If you are a new mom, you certainly know how important breastfeeding is for the baby. There is no better food for an infant than breast milk. It’s safe, contains antibodies that help protect against many childhood illnesses, provides energy and the right amount of nutrients needed in the first few months. It also continues to provide up to half of the nutritional needs of the baby during the second half of his first year, and up to one third in his second year.
However, not every mum is lucky enough to be able to breastfeed her baby, meaning she can’t produce enough milk to nurse. If you are one of those mums, rest asured that there are many ways you can boost the milk supply, allowing you to breastfeed your little one.
Breastfeeding Supplements
The supplements for breastfeeding are products that contain galactagogues, substances that help in increasing breast milk production. There are different types of breastfeeding supplements available in the form of tea, cookies, medications, milkshakes and smoothies. They contain some herbs such as fenugreek, alfalfa, milk thistle, fennel, black seed and fennel. However, fenugreek and alfalfa are the most commonly found ingredients in these supplements.
Fenugreeks are aromatic seeds that contain estrogen-like compounds which are believed to enhance milk production. Alfalfa is a flowering plant known to be good for women’s health, especially for breastfeeding mums. This substance had been used for ages by new mothers to support lactation. It also contains components that resemble estrogens and is rich in vitamin K.
Ready-made lactation cookies usually include whole oats, wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, and flaxseed meal. All of these are good and healthy foods for nursing moms. Depending on your diet, you can find breastfeeding supplements that are wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and contain no refined sugar. You can even find vegan lactation cookies.
In addition, you also have the option to buy a cookie mix and make cookies on your own. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy a moment of calm with some fresh baked cookies and hot organic tea. These moments are pretty rare when you have a little baby, so whenever you have time for yourself – use it with quality.
Besides helping with milk supplies, smoothies and milkshake are also a super quick option for breakfast for busy breastfeeding mums. For this occasion, you can buy some combo of shakes that can be easily added to your favourite breakfast or blended up into a smoothie. These shake combos usually contain a mix of 3 smooth and creamy flavours (banana, vanilla, strawberry or chocolate) and only real natural ingredients are used in them.
Breast Pump
Breast pumping can be pretty effective for increasing milk supply because this way you would be signalling to your body to produce more milk. You can do this between feedings. Warming your breasts before pumping may have a good impact and make you more comfortable and pump easier.
Increase the number of times you pump, because the more often the milk is removed from the breasts, the more milk they will produce. So, pump whenever you notice that you have milk left over after a feeding, whenever your baby misses a feeding or it gets a bottle of formula. Make sure that you are nursing or pumping at least 8 times a day.
Nursing Chair Can Help
Sometimes, milk supply can be decreased due to stress. Which is why it’s important that you relax and feel comfortable whenever you’re breastfeeding.
The right nursing chair can make the process of breastfeeding your little one easier. Make sure that you pick a quality nursing chair for feeding your baby in comfort. You will be especially grateful for such a cosy chair in the middle of the night when you are sleepy and exhausted.
Since the first few months you will breastfeed your baby several times a day, doing it in the bed, standing up, or seated in an ordinary chair can be pretty uncomfortable. Plus, you can start feeling back pain after a certain time of incorrect seating, and a supportive and cushioned nursing chair can help you prevent this.
It’s worth mentioning that it can be your spot to relax in privacy, perfect for reading a good book while your baby is sleeping. Besides all these benefits for the mum, having such a chair can also help you soothe your fussy newborn baby or build a stronger bond with your little one when you two are relaxing in it together.
There are many different types of nursery chairs, some in more modern designs and others in more traditional styles. Some of them may have an extra set of straight legs that gives you the option to convert that beautiful rocking chair into a classic accent chair to enjoy it even after the baby is weaned. You can even choose the material it will be made from, whether it’s jute, linen or velvet. Usually, they are built using a combination of hardwood and engineered wood, and then encased in some of soft fabric.
All in all, it’s important to pick a model that will complement the design of the nursery decorated with baby furniture and make a beautiful and cosy atmosphere.
Focus on Self-Care
As mentioned, stress and exhaustion can have a pretty negative effect on your milk supply. Therefore, it’s important to take good care of yourself and to take the time to rest, because when you are rested, your body can put extra energy into producing healthy breast milk. Take a bath or read some good book, or use that moment when the baby is sleeping to take a nap too.
Another thing to take into account is to drink enough fluids every day since breast milk is made up of about 90% water. Make sure that you drink about 6 to 8 glasses of different healthy fluids, including water, milk, tea and juice in order to stay hydrated. It’s also good to have some healthy snacks stashed by your bedside table or the chair where you most often nurse.
