Manage Your Milk Supply: An Introduction to Your Supply

Eva Healey
7 days ago
4 min read

Newborn baby breastfeeding, wearing a red and white striped outfit. The close-up captures calm and nurturing emotions.

Milk Supply Musts:

Seek help early and when you need it.
Your supply is constantly changing, look at it over a 24 hour period, not per feed or pump session.
Try not to put too much pressure on yourself or your baby!

Keys to Understanding your Milk Supply:

Stages of Breast Milk
Recognize Outside Factors Affecting Your Supply
Utilize your Resources

Stages of Breast Milk

Colostrum is the first form of milk available at the breast and some women may notice it leaking before birth. Your body begins producing it during your second trimester of pregnancy. Colostrum is nutrient rich. It helps establish gut health and supports an infant's fragile immune system. Mothers only produce a small amount of colostrum and with a tiny stomach, that is all your baby needs.

Next, transitional milk is exactly what it sounds like. It bridges the gap between colostrum and mature milk. This stage can be harder to navigate than it seems because all women and babies are different, making it hard to know which interventions to incorporate. Some moms may experience engorgement which can lead to immense pain and potentially make it harder for baby to latch. Other moms may find that they can't keep up with their baby's demand. This stage is an opportunity for your baby and body to communicate. The amount of milk your baby consumes tells your body the amount of milk it needs to produce. It leads to regulating an over or under production.

Finally, mature milk. You made it past the hardest part! