The reduced production of expressed breast milk is one of the concerns that are often experienced by breastfeeding mothers. However, there are several ways to increase the amount of expressed breast milk that Busui can try so that the baby's nutritional intake through breast milk can always be fulfilled.
Bottle-feeding is generally carried out by breastfeeding mothers who cannot always be with their babies, either because of work or because they have a lot of activities.
In addition, expressed breast milk can also be an option when breastfeeding mothers experience problems with their breasts, such as sore nipples, which makes direct breastfeeding difficult.
However, the process of expressing breast milk may not always run smoothly. Breast milk production may decrease and the stock of expressed breast milk is no longer sufficient to meet the baby's needs, even though babies still need breast milk as their main nutritional intake.
Breast Milk Production Principle
Breast milk is produced on demand. This means that the more often the breast is emptied, the more milk will be produced. Breast milk production is influenced by several hormones, namely:
Prolactin hormone
Prolactin is formed naturally in a woman's body before labor and after delivery. When the mother's nipple is sucked by the baby, the breast will stimulate the brain to release the hormone prolactin.
Thus, the more often the mother breastfeeds, the more prolactin hormone is produced so that milk production can continue.
Oxytocin hormone
Smooth breast milk is also influenced by the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is able to trigger stimulation of the breasts which makes milk flow out of the nipple when expressed and helps the baby to get milk easily.
Oxytocin hormone works when the baby sucks the breast. This hormone also appears when the mother sees, touches, kisses the baby, or when she hears her baby crying.
The hormones prolactin and oxytocin are also influenced by the mother's psychological condition, mood, and mindset. This is the reason why psychological problems such as severe stress, depression, or anxiety disorders in breastfeeding mothers can cause the performance of these hormones to be disrupted, so that breast milk does not come out smoothly.
How to increase the amount of expressed breast milk
Some breastfeeding mothers may not experience problems in milk production when expressing breast milk. However, not a few mothers have difficulty expressing breast milk because the amount of expressed milk produced is not much.
Therefore, in order to increase the amount of expressed breast milk and support smooth milk production, Busui can try the following ways:
1. Express breast milk more often
To launch breast milk production, Busui can express or pump milk more often so that the breasts continue to produce milk. Busui can do it regularly, for example every 2 hours for 15 minutes.
If necessary, Busui can make a schedule so that breastfeeding activities can be carried out regularly. If the schedule is missed, try to keep expressing milk even if only for a few minutes rather than not at all.
2. Give breast milk to the baby while expressing
When feeding the baby on the right, try expressing the left breast or vice versa. Expressing while breastfeeding makes the milk production in the breast that is expressed more profusely come out.
3. Express breast milk after feeding the baby
Sometimes, the breasts still feel full, even after the baby has finished feeding. For optimal breast emptying, Busui can continue to express breast milk after a feeding session. Optimal empty breasts will give a signal to the body to produce more milk.
4. Express milk from both breasts at the same time
For maximum milking results, express both breasts at the same time. Using two pump funnels also makes pumping time more efficient.
Use a nursing bra or a breast-pumping bra (this model has a slit in the middle) to insert the pump funnel. Using a special bra, Busui doesn't have to hold on to the pump funnel, so both hands remain free.
5. Milk with technique power pump
Power pump is a technique to imitate the frequency of breastfeeding babies who are in their period of growth spurt (growth acceleration). During time growth spurt, the baby will feed more often and longer duration of compiling it.
Power pump done in the following way:
- Express both breasts for 20 minutes, then rest for 10 minutes.
- Express both breasts for 10 minutes, then rest for 10 minutes.
- Express both breasts again for 10 minutes.
Power pump done not to replace the regular pump schedule, but as an additional session. ideally, power pump done at night because the amount of the hormone prolactin is higher at night.
Keep in mind that power pump only recommended for breastfeeding mothers who experience decreased milk production. Breastfeeding mothers whose production is smooth and sufficient are advised to continue breastfeeding as usual and do not try to do it power pump.
6. Try to keep breastfeeding the baby directly
Almost all breastfeeding mothers choose to give expressed breast milk for reasons of having to work or not being able to always be near their babies. However, when you are with your baby, Busui should continue to breastfeed directly.
Baby sucking is one of nature's most effective ways to stimulate milk production. Breastfeeding directly can also stimulate the baby to continue breastfeeding smoothly through the nipple.
If the baby is given breast milk too often through a bottle, it is feared that it can make him experience nipple confusion.
7. Manage stress
Stress and fatigue can reduce milk production or interfere with breastfeeding. Therefore, Busui needs to manage stress well so that milk production remains smooth.
If Busui is tired, don't hesitate to ask for help from your partner, family, or relatives to look after your little one or do household chores while Busui rests.
8. Consume nutritious food and drink lots of water
During breastfeeding, the mother's body will need more nutrients, energy, and water. In order for the breastfeeding process and milk production to run smoothly, Busui needs to eat and drink enough.
Try to eat more food, especially fruit and vegetables. Busui can also try to eat foods that can increase milk production or breast milk booster breast milk.
In addition, Busui also needs to drink enough water to avoid dehydration. To meet the needs of body fluids, Busui needs to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day.
It should also be understood that the low yield of expressed breast milk is not necessarily due to the low production of Busui's breast milk. This could be because Busui has not regularly expressed breast milk.
Expressed milk production may also decrease because Busui's breasts do not match the type of breast pump used, the funnel size is not appropriate, the pump part is damaged, or the method of expressing breast milk is not correct.
If the amount of Busui's expressed breast milk is still not enough, even though you have tried the above ways to increase the amount of expressed breast milk, please consult your doctor about this.
To increase the production of expressed breast milk, doctors can provide advice on how to express breast milk and give certain supplements or drugs to increase milk production if necessary.