Slow Milk Flow
Slow Flow Management with "Tailored Breastfeeding"
Baby Behaviors to Wanting Faster Flow
When milk delivery is slower than baby wants:
In an attempt to increase the rate of milk flow, a baby may:
- He may tug at the nipple pulling back his head while holding his mother's breast in his mouth.
- He may clamp down then release then clamp down again chewing at the nipple to get squirts of milk by compression.
- He may appear uncomfortable at the breast, squirming or whimpering.
In an attempt to increase the rate of milk flow, a baby may:
- Massage or knead the breast with his fist or fingers
- Stimulate the other nipple with his fingers to increase milk flow, twiddling the other nipple
- Tug at the breast while arching his back
- Nuzzle his head into the breast rolling his head into the breast like a little goat
Breast Stimulation to Increase the Flow
Breast stimulation is a time-honored method of increasing milk flow. When a baby signals that he wants a faster flow, for instance, during the time of the day when a mother’s supply is lowest, a mother can stimulate one or both breasts to increase the flow. With her free hand, a mother can gently compress the breast the baby is feeding on. She will notice that he begins swallowing more quickly again. A mother can also pump the second breast while the baby is nursing, or stimulate her other nipple to increase the body’s production of oxytocin, the hormone for milk ejection.
It is important to watch the baby to be sure he likes the resulting increase in milk flow. If baby reacts negatively to the increased milk flow, avoid pumping or stimulating the other breast when the breast is full and the flow is the heaviest.
In general, early in the nursing session when a baby’s appetite is heaviest, he will appreciate faster flow. He may want to switch to the other breast even though the first breast has not softened all the way in order to continue having a strong flow. Watch the baby’s behavior to know when to use breast compression to increase his milk flow or when to switch to the faster-flowing breast.
Breast compression can help a baby whose feeding skills are not yet established. When the milk flows more easily, he feels more successful at the breast. Switching the baby from breast to breast, and using breast compression, can help him get more milk then he would without his mother’s help, and build his confidence for feeding.
It is important to watch the baby to be sure he likes the resulting increase in milk flow. If baby reacts negatively to the increased milk flow, avoid pumping or stimulating the other breast when the breast is full and the flow is the heaviest.
In general, early in the nursing session when a baby’s appetite is heaviest, he will appreciate faster flow. He may want to switch to the other breast even though the first breast has not softened all the way in order to continue having a strong flow. Watch the baby’s behavior to know when to use breast compression to increase his milk flow or when to switch to the faster-flowing breast.
Breast compression can help a baby whose feeding skills are not yet established. When the milk flows more easily, he feels more successful at the breast. Switching the baby from breast to breast, and using breast compression, can help him get more milk then he would without his mother’s help, and build his confidence for feeding.
Breast Pumps
Pumps that can be set to pump one breast at a time are good for pumping while nursing when a mother needs to increase her volume of breastmilk to the baby:
- A piston driven electric breast pump such as the SMB or Lact E pumps by Ameda/Hollister, or the Classic™ or Symphony® pumps by Medela
- a battery pump such as the Whisper Wear Pump;
- a hand breast pump such as the One Hand Pump by Ameda/Holister or the Harmony™ by Medela
Building a Supply
A piston driven electric breast pump such as the SMB or Lact E pumps by Ameda/Hollister, or the Classic™ by Medela are my recommendations for building a milk supply.
Slow flowing milk can be a frustration to you and your baby. Slow flow often goes hand in hand with low supply.
Discovering whether it is your baby’s technique that is causing slow flow, or if you are having difficulties manufacturing the quantity of milk your baby needs can be frustrating and frightening. It is a typical chicken or egg question. Which came first? Is the baby not breastfeeding effectively so mother has a lowered milk supply, or is a mother’ milk supply not developing well resulting in a baby who is not nursing well?
Building milk supply involves learning many new things. Entwined in each learning step are strong and sometimes difficult emotions. For instance, mothers must learn about pumping. They may feel saddened at being plugged into a pump rather than snuggling their new baby. Through trial and error, they learn which pumps work for them, and they watch the precious drops of milk fill the container. Mothers struggle to discover how often and for how long they need to pump—there are no rules that apply to all mothers. They learn about storing milk and sterilizing bottles, and about which bottle nipples flow fast and which slow. They learn about herbs such as fenugreek to build a milk supply, and goat’s rue to grow breast tissue. They learn about mother food that can help support milk supply, and they explore the differences between the medications domperidone and Reglan for enhancing their milk supply. They learn about PCOS and other hormonal issues that can have an impact on milk supply, and they learn about supplemental feeding devices.
It makes many families sad that the quantity of mother’s milk their baby needs is not available. If you are having breastfeeding challenges, we send you hugs. You are not alone.
Slow flowing milk can be a frustration to you and your baby. Slow flow often goes hand in hand with low supply.
Discovering whether it is your baby’s technique that is causing slow flow, or if you are having difficulties manufacturing the quantity of milk your baby needs can be frustrating and frightening. It is a typical chicken or egg question. Which came first? Is the baby not breastfeeding effectively so mother has a lowered milk supply, or is a mother’ milk supply not developing well resulting in a baby who is not nursing well?
Building milk supply involves learning many new things. Entwined in each learning step are strong and sometimes difficult emotions. For instance, mothers must learn about pumping. They may feel saddened at being plugged into a pump rather than snuggling their new baby. Through trial and error, they learn which pumps work for them, and they watch the precious drops of milk fill the container. Mothers struggle to discover how often and for how long they need to pump—there are no rules that apply to all mothers. They learn about storing milk and sterilizing bottles, and about which bottle nipples flow fast and which slow. They learn about herbs such as fenugreek to build a milk supply, and goat’s rue to grow breast tissue. They learn about mother food that can help support milk supply, and they explore the differences between the medications domperidone and Reglan for enhancing their milk supply. They learn about PCOS and other hormonal issues that can have an impact on milk supply, and they learn about supplemental feeding devices.
It makes many families sad that the quantity of mother’s milk their baby needs is not available. If you are having breastfeeding challenges, we send you hugs. You are not alone.