Are you looking to naturally increase your breastmilk supply? Many new moms worry they have a low milk supply, and it can be hard to tell at times, but donโt be discouraged!ย
Chances are, if your baby is healthy and growing well, you are doing a great job already. Greater Than has a few helpful tips if youโre looking for natural and healthy ways to increase milk supply.
Are You Staying Hydrated and Eating Well?
Staying hydrated throughout the day is one way to make sure you are staying energized enough to produce enough breast milk for your infant.ย
Although there are various methods to increase your supply, Greater Than specializes in providing you with the best organic drinks to help keep you (and your baby) healthy!ย
We want to properly hydrate all mothers, whether their first-time moms or moms with kids running around. We hope to help you and your family with our organic coconut water, fruit juice, and salt โ all of which is meant to keep you happy and healthy.ย
Organic Drinks To Ensure Youโre Getting the Nutrients You Need
If you are dehydrated, your breast milk production may begin to slow down. Be aware of how much water you are drinking or if alcohol and too much caffeine impact your hydration. You must be drinking enough water, especially with electrolytes, to ensure you have the energy to have enough milk.ย
Coconut Waterย
Coconut water is a great way of getting electrolytes without sugar. All of our drinks contain none of the filler additives found in other sports drinks, meaning you can enjoy great flavors without worrying about the sugar, such as coconut water and delicious fruit juice that supports your and your baby's health.ย
Electrolyte Drinks
Greater Than Organic Electrolyte Drinks are a great way of getting some of the nutrients you need without having to resort to sugary drinks that may compromise your wellness goals.
Not only do they have electrolytes you need to help keep your fluids balanced, but they are also non-GMO and packed with potassium which can help boost your supply.ย
Healthy Ingredients That Keep Your Mood and Supply Up
With our variety of sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan, flavorful drinks at your side, itโs essential to know if you are eating well too. Consider adding food that is protein-packed and is associated with increasing breast milk supply.ย
Thereโs nothing wrong with having a sweet treat here and there. After all, an improved healthy lifestyle can lead to a balanced and improved breast milk supply.ย
Not only is it good to avoid sugary, processed foods in general, but it can also help to find alternatives that are organic and nourishing to increase milk production. Many parents find that eating and drinking healthy can help boost milk flow and give you the energy you need to take care of your little one!
Make sure not to miss any meals and stay hydrated throughout the day. Having nutritious snacks and our sugar-free electrolyte drinks throughout the day can help boost your energy and ensure you produce the milk you need.ย ย
What Are Natural Methods To Boost Your Milk Supply?
Suppose you feel youโre eating and drinking well with flavorful and healthy alternatives at Greater Than but also looking for some alternative and natural methods to help your breast milk production. If thatโs the case, we have a few solutions for you.
Breastfeed Oftenย
The more you breastfeed, the more breast milk your body makes! Nursing your baby every couple of hours can help production. If your baby has trouble with nursing, it can help if you use a good quality breast pump to increase your supply.ย
Be prepared to feed your baby more often, and it can help switch your baby from one breast to the other. Offer each breast twice to your little one as well.ย
By switching breasts, you are encouraging increased breast milk flow and increased higher fat content.ย Breast stimulation can help your body determine how much breast milk should be made.ย
When your baby is feeding, press on your breast to aid milk flow. Not only does this help with any clogging, it can also help encourage more effective sucking from your newborn. Let your baby decide when to stop feeding, but nurse them for at least 15 minutes at each breast.
Pump After Each Feeding
Pumping is a proven technique to help you and your child and provide you with many benefits that go beyond increased milk supply. Consider adding an early-morning or an evening pumping session to your routine.ย
Gently massage breasts before and during feeding. This can help prevent clogged milk ducts and nipples, alleviate breast tissue discomfort, and make sure your milk is flowing. It also can help to check your baby's position and latch.ย
Pumping early and often with an electric breast pump can be a beneficial tool in increasing your milk supply. There are also several benefits to pumping immediately after each feeding. Warming your breasts before pumping can help make you more comfortable and pump easier, too.
Some benefits to pumping include:
- Increased milk production
- Your baby gets a bottle of breast milk or formula
- You have milk left over after a feeding
- Alleviate potential causes of discomfortย
Some mothers find it easier to pump after feeding during the day, rest for a few, and then pump again for another few minutes. Make sure you are resting at night and sleeping well (as best as you can!)
What Are Other Possible Natural Solutions for Increased Milk Supply?
If youโre still looking for other natural methods to help boost your supply, we at Greater Than have some additional tips.ย
Kangaroo Cargo
Kangaroo care is proven to help boost your breast milk supply and provide benefits for both you and your little one. This is when you do โskin-to-skinโ contact with your newborn, which is great for you as a mom and your baby!ย
Try doing this for twenty minutes immediately after feeding. Not only do you create a better bond between you and your baby, but itโs also medically beneficial for them.
Snuggling gives them the best start to breastfeeding and helps them breastfeed better. This is typically done when your baby is first born, but keep doing skin-to-skin after leaving the hospital. The bonding and soothing benefits both of you, but it also can help keep them interested in nursing.
Practice Self-Care
Self-care is essential! Taking care of yourself physically and mentally is extremely important for your breast milk supply. Make sure you rest when you can and have a strong support system to help you find the time to take care of yourself.ย
Healthy Snackingย
We both know that eating well is the best option for you and your little one. That means eating nutritious and organic snacks and protein-packed meals meant to keep you energized and ready to take on the day with your baby.
Having healthy snacks and drinks can help make you feel more comfortable. Find the time to have a nap, read a book, take a bath, or do whatever you need to relax when you can. Although it may seem nearly impossible to find the time, when you use relaxation techniques to take care of yourself, you are taking care of your baby, too!ย
Make Greater Than Part of Your Journey
We know how much of a beautiful experience it is to breastfeed your baby, but also itโs an emotional and exhausting journey! We want to remind you that you are doing a great job, and for many moms their breast milk supply is more than enough.ย
Self-care is extremely important, so make sure you have enough time to rest for yourself.
Here at Greater Than, we want to make sure youโre being taken care of. That means supporting you with the best clean, organic, and nutritious drinks we can offer to help you and the whole family.
Know that there are many other moms who are in the same boat, and plenty of support groups if needed. Always consider talking to your doctor or healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your breast milk supply.ย
Consulting with professionals can help you determine your next plan of action in increasing your breast milk production and what is best for you and your baby.
Sources:
Breastfeeding Nutrition: Tips for Moms | Mayo Clinic
Skin-To-Skin Contact for Mother & Baby | Cleveland Clinic
The Effect of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on Breast Feeding | NCBI
Pump Early and Pump Often: A Continuous Quality Improvement Project | NCBI