Help! I Don't Have Enough Milk!

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

27 Jun 2006 05:01 AM

The actual number of women who medically cannot produce enough milk for their babies is very, very rare. Why then does it seem that we all know at least a few women who for one reason or another had trouble producing enough milk to feed their children? Frequently what happens is that a mother has trouble and is never really given the necessary support to continue producing milk effectively. The bottom line is that the less your baby nurses, the less milk you will produce.

Supply and Demand Breastfeeding is a supply and demand relationship. Your body produces the amount of milk that your baby demands. It doesn't matter if your baby is huge at birth or if he grows very quickly. If you nurse when your baby "demands", you will always have an ample supply. In fact, when babies hit a growth spurt, they nurse more frequently, so that you produce more milk to sustain the growing baby. Conversely, if your baby is not demanding, your body will not produce.

Pumping Can Work Against You A pump is not as effective as a baby in removing milk from the breasts--especially most commercial brands sold in stores. Several women I know talk about how when breastfeeding wasn't going well, they tried to pump their milk so the baby would still be exclusively breastfed. This rarely works for the long term. Since the pump is not as effective at removing milk, each time you pump you are removing less and so your body is producing less and so on it goes. (I will write about effective pumping in a future blog.)

Nipple Confusion Giving some babies pacifiers and bottles works against you in establishing breastfeeding. First of all, it can cause nipple confusion which will result in the baby either refusing to suck or sucking incorrectly. I should say that not all babies get nipple confusion however, using a pacifier instead of allowing the baby to nurse and "pacify" at the breast will not increase your supply.

Diet and Nutrition Some mothers become so overwhelmed and over tired that they forget to take care of themselves! Your body needs more calories to breastfeed than to be pregnant so now is NOT the time to be worried about fitting into your pre-pregnancy jeans! A good rule of thumb is that every time you sit down to nurse grab a bottle of water and a healthy snack.

Generally, a lack of milk is due to how the breastfeeding relationship begins, and is managed. Supply issues can develop very quickly, but they can also be resolved very quickly. A properly certified lactation consultant can tell you if you are truly unable to produce enough milk. If you find yourself with low supply you can check out my next blog on tips to building your milk supply.

It should be noted that there are some medical issues for both baby and mother that contribute to low milk supply. I will deal with those in another blog. This information is for healthy mothers and full-term, healthy babies and your "average" breastfeeding problems. For related information and articles see:

Meghan the Vampire Baby: My Nursing Nightmare

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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Heather Long (16954) 27 Jun 2006 05:39 AM

I was successful for several months and my sister in law exclusively pumps for my nephew and at 9 months, they are both still going strong. I think it really does come down to the support and the type of equipment. I leased my breast pump from a lactation consultant and it was a higher end, stronger machine and my sister-in-law has done the same. I stopped breast feeding after my daughter was six to seven months old, but by that point we just couldn't keep up with her appetite -- on the other hand, she benefited well from what I could do and I was happy with that.

Valorie Delp (49340) 27 Jun 2006 06:57 AM

So true. . .to give your baby breastmilk for months and months requires the rental or purchase of a high quality machine which cannot usually be found in stores! Good for you for pumping that long!

Heather Long (16954) 27 Jun 2006 07:48 AM

If I haven't mentioned it before -- thanks for all the great breast feeding articles. I think they are a tremendous help and the more education out there to help women balance their options -- the better.

Valorie Delp (49340) 27 Jun 2006 07:53 AM

I'm glad to share my experiences and I'm glad you enjoy the articles.

QueenAngie Central Illinois, USA (60106) 13 Jul 2006 08:00 PM

Great tips for sharing with other nursing Moms.

The hospital where I gave birth, has an excellent nursing instructor with a degree, and is an expert. She always gives her card to new Moms and includes her telephone number as a handy reference. She even can have the new nursing Moms return with the baby, to the hospital for more coaching, if needed, and it is a free service. She has done this for over 20 years and is a wonderful resource for moms. That is very reassuring.

Valorie Delp (49340) 17 Jul 2006 05:01 PM

You are so lucky. I had to fight the nurses where I gave birth tooth and nail to breast feed my kids! When I finally had a kid that didn't take to it, and I had a question, the nurses were HORRIBLE! If I haven't mentioned it before, and again, and again, every one who wants to nurse should know where to get an IBCLC!

oweirdo (33643) 30 Jan 2007 07:13 PM

Using birth control can often effect your supply.....

Valorie Delp (49340) 30 Jan 2007 08:17 PM

Yes. . .using birth control will ALWAYS affect your supply. However, some women make so much milk they don't notice. . . I just recently wrote a blog about birth control and breastfeeding. I didn't include it here because my purpose was more to share things people may not be aware of. In theory if you're getting BCP from a doctor they'll tell you. . .but I realize that's not always the case. Thanks for the excellent point.