Breast Milk Supply
Having a balanced breast milk supply, where your body is making enough milk for your baby, is something that —for some mums— will happen on its own when their baby is around 6—8 weeks old. Up until this point you may find that you either have an over supply, so that you are constantly engorged or you may be wondering if you have enough milk to satisfy your baby's needs.
Sometimes breast milk supply issues will continue beyond the 6—8 week mark and you will know if you need to try different things to manage these issues.
Things which may both help and hurt your milk supply —depending on which side of the supply fence you sit— are:
• Scheduled feeding
• Giving your baby extra fluids or solids
• Hormonal changes
• Alcohol,Smoking and caffeine
• Illness
• Drugs/prescription and over the counter
Something to keep in mind is that breast milk production —funnily enough— is like any production plant or manufacturer in the world. It's based on the principles of supply and demand. The more milk that is removed from your breast, the more milk your body will make - it usually is that simple.
With this in mind, it can usually be the smallest change to what you are doing or how you are breastfeeding that makes all the difference when it comes to supply issues.
If you feel that you have too much milk or that your breast milk production is low, it can help to pin point a couple of factors that you feel may be the cause and learn more about them. I have tried to cover many of the possible factors in the links above as well as the links at the bottom of the page, so I truly hope this helps you find your way to a balanced milk supply.
Please always remember to consult your health professional to find out information that is relevant to your specific situation.
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Here are some links to other milk supply topics that you might be interested in:
Low Milk Supply
Often, the normal, natural changes in our bodies and babies which indicate that we are making the perfect amount of milk, are mistaken for signs of low milk supply.
Increasing Breast Milk
Often, the reason for weaning is low milk supply or the concern around it. But increasing breast milk is probably easier than most mums would imagine.
Tips on Breastfeeding with an Over Supply of Breast Milk
If you have an over supply of breast milk, these tips on breastfeeding can help you reduce your supply and make the road to a balanced supply more bearable.
Return from Breast Milk Supply to The Essence of Breastfeeding
