feeding difficulties increases the risk of early intervention with breast milk substitutes and premature weaning.

What usually bothers mothers is insufficient milk supply. In various situations, as soon as the baby cries, family members will pick him up. The child is hungry and not full… The child is not as fat as other children, it must be that the mother has insufficient milk… The child has to be fed all the time, it must be that the mother has insufficient milk… The child wakes up as soon as he is born, it must be that the mother has not had enough milk… It seems that any little disturbance can be linked to breast milk. Naturally, the mother is the one under the most pressure. She is anxious, helpless, and tries all kinds of treatments in desperation. Helplessness and a vicious cycle. The breast milk supply is getting less and less, and the mother also questions her ability to be a mother.

Several types of people who are often said to have little milk

A just finished her confinement and can’t express milk. Breastfeeding moms has no milk left?

I can’t express milk or the breast pump can’t draw out any milk. Is there no milk left?

First of all, you need to see if the manual milking method is correct. Wash your hands, trim your nails, hold up the RF with one hand, and place the thumb and index finger of the other hand in a C shape on the edge of the areola. Feel the position of the baby’s sucking. The index finger and thumb are in a straight line with the RT. No matter which direction you change to, they must be in a straight line. The fingertips touch the skin, press down in the direction of the chest wall, and squeeze in place. It’s like if you want to squeeze a mature pimple and you want to dig deep into it and pull it out by the roots, you will press down first and then squeeze, instead of just squeezing the surface.

Don’t be too weak or too violent. Treat the breasts gently, with enough force to squeeze out the milk without causing any pain.

Bending your head down to express milk for a long time is a big test for the spine, so you must remember to move your cervical spine regularly.

Generally, mothers who have less milk supply tend to have it in the first few months after giving birth, and most of them have babies of young ages. One reason is that they are first-time mothers and lack experience and knowledge. Breastfeeding moms feel helpless when facing their babies and have not figured out the rules of breastfeeding. The other reason is that it is the first time for the baby to be a baby. He is trying hard to adapt to this world and grow up by breastfeeding moms in a reversed day and night cycle.

It is also one-sided to conclude that there is no milk if the breast pump cannot suck out anything. The breast pump is designed to imitate the baby’s sucking pattern. The more similar the simulation is, the more milk will be sucked out.

Let’s first look at the baby’s sucking. If the mother observes carefully, she will find that the baby’s sucking is mostly divided into two types:

One is very fast and short frequency sucking, and the other is relatively deep and slow sucking. The first fast and short sucking is to stimulate the milk flow. After the milk flow comes, it is converted into deep and slow sucking to swallow a large amount of milk.

There are many nerve endings under our nipples and areola. When the baby sucks or uses a breast pump to express milk, these nerve endings will be stimulated and transmitted to our brain. Then the hypothalamus and pituitary gland will begin to secrete hormones. One of the hormones secreted by the posterior pituitary gland is called prolactin , which can help mothers produce milk faster.

1. A good breast pump needs to have two modes: stimulation mode and sucking mode. Use the stimulation mode to stimulate milk flow and then switch to the sucking mode.

2. Breast shields come in different sizes and are replaceable. It is generally recommended to choose a breast shield that is 4-5mm larger than your breast pump diameter.

3. Negative pressure suction can be adjusted

4. 8-12 minutes for each breast

Breastfeeding moms are in a bad mood and has less milk when angry?

It’s true that being angry can cause milk withdrawal. When a mother breastfeeds, the brain releases oxytocin, a hormone that makes her happy. This oxytocin causes the muscles surrounding the mammary glands to contract, prompting the glands to release milk. This is what we call milk letdown. The baby’s sucking stimulates the mammary glands to actively release milk into the milk ducts. Without milk letdown, the baby wouldn’t be able to get milk.

Relax and let go of anxiety. Make yourself happy. Anxiety is oxytocin ‘s biggest enemy. Don’t dwell on why your milk supply hasn’t come yet. Instead, be present and enjoy the bonding process with your baby. Don’t stress yourself out before you even start feeding. You can also relax by browsing your phone, watching your favorite movies, variety shows, or even something funny. Even if I want to have a cup of milk tea or coffee, or eat some spicy hot pot, as long as the amount is appropriate and the ingredients are clean and hygienic, it’s fine.

C Breasts are not swelling and there is too little milk?

Many breastfeeding moms are misled and told that their milk supply is not increasing and they have no milk, so they should wait and accumulate it before feeding. The fact is that the breast is a magical organ, it is like a milk production line in a factory. When the finished products in the warehouse are always stranded and cannot be sold in time and smoothly, that is, when the milk is not removed, the workshop will slow down and reduce production. You think that every time your milk supply increases, it will definitely be less, and the more it increases, the less it will be.

If we understand the principles of lactation , we will know that the child’s appetite determines our production, and it is the child that makes the entire lactation system function.

In other words, how much your child eats determines your output.

Normally, the baby is growing well, and each time he feeds, he stimulates the mother to produce milk.

We know that “the more milk discharged” determines “the more milk produced”. When the milk stays in the breast, there is a “lactation-inhibiting factor” in the milk that will give the breast a signal to stop and not produce too much. When the milk is discharged, the breast will receive a signal that it is empty. If it is empty, it is better to produce more quickly. Soon there will be a baby who wants to feed, and he will cry without milk.

If we want to store milk, now is the best time to do so. Let the milk come out quickly. Once some milk comes out, the breasts will produce more. If the milk continues to swell, it will send a signal to the brain that it does not need to produce so much, which means that the milk will be withdrawn to a certain extent.

We can allow the breasts to self-regulate within a tolerable range and gradually move towards a balance between supply and demand. If the swelling is uncomfortable, you can squeeze out some of it to make the breasts feel more comfortable.

D Less milk after milk blockage and mastitis?

Breastfeeding mothers are generally afraid of this. They may feel their chest tighten when they see these words. Milk supply will indeed decrease after mastitis.

Let’s look at the guidelines of the International Society of Lactation Medicine.

Effective milk removal,

Because milk stasis is often the initiating factor in mastitis, the most important step in mastitis management is frequent and effective milk removal.

The mother should be encouraged to breastfeed more frequently and start feeding from the affected side.

If pain interferes with the milk letdown reflex, you can start feeding from the healthy side and switch to the affected side as soon as the milk letdown reflex appears.

Pointing your baby’s chin or nose toward the blocked area on your breast will help the milk flow from the affected side.

Mastitis comes, don’t be anxious or afraid, it is a very common disease during lactation, just like a common cold.

Do not press the hard lumps that cause milk blockage. Observe and apply cold compress to the red and swollen parts. Do not press or apply hot compress violently. In most cases, the blockage will disappear on its own with normal breastfeeding. If there is no relief after 24 hours of normal breastfeeding, it is best to consult a professional breastfeeding instructor or a breast doctor.

After recovery, as the baby sucks frequently, the milk supply will recover in about 5-7 days.