Why is there less and less milk?

Breast milk is very important for children. On the one hand, it contains essential nutrients for children. On the other hand, children’s teeth are not yet fully developed and they can only eat liquid food. But some mothers find that their milk supply is decreasing. This situation is very unfavorable for the child. Although the lack of breast milk does not cause much harm to the child, there are still differences in development between children who are breastfed and those who consume formula, so mothers need to pay attention to it. So what should you do if your milk supply decreases?

Why is my milk supply decreasing?

1. The mother herself is malnourished

There is a situation where the mother's own nutrition is not kept up during breastfeeding, resulting in the body being unable to secrete more milk for the baby to consume.

2. The mother does not drink enough water

A large part of breast milk is water. When the mother does not drink enough water, it will have a certain impact on milk secretion.

3. Increase the amount of baby food

Some mothers will prepare some complementary foods for their babies while breastfeeding to help them supplement the nutrients needed for growth. At this time, the baby will lose interest in breast milk because he has tried the new taste. As the baby eats more and more complementary foods, the mother's milk supply will naturally decrease.

4. The nipple the baby is sucking is mixed up

This situation can be explained by the fact that the baby is used to the bottle that sucks milk faster and is a little averse to the mother's breast. If there is no baby to suck milk for a long time, the milk supply will naturally decrease.

What should I do if my milk supply decreases?

First, eat more milk-producing foods

Foods like loofah, peanuts, wild rice stem, tofu, etc. are all good milk-inducing foods, and crucian carp soup is also a good milk-inducing food. Remember to drink more soups and water to replenish the water needed for milk secretion, which is very helpful for lactation.

Second, drink more water every day

Generally speaking, a normal mother can secrete 2500 ml to 3000 ml of milk a day. At this time, she needs to supplement with 10 to 12 cups of water to avoid insufficient milk.

Third, do not change the staple food before your baby is one year old

Before the baby is one year old, if the mother has enough milk, there is no need to prepare other complementary foods for the baby. Because the nutrients in breast milk are sufficient for babies at this stage, no additional supplementation is needed. In addition, after the baby is one year old, you don’t need to worry about insufficient milk after adding complementary foods. At this time, you can just breastfeed naturally.

Fourth, breastfeed more and use bottles as little as possible

If the mother is able to breastfeed, try not to use a bottle, so that the baby can develop a good sucking habit. The milk you drink is also healthier.

Once mothers encounter a lack of or insufficient milk, they must not worry too much. As long as the nutrition is adequate, and they have a healthy diet and breastfeeding method, they will have enough milk to feed their babies. If you are under long-term mental stress, it will also affect breast secretion. Therefore, maintaining a happy spirit is also very beneficial for lactation!