Low milk supply can seem like a nightmare when you have your heart set on breastfeeding your baby, but it doesn’t have to be. Minbie has helped lots of new moms build their milk supply using a combination of expressing and mix feeding with our award winning breast like bottles. You may be surprised to learn that a low milk supply is usually just a temporary situation which can be improved with a little help.
Why do I have a low milk supply?
A low milk supply simply means you aren’t producing enough milk to meet your baby’s needs. This doesn’t mean you need to give up breastfeeding altogether. In fact, Minbie has helped lots of moms in your position, build their milk supply whilst carefully holding on to their breastfeeding bond.
It’s very normal to find you have a low milk supply when your baby arrives, and although most mother’s do produce enough milk for their babies, there are many others who struggle for various reasons. Your baby needs to feed well from the breast in order for your body to understand the need to produce more milk. A few possible reasons why you may find you have a low milk supply are:
- Your baby is not latching correctly on the breast. (If this is the case you may find you’re in pain too.)
- Your baby doesn’t seem to want to feed as often as they should.
- Once your baby is latched correctly on the breast they are not feeding effectively.
- You’re topping up with formula so there has been less demand for breastmilk.
- You have recently had mastitis.
- You’re taking oral contraceptive pills containing estrogen. (Oral contraceptives pass into the breast milk, can change the content and can even lower the amount of breast milk produced.)
My baby's favourite bottle ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"This is my baby's favorite nipple and bottle. We planned to breastfeed originally but unfortunately my milk took a while to come in and weeks after birth I still have low milk supply so we had no choice but to mix feed. We weren't prepared with the bottle and just bought the common popular brands but bub was finding it difficult to suck on them, until one of my friends told me about Minbie. Glad we found Minbie because now we have no problem mix feeding. She takes the bottle and also breastfeeds well on me." Mariz. C
Lots of us think we have a low milk supply when actually our bodies are behaving exactly the way they should be. For example:
- You may think your bub is feeding too frequently and therefore you’re not supplying enough to meet their demand. Actually, it’s perfectly normal for your little one to want to feed anywhere between 8 & 12 times in 24 hours. This kind of frequent feeding will actually help increase your milk supply. (If you’re completely exhausted, this is a great time to express and give dad the opportunity to offer a bottle).
- Your baby is only feeding in short bursts so you’re sure there mustn't be enough milk. Honestly, as long as your baby is growing as they should be, you can rest assured that you’re doing just fine. Once your baby has grown a little more, they will take more milk in and need less frequent feeds.
How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?
As soon as your baby is a week old you can tell they’re getting enough milk if they are doing a few things. If your baby is waking for feeds by themselves, is settling well between feeds, having at least 6 soaked nappies in 24 hours and pooping at least once a day you’re probably on the right track. However, if you think your baby isn’t doing the above, you’re worried about your milk supply or your baby’s feeding you must seek the help of a medical professional.
Simple ways to increase your milk supply:
- If your baby decides to ‘snooze’ at the breast and isn’t feeding well, you can try expressing from each breast instead and offer bub a bottle in a while when they are a little more alert.
- Frequent breastfeeding at least every 2-3 hours will help increase supply. Remember, it’s perfectly ok to wake your baby to feed, sometimes they need a little reminder!
- Make sure baby is latching correctly. An incorrect latch could mean that your little one isn’t effectively extracting milk, which will not only affect your milk supply, it will cause you pain.
- Make sure baby is draining your breasts efficiently by switching between breasts.
- Expressing after you have breastfed your little one, provides extra stimulation to your breasts & ensures that your breasts will be well drained and ready to produce more milk.
- Skin-to-skin contact. This closeness will help to keep your little one awake and increase the release of hormones needed for breast milk production.
- If you need to give your baby extra milk, offer expressed breast milk separately using a Minbie bottle to safeguard your feeding journey.
How can Minbie help me?
If, like many moms, you’re experiencing low milk supply, it’s important that you only offer your baby a bottle that won’t harm your breastfeeding bond. These are the moments Minbie was made for.
Our patented nipples offer your little one the same latch and feeding motion that best supports your milk-supply when they are breastfeeding. This means you avoid all the complications that come with using other bottles. Your baby will feed from a Minbie nipple just as they would on you, meaning your breastfeeding bond is protected and your baby is learning to feed in a way that not only aids digestion but also trains their breastfeeding muscle memory. Yes, these incredible bottles have been known to make babies more efficient breast feeders.
A low milk supply doesn't need to be the end of your breastfeeding journey. Prepare for motherhood with Minbie and you'll be ready to give your baby and yourself the very best start.
Have you got any questions about how Minbie can help you? Log on to the website and chat to one of us now!
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