Factors that help increase breast milk secretion

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Huynh Thi Hien - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for infants and young children. Therefore, ensuring an abundant source of breast milk is the best way to help children have a solid foundation for their development. Mothers can use the following factors to increase breast milk production to effectively breastfeed their babies.
Here are ways to help mothers produce more milk you can refer to:

1. Breastfeed your baby as soon as possible

The sucking motion of your baby will help increase breast milk production. Even if the mother does not have milk, she should still breastfeed the baby to call for the milk to come back quickly and help the baby suckle the first precious amount of colostrum. The more babies suckle, the more breast milk comes in because breast milk is secreted by reflex mechanism. When the baby suckles, sensory impulses will be transmitted from the breast to the brain, the brain will stimulate the pituitary gland to produce the hormones prolactin and oxytocin. In particular,
Prolactin helps stimulate lactation cells to produce milk, increase milk production reflex
Oxytonic helps contract the muscles around the milk follicle to lead milk to the nipple, increasing the ejection reflex.
In addition, when breastfeeding, a mother should think of her baby with love and comfort. This mentality helps to stimulate oxytocin, which is beneficial for lactation. On the contrary, if the mother is breastfeeding in a state of low self-esteem, anxiety, thinking that her milk is not good, this reflex will be hindered.
Note, breastfeed on demand, should not limit the amount of suckling of the child. When the baby is full, the baby will release the breast on its own.

2. Empty the udder after breastfeeding

Draining the breast is a way to help the mother produce more milk by stimulating the next milk to come quickly. The mother should breastfeed about 20 - 30 minutes / time, depending on the strength of the baby's suckling. Babies can be distracted in breastfeeding, playing while nursing, and looking around. Ideally, the mother should breastfeed the baby in a quiet place, away from people, no one to talk to, so the baby will focus on suckling.
Mothers should breastfeed properly, sucking from one pregnancy to another to take advantage of all the milk in the mother's breast. Especially when the amount of milk at the end of the pregnancy contains a lot of fat to help the baby gain weight.
If the baby is finished feeding but still feels milk in the breast, the mother should use a breast pump to express all the milk. This milk can be frozen for future use.
If breast milk is too little to meet the baby's needs, it is recommended to breastfeed the baby first, when both pregnant women are exhausted, then give the baby more formula.

3. Diet full of nutrition, science

There are many foods that help increase breast milk secretion such as: green papaya, porridge, black sesame tea, cereals, figs... The mother can enhance these foods in her daily meals.

In addition to what to eat to increase the quality of breast milk, mothers need to ensure a reasonable diet, a variety of foods are also very important for having an abundant and sufficient amount of milk, helping children grow up quickly and healthy. The mother needs to eat enough 4 groups of substances: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and vegetables.

4. Drink lots of water every day

Every day, the mother should drink about 2-3 liters of water, including filtered water, broth, fruit juice, milk... Should drink a glass of warm water before breastfeeding or before expressing milk. Before going to bed, drink a glass of warm milk. In addition, you can drink milk benefits such as: dandelion juice, dandelion tea...

5. Keep the spirit happy, comfortable, get enough sleep

Mental comfort and stable health are necessary conditions to ensure the mother's milk supply. As noted in infants, psychology can affect the ejection reflex. The happier and more optimistic the mother is, the more milk she produces and vice versa.

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