Top 18 Measures to Safeguard Breast Milk Supply for Both Baby and Mother

Mothers aiming for an ample milk supply for future breastfeeding should focus on maintaining a balanced diet with sufficient nutrients, have a reasonable rest and work schedule, and ensure a cheerful and comfortable mindset to promote healthy weight gain. Body weight should increase by 10-12kg to meet the requirements. This forms the basis for essential reserves to support mothers in producing an adequate and necessary milk supply after childbirth.

During pregnancy, mothers need to eat sufficiently to gain 10-12 kg over the 9-month period. After childbirth, mothers should not restrain themselves but must eat a well-balanced and daily nourishing diet. The food intake for mothers is higher than normal. Supplement with rice, meat, fish, eggs... and various vegetables, fruits. Additionally, traditional dishes that stimulate milk secretion can be prepared, such as: simmered pork legs with papaya, rice ball porridge with pork legs, sticky rice with sesame salt dip... Women can also use specific formula milk for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Limit spicy foods like onions, garlic, chili... as they can make the milk unpleasant-smelling, affecting the baby's feeding. Breastfeeding mothers should drink sufficient water, especially in the summer. Consume about 1.5 - 2 liters of water per day, which can include fruit juice, milk, etc.

Mother's breast care is a must from the moment of pregnancy. Regularly check both nipples; if they are inverted, clean, massage gently, and pull the nipples daily until delivery to facilitate easy breastfeeding. Mothers should not tightly bind the breasts while breastfeeding to avoid milk loss.

Clean the nipples before and after breastfeeding with warm water; do not wash them with alcohol or soap as it can dry and crack the skin, causing infection. When experiencing inflammation, cracks, or breast compression (if mild), breastfeeding can still stimulate milk secretion. If the nipples are cracked, apply Vaseline or antibiotic ointment, but clean it before breastfeeding. Before breastfeeding, express a little milk and apply it to both nipples to soften them. If breast compression is severe, it is necessary to express or pump milk daily to avoid milk stasis. Note that mothers should see a doctor for early examination and treatment to prevent severe impact on both mother and baby.

One of the secrets to stimulate milk production that mothers can do at home is hot compress combined with chest massage, along with hot compresses for the shoulders and back before breastfeeding.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the use of medication must follow the doctor's instructions. It is crucial to avoid medications that cause milk loss or negatively impact the baby's respiratory and cardiovascular centers.

If it is necessary to take medication, carefully read the instructions and consult with the doctor or pharmacist if there are any questions. When using medication, mothers should pay attention to changes in the baby, such as refusing to breastfeed or crying, and also monitor any changes in breast milk quantity or quality to adjust the dosage or stop using the medication promptly.

The labor and rest regimen before and after childbirth significantly affects the breastfeeding supply. During pregnancy, mothers should engage in light labor and avoid strenuous activities. In the period before childbirth, mothers need rest to ensure the optimal development of the fetus and immediate milk production for the baby.

After childbirth, mothers need to recover their health to facilitate good milk secretion and maintain a reliable source of breast milk for the child. Therefore, in the postpartum period, mothers need absolute rest and the care of family members. Especially, mothers need to get sufficient, deep sleep. When sleeping well and comfortably, the mother's body will produce more Prolactin, stimulating milk secretion.

A mother's milk supply depends heavily on psychological factors. If a woman is constantly tired, sleep-deprived, stressed, anxious, or depressed, then breastfeeding is significantly reduced. Women need thorough preparation in terms of psychological and maternal knowledge before marriage and having children. It is essential to create a loving, caring, protective, and comfortable environment for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The postpartum period is a time when mothers need a lot of attention and psychological care from family members. After giving birth, the Oxytocin breastfeeding hormone is released abundantly when the mother breastfeeds, gets close to, and cuddles the baby. If during this period, the mother is stressed, the activity of the lower brain and pituitary gland is affected, causing a significant decrease in Oxytocin levels, resulting in rapid loss of breast milk. Therefore, it is necessary to share, encourage, and take care of the mother to keep her spirit comfortable, happy, thereby stimulating the secretion of breast milk.

Proper breastfeeding not only ensures the nutritional needs for the baby but also stimulates the mother's milk production. Babies should be breastfed every 2 hours and as per the baby's demand (when the baby is hungry). Each breastfeeding session should last from 20-30 minutes, with at least 10 minutes on each breast because in the first 10 minutes, the baby only gets mainly water, while the breast milk produced afterward contains essential nutrients for the baby's development. As the baby grows a little older, they only need to breastfeed for about 5-10 minutes each time to get the necessary amount of milk.

Even if there is no milk yet after childbirth, mothers should still let the baby breastfeed even if there is no milk. The act of sucking on the breast nipple is a stimulation for the milk to come in sooner. Mothers should let the baby feed on one side before switching to the other to ensure the baby gets both the foremilk and hindmilk adequately.

