Are you a night owl who wants to make the most of breastfeeding your little one? Look no further! This article is for you. Maximizing milk flow can be achieved by making small changes in your routine, diet and sleep habits.
Are You Under Pressure?
Stress is not good for anyone, especially new moms who are struggling with breastfeeding. Feeling pressure or anxiety may detrimentally affect milk supply. Always remember that stress is not only mental but also physical.
Relaxation Techniques
Take time out of your busy schedule (as hard as it may seem) to relax and unwind during the day. Here are some tips:
- Listen to calming music
- Use aromatherapy oils
- Take deep breaths
- Do yoga or meditation
Nutrition for Breastfeeding Moms
Breastfeeding requires extra calories from nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy products, healthy fats such as nuts and seeds which keep mommy's energy levels high while nursing her little one(s).
Snack Attack Time
Milk production needs quality food intake throughout the day - this means snacking frequently on nutrient-rich options like raw veggies with hummus dip (yum!), homemade granola bars without sugar (yes way!) or sliced apples with almond butter.
Don't Forget To Stay Hydrated!
Drink water regularly every hour during nursing sessions so that mommy stays hydrated and prepares herself sufficiently for future nourishment requirements.
Restful Nights Help Build Up Milk In High Spirits
Getting enough restful nights will help ensure mothers have enhanced lactation rates when they wake up refreshed each morning after sleeping well through long stretches uninterrupted (oh yes please!). But how does one achieve that?
Pay Attention To Sleep Cues
Always listen to your body signals telling you it's time for bed so that mommy has more consolidated periods of sleep(zzz...) which are important to breastmilk production.
Don't Breastfeed In A Laying Position
Lying down while nursing can make mommy too comfortable and fall asleep during feedings. This is dangerous for the baby as well.
Furthermore, lying on your back while breastfeeding also puts unnecessary pressure on the ducts inserted that could lead them to clog making it harder to lactate (Trust us!).
Instead, keep a pillow handy for stabilizing their neck closer towards you than resting independently in bed alone.
Stimulating Milk Flow And Saving Time!
Milk production depends heavily on stimuli from nursing sessions (Yes indeed!). Let's discuss two methods of encouraging milk let-down; manual & electric pumping;
Manual Pumping
This method utilizes a breast pump tool with suction power that allows mommies an easy way to extract milk from one or both breasts at once manually (Aren't mommies amazing?)
Pros:
- Can be done anywhere
- May stimulate lactation due to skin-to-skin contact
Cons:
- It takes longer
- Can get tiring
Electric Pumping (No More Hand Cramps)
Electric pumping expedites the extraction time without sacrifice quality and hygiene as it operates through automated motor mechanisms - this means faster flow times where moms can pump more efficiently and comfortably alongside feeding her little one(Hallelujah!). The additional benefit is not having hand cramps in between sessions anymore.
Pros:
- Faster
- More efficient
Cons:
- More expensive option.
Conclusion
When moms are wanting an increase in optimal flow there are four things they should focus on including Stress management techniques such as yoga or meditation, eating healthy nutritious meals throughout each day balanced out with frequent snacking choices like vegetables dipped hummus dip, staying hydrated by drinking water regularly during nursing sessions, and prioritizing restful nights while avoiding feeding in an inelegant position. Lastly encouraging milk let-down can be done with varying methods like manual or electric pumping ensuring nursing is always a practical time-efficient experience for both mommy & baby(Cheers to that!).