What if I suddenly run out of milk during breastfeeding?

The lactation period is a very important period because the nutrients needed by the baby's body at this time mainly come from breast milk, but the amount of milk secreted by each woman is different. Many women have encountered the sudden loss of milk. The short-term impact is not significant, but if it happens for a long time or often, it will definitely affect the baby's feeding. So, what happens if you suddenly run out of milk during breastfeeding? Let’s take a look below.

1. Bad mood and unstable emotions during breastfeeding

The biggest factor affecting breast milk secretion is the mother's emotional instability during breastfeeding. Feeling depressed, irritable, anxious, or irritable during breastfeeding will reduce milk secretion.

2. Not sleeping well at night

The baby cries at night, and the mother often has to get up to take care of the baby, and also has to breastfeed the baby, so the quality of sleep at night will naturally be affected. If the mother does not get enough sleep at night, it can easily lead to emotional instability and affect the secretion of breast milk.

3. The baby is not breastfed on demand, and the baby sucks breast milk less frequently

In order to help their babies develop a habit of regular breastfeeding, some mothers do not breastfeed on demand. The less frequent sucking of breast milk by the baby is also one of the factors that affect breast milk secretion.

4. Eating foods that cause milk withdrawal

During the lactation period, there are many things to pay attention to in diet, especially foods that cause weaning. If you eat foods that cause weaning, the amount of milk secretion may be reduced a lot. Common foods that can help with weaning include: leeks, peppers, bitter gourd, watermelon, persimmon, malt, strong coffee, strong tea, ginseng, etc.

5. Unreasonable diet structure and insufficient nutrition for mothers

During breastfeeding, the diet structure is unreasonable, the mother prefers fried food, or eats some high-calorie but nutritious food, which leads to insufficient nutrition for the mother. This is also the most common factor affecting breast milk secretion.

6. Not emptying the breasts in time after feeding

After breastfeeding, mothers usually use a breast pump to empty their breasts to promote milk secretion. On the contrary, if the mother does not empty her breasts in time after feeding, in addition to affecting milk secretion, there may also be problems with breast pain, and in severe cases, it may also lead to mastitis.

What can be done to stimulate milk secretion?

1. Let the baby suck the nipple half an hour after birth, which can effectively promote milk secretion;

2. Maintain a good attitude. If you encounter a troubling problem, it is recommended to divert your attention in time;

3. Don’t drink the milk soup too early to prevent the baby from not finishing it and causing breast pain. It is recommended to drink it on the third day after delivery.

4. When breastfeeding your baby, you should feed both sides of your breast. After breastfeeding, you should empty your breasts in time.

5. Newborns should be fed on demand, allowing them to suck more breast milk to promote milk secretion;

6. Master the correct breastfeeding posture to avoid improper sucking posture of the baby, which may cause nipple injury;

7. Try not to eat foods that cause milk withdrawal. A reasonable diet structure and adequate nutrition are the key.

8. Dad should help mom share some of the parenting work, such as getting up at night to change the baby's diaper, coaxing the baby to sleep, etc., so that mom can get enough rest.