There are several factors that affect milk production, including improper latching
According to the data of the Ministry of Health, breastfeeding rates are increasing in Brazil, although they are still below the level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The latest study shows that half of Brazilian children were breastfed for more than 1 year and 4 months, and 96.2% of children were breastfed at some time.
The World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health recommend continuing breastfeeding until the age of two years or more, with breast milk offered only until the sixth month of life. In this sense, Daniele Souza, a nutritionist at Materno-Infantel de Barcarena Hospital, located near Belem (Pennsylvania), points to one of the challenges mothers face.
“Breastfeeding is a new stage full of changes. During this period, we identified milk production as one of the difficulties mothers face, and in most cases, adequate and regular attachment of the baby is what facilitates breastfeeding, as milk is produced from this stimulus,” explains Danieli.
In addition to improper latching, breast milk production can also be affected by other factors, such as the use of hormonal contraceptives, decongestant medications, decreased breastfeeding frequency, premature birth, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, breast surgery, and diabetes with insulin addiction.
The good news is that most women produce about a third more milk than their babies breastfeed, giving them some scope to reverse the low production. Check out some ways to produce more breast milk below.
1. Breastfeeding after birth, if possible: The first hour of life is the time when the baby is most attentive, so it will be easier to latch on to the breast properly.
2. Note the handle: the ideal position is that the head and body are facing the mother, who can open the baby’s mouth and take him to the breast, and the baby should hold the entire areola.
3. Rest: It is not always easy to rest, but stress affects breastfeeding. The ideal is that the mother is calm and the environment is comfortable.
4. Massage and warm compresses help: This practice stimulates the area, favoring the dilation of blood vessels and the activity of the mammary glands for breastfeeding.
5. Drink more water: In order for a woman to produce more milk, she needs to make up for the fluid that she loses during breastfeeding. It is recommended to drink three liters of water daily.
6. Bonus: Beaks get in the way! Baby is still learning to suck, and a pacifier, bottle, and pacifiers get in the way of this process. When it is inserted, the baby may not breastfeed properly, and end up harming the mother.
Contrary to what many people imagine, the breast is not a storehouse of milk, it acts as a “factory” and is produced according to the demand of the child while pumping. “Although there are ways to increase breast milk production, it is essential that the mother monitors her baby. If he is feeding well, if he is sleeping well, if he is urinating and excreting several times a day, if his weight is within the parameters and his urine is clear, it means that the feeding You should continue. Otherwise, it is important for the mother to seek medical help,” instructs Yara Leit, a midwife at Baume Pasteur Hospital located in Guajara Merim (RO).
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