Increasing milk production

This is a common breastfeeding question. When mothers observe certain normal changes and behaviors, they may assume their milk supply has decreased. This is often a "false alarm." Other times, a mother's milk supply may truly need to be increased. This FAQ will help you determine if you need to increase your milk supply as well as give you ways to increase your milk supply if appropriate.

The FAQ Is My Baby Getting Enough? also pertains to milk supply. Reading that FAQ will help you learn the indicators that your baby is receiving enough of your milk. If your baby is thriving on your milk then you can be assured that you have an adequate milk supply. The most up-to-date information on increasing your milk supply, including podcasts, journal articles and book reviews can be found on our Milk Supply Issues Web resource page.

At times, mothers are unnecessarily alarmed about their milk supply. They may not be aware of the normal process of breastfeeding. For example, by about the time a baby reaches 6 weeks to 2 months in age, mother's body has learned how much milk to make. Around this time, many women no longer feel "full." In addition, baby may be only nursing for five minutes at a time. These are not signs of decreased milk supply. They simply mean that both mother and baby are becoming more adept at breastfeeding. Mother's body has adjusted to the requirements for her baby and baby has become very efficient at removing the milk.

Some mothers become concerned about their milk supply if their baby begins to have fewer bowel movements. By about 6 weeks after the birth, colostrum is no longer present in a mother's milk. So this may mean that baby's bowel movements will decrease to one every day or even a few times each week. This is normal.