Care Plan for Low Milk Supply REMINDER: Regular, frequent weight checks are important because they are the very best indicator of baby’s intake! Allow baby unlimited time at the breast, both for nutritive and comfort nursing. The single MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do to ensure a good supply is to breastfeed frequently and well! Do not attempt to schedule feeding. Feed on demand, making sure you feed a minimum 8-12 feedings/24 hours. Allow baby no sleep periods longer than 3 hours daytime and 4 hours at night. Be sure that attachment and positioning are appropriate. If you are not sure, seek feedback from a medical professional/lactation consultant. Avoid use of bottles/pacifiers until supply issue is resolved. Only offer supplements if medically necessary. Pacifiers should not be used to delay feedings. The Mother should seek rest whenever she can and enlist the help of baby’s father, relatives, friends or even hired help with household chores or other children if possible. Rest, relaxation and sleep are a necessity for a breastfeeding Mother! Try relaxation techniques during feedings such as lying down to nurse, nursing in a comfortable chair/position, having something to drink while nursing or listening to favorite, quiet music. The Mother needs to eat well and drink to thirst. The Mother’s urine should be clear, light yellow. Some women find a significant supply increase simply by drinking more liquids. Increasing protein intake may help as well. Use caution with dieting and excessive exercise. Avoid smoking, excessive caffeine intake (more than 4 or 5 servings per day), birth control pills and cold or allergy medications. Any medication taken by mouth to dry nasal secretions will decrease milk supply. If using a nipple shield and milk supply is dipping, try pumping after some breastfeeding sessions so breasts will get more stimulation. If your baby usually nurses on one breast per feeding, try offering the second breast when baby is through with the first. Even if baby spends just a minute or two on the second side, this can help your milk supply. Take a “nursing vacation”. Spend a day or at least a few hours per day, in bed and skin-to-skin with your baby, resting and doing lots of breastfeeding the whole time. DO NOT sleep with your baby. Consider adding some pumping sessions into your day. Pump right after breastfeeding sessions to give your breasts extra stimulation. (Continued) Try gently massaging or compressing the breast as you nurse or pump. This can increase the milk flow and also increase the fat content in the milk. View this online video: http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html If you have tried these suggestions with little success, you could try a galactologue (herbal supplement or prescription medication used to increase milk supply). Speak with a lactation consultant or your doctor about this. For more support or information about low milk supply, visit this website: www.lowmilksupply.org Reference: Mohrbacher: Breastfeeding Made Simple, 2010 12/2013