Mother lacks milk after giving birth, what should be supplemented for children?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Hoang Thi Anh Tuyet - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.
Lack of milk after giving birth is a common phenomenon, especially for first time mothers. Establishing a healthy diet to maintain your baby's growth and keep yourself healthy is essential.

1. What is the mother lack of milk?

Lack of milk after giving birth is a phenomenon in which the mother's breasts secrete very little milk. Mothers who do not produce milk to breastfeed after giving birth are also considered milk deficient. It is important to distinguish a lack of milk from a loss of milk – a phenomenon in which a mother is having normal milk but for some reason the mammary gland suddenly stops producing milk.
Lack of milk normally takes place in a short time, causing no pain to the mother but greatly affecting the mother's milk supply for the baby. If not treated promptly, the mother may permanently not have enough milk to breastfeed.

2. What to do when the mother lacks milk to breastfeed?

After giving birth, a mother needs to breastfeed her baby early, exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months and breastfeed until 24 months of age because breast milk is full of nutrients and antibodies, nutrients in the right proportions. suitable for the digestion and absorption of young children.
But for some reason, if the mother does not have enough milk for her baby, in the first 6 months, in addition to taking advantage of breast milk, it is necessary to choose the solution to eat more formula. There are 2 ways to eat more formula, which is to feed the baby with milk or give the baby formula milk.
2.1 Breastfeeding Thanks to breastfeeding is a habit of many mothers in the past because maybe the mother has little milk, she has to work far away, and at the same time because formula milk was rare and expensive at that time. Currently, there is a breast milk bank that is also a form of suckling, but not a child who is directly suckled from the mother's milk. Breastfeeding from a milk bank is also breastfeeding and any breast milk is good for babies.
However, breastfeeding also carries a risk of transmitting infectious diseases through milk and blood. Therefore, when breastfeeding, the child's family needs to choose a healthy mother who does not suffer from infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis... to avoid transmit the disease to children. When breastfeeding, it is necessary to carefully research the person you are applying for, and at the same time make sure they are healthy people to breastfeed directly.
2.2 Eat more formula Eat more formula with each age using a separate type of milk, so it is necessary to choose the right formula for the baby. Each dairy product is a type of food, which may be suitable for one child but not suitable for another child despite being in the same age group due to its location, digestion and absorption capacity. Therefore, when choosing formula milk for babies, mothers need to pay attention to a few points:
To ensure the needs for the comprehensive development of children, choose milk based on the most important ingredients. of milk include: Energy, protein, fat.

The value of milk is not from the price, not every expensive milk, high-priced milk is good. It is important that you give your baby a percentage of energy from milk in a day, the amount of milk he drinks daily is important, because the total energy that the child eats daily will determine the growth rate of the child. Because the baby's digestive ability in the first months after birth is still weak, so when making milk for babies, it is necessary to have the right ratio and formula for each month of age. Do not mix too diluted milk, or too thick because it affects the digestion and absorption of children, and is not good for the health of children. Mothers can consult a medical professional or consult to choose infant formula for their babies, helping them to be fully supplemented with micronutrients in the safest and most scientific way.

3. The main reasons why mothers lack milk

3.1 Causes of lack of milk due to mother's mother's low feeding, improper feeding position and improper latching of the nipple. The mother's breasts do not have enough milk-producing tissue (must have to be examined to find out). You have had breast surgery, such as breast augmentation, breast reduction, radiation therapy. Stress affects the lactation process, specifically making mothers lack milk to breastfeed immediately after birth. Poor diet, excessive abstinence during confinement or early postpartum weight loss. Antibiotics used in mothers who have had a caesarean section interfere with lactation. Diseases of the mammary glands or any disease that the mother has not discovered. At this time, lack of milk is often accompanied by many other symptoms. 3.2 Causes of lack of milk due to the baby's poor feeding or lethargy, reducing the feeding time. Baby is used to formula milk and is no longer interested in breast milk. The baby is not latching on to the nipple properly.

4. The most effective way to deal with a mother's lack of milk today

Lack of milk is not a disease and it is not necessary to take medicine. When there is a shortage of milk, do not immediately think of giving formula to your baby because no other formula can match breast milk. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months of life is the best gift that every mother should give her baby. So, a mother lacks milk to breastfeed her baby, what to do? 4.1 On the mother's side. Breastfeeding as much as possible, breastfeeding both day and night: Breast milk is produced on demand, the more the baby suckles, the more prolactin hormone is produced, stimulating more milk. Pay attention to your baby's sucking position and sucking activities. Always keep the mind comfortable, avoid stress or stress. Eat enough, daily need to eat a variety of foods
Get enough sleep at least 8 hours/day Increase the portion size more than usual. The diet needs enough four food groups: protein (meat, fish, eggs, milk, beans...), fat (oil, fat, butter), carbohydrates (rice, noodles, potatoes...), vitamins and minerals (green vegetables and fresh fruits) Water is very important for mothers who are nursing young children, including milk, water Fruit, broth, especially filtered water. The amount of water needed is from 2.5-3 liters of water. In the evening before going to bed you can drink a glass of milk, at night after breastfeeding, drink a glass immediately. In addition to a reasonable diet and rest, pregnant mothers can use lactation products of natural herbal origin, products that support increasing the quantity and quality of breast milk without drinking water. not a medicine 4.2 On the side of the baby Use when the circumstances really require. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for a baby's development . Therefore, mothers should breastfeed babies for at least the first 6 months of life so that children can perfect their resistance, digestive system and intelligence.

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