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Breastfeeding Basics: Increasing Your Milk Supply

Breast milk is the best food for your child. It comprises sufficient vitamins and nutrients essential for the baby’s growth until about 4 to 6 months of age. Breastfeeding can remarkably reduce your child’s risk from many kinds of infections and allergies. It may additionally protect your kid from health issues like eczema, asthma, weight problems, diabetic issues and high blood pressure. Breastfeeding does not only benefit the child, but females who choose to breastfeed  can lower their risk for developing breast cancer and diabetes later on in life.

Breastfeeding can be really challenging for the first two weeks, while you and your infant are still forming a routine. However, many females worry that their milk supply will not be enough for their infant. Here are some helpful tips to increase your milk supply:

1. Breastfeed and pump frequently. It will increase your milk supply within 48 hours. If your child doesn’t feed that much, pump both breasts for 10 to 15 minutes each after every feeding. An increase in milk supply is expected soon after 2 to 4 days of extra pumping.

2. Take time to relax. Though motherhood can be at times stressful, you need to go out of your way to relax. Find an area in your home relaxing enough so it is easy to pump. Stress can hinder your natural capacity to release milk. Try massaging your breasts and making use of warm compresses prior to feeding.

3. If possible, try to limit formula feedings. That will decrease your baby’s requirement for breast milk. Remember, if you breastfeed or pump more frequently, the more your body produces breast milk.

4. Pump both breasts at the same time. It will enable your body to produce the hormone prolactin, which is accountable for milk production.

5. Increase your fluid consumption. Drink more water, juice and milk to stay hydrated. Proper hydration promotes milk production. Limit drinks that contain caffeine like coffee and soda. Too much intake of caffeine can result in irritability to your child. Aside from that, it can also intervene with your baby’s sleep.

6. Quit cigarette smoking. It is not only detrimental for your health, but it can decrease your milk supply. Nicotine can also change the taste of milk, and it can affect your baby’s sleep pattern.

7. Evaluate your birth control choices. Birth control pills containing estrogen can interfere with your production of milk. Discuss with your doctor as to what options are available for you.

8. Live healthy. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Proper nutrition is important in not only getting a good milk supply, but also in making sureyou are producing a good quality of milk for your little one. Try to exercise when you can in order to attain optimum health.

Breastfeeding is truly advisable due to its many health benefits. Though commercial formula may be readily purchased, it can never take the place of breast milk. In order to have adequate milk supply, a woman should also take good care of herself. A woman after all nourishes her infant not only in the womb, but also after birth by means of breastfeeding.

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