Contents:
- Medical Video: Increasing Milk Supply while Breastfeeding
- Benefits of breastfeeding for babies and mothers
- Know 'Let down reflex'
- What can expedite and multiply breast milk?
- 1. Often breastfeeding a baby
- 2. Comfortable atmosphere while breastfeeding
- 3. Breast massage
- 4. Mother's happiness
Medical Video: Increasing Milk Supply while Breastfeeding
Breast milk contains all the nutrients your baby needs, so breast milk is one of the important keys to keep your baby healthy and grow properly. However, not a few babies do not get exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Various causes can be reasons, but one of the most frequent reasons is because the milk does not come out again before 6 months.
Benefits of breastfeeding for babies and mothers
Breast milk has many benefits for your baby, including:
- Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight bacteria or viruses so your baby doesn't get sick easily
- Babies who get breast milk are at risk of suffering from asthma or allergies
- Breast milk contains complete nutrition for babies
- Babies given breast milk tend to be normal
In addition to babies, it turns out breastfeeding also has benefits for mothers, including:
- Breastfeeding turns out to burn calories, so breastfeeding helps mothers lose weight after pregnancy
- Breastfeeding triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin which helps restore the size of the uterus to its normal size, and helps prevent bleeding after childbirth
- Nursing mothers have a lower risk of breast cancer
Know 'Let down reflex'
During pregnancy, supported by hormonal changes, your breasts will experience changes to be ready to breastfeed your baby. The amount of breast milk will increase every day. When the baby sucks on the nipple, the baby will stimulate the nerves in the nipple that trigger it let down reflex aka two kinds of release, namely the hormone prolactin and the hormone oxytocin.
The prolactin hormone will trigger milk production, while the hormone oxytocin will dilate the ASI channels and help the breast pump the milk out of its gland.
What can expedite and multiply breast milk?
Various factors influence the production of breast milk produced by the mother. It is important for you to know tips to help you maintain ASI production as long as possible. Here are some tips that can help increase milk production.
1. Often breastfeeding a baby
The frequency with which you breastfeed a baby is a major factor in breast milk production. The more often you breastfeed, the more prolactin hormone is produced, the more milk will be produced. Keep in mind, this is done by considering the attachment between the baby's mouth and the right nipple.
Provide time for breastfeeding for 20-30 minutes every 2-3 hours every day, and of which you can provide additional breastfeeding as "snack ". As babies get older, the frequency of breastfeeding babies will decrease. Don't forget not to delay breastfeeding if your baby is hungry.
2. Comfortable atmosphere while breastfeeding
When you want to breastfeed, make a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for you. Look for a comfortable seat, provide enough drink, listen to music or while watching television, and keep yourself away from disturbances such as cellphones so as not to interfere with the breastfeeding process. Breathing slowly and deeply can help you relax yourself.
3. Breast massage
While breastfeeding, you can massage your breasts slowly to help the process of removing milk. Massage starting from the outside of the breast towards the inside. Be careful not to massage to the nipple because it can interfere with the baby while breastfeeding.
4. Mother's happiness
The psychological condition of the mother also plays a role in the production of breast milk. When you experience stress psychologically, the mother will produce stress hormones that make milk production decrease. The causes of stress can vary, mostly caused by external factors such as non-supportive attitudes from others towards breastfeeding and actually suggest giving formula milk.
Affection from the family is also needed to reduce stress. Condition like baby blues and postpartum depression (postpartum depression) also greatly affects the production of breast milk.