If you find yourself thinking similar thoughts, start keeping track of your baby’s wet diapers and seek out a lactation consultant who can help you figure out what the problem really is. If it is low milk supply, rest assured that there are many ways to build your supply and help your baby gain weight. Cluster feeding, a breastfeeding pattern where baby cries to be fed very often for a block of time, can also be extremely helpful to build your milk supply. So exactly how often? Breastfeed a minimum of every two hours if it is certain that weight gain or low milk supply is a problem. Once your doctor feels the baby has achieved a solid weight gaining pattern, you can switch to feeding on-demand. After the final drops of milk are pumped from your breast, continue to pump for about two more minutes to make sure you’ve expressed all the milk you can. This will help to empty the breasts sufficiently, which will trigger your body to produce more milk at subsequent feedings. The term “empty” is a little bit misleading, however, as there will always be trace amounts of milk left in the breast. It’s important to stay hydrated, but there is no set amount of water that everyone who breastfeeds should consume. Fluids other than water also help keep you hydrated. While alcohol can be relaxing for some people, drinking alcohol can reduce milk supply. So although the occasional alcoholic beverage is safe for the breastfeeding relationship, for moms with supply issues it is simply not a good idea. Some medications do have side effects, and there simply is not a good body of research on the benefits of herbal supplements for increasing supply. Both should be used by informed mothers. If you do opt for medication or supplements, keep in mind that these medications work best when you are breastfeeding or pumping frequently. It all goes back to that law of supply and demand. The more your body is stimulated, the more milk you will produce.
