If you are worried like many other mamas about how you’re going to feed your baby because of your breast milk supply decreasing read this!
It’s normal to fear that you’re not making enough milk when your baby is cranky or wants to nurse within an hour after eating. When things go well, the baby’s weight gain indicates to everyone that things are progressing as expected. The findings of baby weight checks may not be as reassuring for some moms, who may be experiencing a decrease in milk production.
8 Reasons for Breast Milk Supply Decreasing
Here are a few of the most prevalent causes of low breast milk supply:
- Hormonal or endocrine problems
- Previous breast surgery
- Eating or drinking too little
- Taking medicine or herbal supplements
- Not feeding at night
- Infrequent nursing or pumping
- Poor Latch
- Growth Spurts
Hormonal or endocrine problems
Here is the first reason for breast milk decreasing. Your fertility may have been hindered by various medical conditions, including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and hormonal issues. The hormonal signals given to the breasts are crucial to milk production, and any of these disorders could contribute.
Previous breast surgery
A breast operation can be done for both medical and aesthetic reasons. There has been an increase in breast reductions and enhancements.
However, the nipple’s milk ducts can be damaged by nipple piercings, which might be considered a form of breast surgery.
Depending on how the operation was performed, how long it has been since the baby’s delivery, and if any problems might have caused scarring or injury to the breasts, the impact on nursing can vary greatly.
Eating or Drinking Too Little
The desire to shed the “baby weight” following childbirth can be alluring. Breastfeeding burns an average of 500 calories daily, so eat enough to replace those calories. Try eating an apple with nut butter to make up for the calories you’re missing between meals.
Breast milk production is aided by maintaining a healthy level of water. However, breast milk production is affected by the amount of liquid you consume.
Taking Medicine or Herbal Supplements
Every mother thinks this is not a big reason for breast milk decreasing, but it’s a big reason. Pseudoephedrine, methergine, bromocriptine, or large amounts of sage, parsley, or peppermint can alter your milk’s composition.
Your doctor may recommend an alternative treatment for your illness if you notice a decrease in your milk production after using one of the medications on this list.
Not Feeding at Night
You may find various books and programs on how to get newborns to sleep through the night without waking up for feedings through sleep training.
While these methods may work for some families, certain newborns may have difficulty gaining weight if they no longer receive nighttime feedings.
Why? The quantity of breast milk a woman can store between feedings varies greatly among moms. Their milk production starts to decrease after a night without feedings.
Infrequent Nurses or Pumping
It’s all about supply and demand when producing breast milk. Breast milk production increases as a newborn nurses more frequently, allowing moms to produce more milk.
Similarly, discontinuing breastfeeding sessions may cause a decrease in supply. Breast milk production may decrease when mothers return to work since they can’t pump frequently enough.
Poor Latch
A weak latch is one of the most common causes of reduced milk supply. As a result, you may create less milk if your infant isn’t latching properly onto your breast, which can lead your body to generate less milk.
Growth Spurts
When a baby goes through a growth spurt, he or she may appear to be continually hungry. As a result, you may have a shortage of milk while your supply has simply not kept pace with demand.
So, What Can Be Done?
One of the most common explanations for why nursing moms fail to complete the six months of breastfeeding is because they struggle to keep up with the feeding demands of their young. Never be afraid to ask for help, you can work with your doctor or lactation consultant to design the optimal feeding plan for your baby if you are having a difficult time.
source: https://www.todaysparent.com/baby/breastfeeding/10-reasons-for-low-milk-supply-when-breastfeeding/
