Increase Breast Milk Production by Faking a Growth Spurt
Is Your Breast Milk Supply Low? Faking a Growth Spurt Can Boost Supply
Faking a growth spurt means increased breast milk production
One of the easiest ways to fake a growth spurt is to do extra pumping. When baby is about to hit a growth spurt, the baby gets hungrier and demands more. For many women, myself included, it can take a few days for your body to begin meeting larger milk demand. The advice given to me by a lactation consultant was to pump more often. Since my child was in day care, if I didn't send enough breast milk to meet her needs, they fed her formula to supplement. When supply became an issue, I told the day care staff that I needed her to be hungry when I came to pick her up. The lactation consultant advised me to feed a very hungry baby until satisfied, and then double pump until every drop of milk was expressed, plus a few minutes more. Running the well dry and then some should signal to your body that more breast milk is required to meet a growing baby's needs.
Increase breast milk supply by pumping after baby goes to bed
After I would put my child to bed for the night, I would pump again. As far as my body was concerned, my baby was sneaking in an extra feeding. The extra time I spent pumping late at night helped to increase the amount of breast milk I was able to produce in a day. After several days, I noticed that I was able to produce enough breast milk for a complete feeding, which I was able to store for future day care use.
A caveat: don't take the weekend off when you are home with your nursling. Though you may be tempted to slack off on the late night pumping because you may not need it for a bottle the next day, continue to pump to keep up the charade of a fake growth spurt to keep signaling to your body that it needs to increase your breast milk supply for your child.
Sources: Personal experience
The advice given in this article is based upon my own personal experience. If you are suffering from low milk supply, be sure to consult a physician or lactation consultant in case there is an underlying medical reason for your health issue.
Published by Carly Hart
One of AC's Top 1000 Content Producers, Carly Hart's interests include news, politics, parenting, frugal living and consumer related issues. A Featured Contributor in the Shopping and Fashion category, she... View profile
Breast Milk is BestBreast milk is better than formula because it protects your baby from illness and helps her overall in many ways.- The Healing Properties of Breast MilkAn overview of the various alternative uses for breast milk.
Breast Milk and Its Many UsesBreast milk is not only the best way to feed your newborn or infant, this nourishing substance has the ability to heal and protect the body as well.
Breastfeeding Myths: Formula is as Good as Breast MilkWe shouldn't assume formula and breast milk are equal. While formula provides a great alternative to those that can't/won't breastfeed, the benefits of mommy's milk still reign. - FDA Has a Warning for Nursing Mothers Regarding Medications with CodineThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning nursing mothers about the use of using medications such as cold medicines containing codeine
- How to Protect Your Breast Milk From Contamination
- Breast Milk is Best, Breast Pumps Can Get You There!
- Breast Milk from a Bottle Vs. Breast Milk Directly from the Breast
- Can Adults Benefit from Drinking Breast Milk?
- Breast Milk Ice Cream, Cheese, and Soup: Is Breast Still Best?
- Breast Milk Ice Cream Idea Proposed by PETA to Ben and Jerry's
- Top Five Lesser-Known Uses for Breast Milk
5 Comments
Post a CommentThese are good tips. For some of us though, we have to use herbs. My milk supply wouldn't increase due to PCOS. The lactation consultant told me to try Breastea from breastea.com. What a difference! I went from pumping 1/2 ounce to 4 to 7 ounces depending on the time of day. Try all these things, but if your milk supply isn't increasing try Breastea.
Very good article. In the past I have cared for nursing babies and moms milk is by far the best.
Great info. As natural as breastfeeding is, it can be so complicated at times. I spent the first 3 weeks of my daughter's life in tears because we had nursing issues. Years later, I'm still nursing. Thanks for sharing your story. This may make some woman's year (and her baby's).
Great tips! I tried this method and a few others, but still, around 4 months the DR said to begin supplementing :( I breastfed in addition thru 9 months, which isn't great but so much better than not at all!! Thanks!
Interesting. I never thought about using a 'fake out' to increase breast milk production. Hope this article helps those seeking info on increasing breast milk production :)