Breastfeeding is the optimal method to stimulate the milk glands and maintain the mother's milk supply. The more the baby breastfeeds, the more milk is produced. Encourage frequent breastfeeding regardless of whether the mother has little or much milk or even no milk.

When the mother returns to work and cannot breastfeed the baby frequently to maintain the milk supply, the recommended approach is to increase nighttime breastfeeding. During nighttime breastfeeding, the baby still receives enough milk according to their needs, and it stimulates the milk glands, ensuring a plentiful milk supply for the mother.

After giving birth, it's crucial to maintain a healthy weight to ensure overall well-being. Rapid weight loss can impact the breastfeeding supply. Ideally, mothers should aim to maintain a weight gain of approximately 4 kg after childbirth to ensure a steady milk supply for the first 6 months.

Your weight gradually increases during the nine months of pregnancy, and it will take a similar amount of time to reduce. Don't worry if you still feel a bit heavy after the first 6 weeks postpartum. A balanced diet combined with moderate exercise is the best way to control and manage weight.

During the first 3 months postpartum, mothers need care and attention to swiftly recover from the physically demanding birthing process. Alongside maintaining a balanced and necessary diet, paying attention to sleep and related items is crucial for restful sleep and avoiding health issues.

Getting enough sleep is also a way to boost breast milk production, as short naps not only aid in replenishing the mother's energy but are also times when milk is produced abundantly.

Consistent breast pumping yields more milk, especially with a high-quality breast pump. Try to pump for a few hours at a stretch and pump both breasts simultaneously. It saves time and boosts the production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production.

Before heading to work, express breast milk and store it in the refrigerator for the baby to consume later. The expressed breast milk can be stored for about 72 hours in the refrigerator. When feeding the baby, warm the milk by placing the bottle in hot water until it reaches an even temperature.

Due to haste, many mothers worry that their babies might not be full enough, leading them to feed formula milk too frequently in the early days after giving birth.

Mothers need to understand the size of the baby's stomach and the amount of milk they can take based on their age. In the first 3 days, the baby only needs to consume 5-10ml per feed because the baby's stomach is only about the size of a grape. During this time, even if the milk supply is low, mothers just need to feed the baby frequently and continuously.

Gradually, the amount of milk the baby consumes will increase, and the mother's body will produce more milk to meet the baby's needs.

Breast milk is produced on the principle of supply and demand. The more you breastfeed regularly, the more milk is produced. Therefore, feel free to breastfeed when the baby demands without necessarily adhering to a strict breastfeeding schedule.

The more you breastfeed, the easier it becomes to express milk. It's essential to breastfeed in the evening, morning, and whenever possible. Expressing milk after a breastfeeding session may help increase the milk supply, even if you express a small amount.

Scientific studies have revealed the connection between parental care behaviors and the amount of milk produced. Actions such as gentle caressing, pampering of newborns stimulate increased oxytocin and prolactin levels in the mother's body. Both hormones are crucial for the process of producing and secreting breast milk. Mothers breastfeeding also have high levels of oxytocin and prolactin in the blood, fostering emotional bonding between mother and baby, creating a positive cycle supporting breastfeeding.

An interesting way to enhance mother-baby bonding and increase milk production is by massaging and wearing the baby in front. This approach allows young mothers to feel more confident in emotional communication with their newborns. Additionally, sleeping with the baby has many positive effects as it creates conditions for nighttime breastfeeding.

Did you know that newborns use different tongue and jaw movements when breastfeeding compared to bottle-feeding? When a baby is getting used to breastfeeding but also learning to use a baby bottle at the same time, the baby's breastfeeding technique may be negatively affected.

Therefore, mothers should limit the use of baby bottles, even if it's for breast milk, as well as using artificial nipples in the early postpartum period.

Consuming fruits or drinking fruit juices 1–2 times a day in the postpartum menu is something to pay attention to. Fresh and juicy fruits provide a rich source of vitamins, enhance nutrients, increase postpartum appetite for a healthy and breastfeeding mom.

However, be cautious with pineapple or strongly scented fruit juices as some babies are very sensitive to them and may find them uncomfortable.

Ensuring a daily intake of water helps the mother's body produce abundant milk, a golden rule all mothers should remember. Doctors recommend that new mothers drink 2.0 to 2.5 liters of water per day to stimulate milk production, keep the digestive system functioning well, and maintain smooth, youthful skin.

In addition to drinking filtered water, warm water, mothers can also try indulging in quality, aromatic milk tea for the best results.

Sticky rice is among the postpartum superfoods, a delicious and nutritious option that doesn't contribute to weight gain. Packed with starch, it not only replenishes energy after experiencing postpartum blood loss but also aids in producing ample breastfeeding milk. Amylopectin provides a prolonged satiety feeling and helps mothers maintain a consistent and efficient milk supply.

A helpful tip to boost postpartum milk production is to cook sticky rice porridge, incorporating pig trotters, and adding a bit of mung beans. This not only promotes breastfeeding but also helps alleviate concerns about blocked milk ducts.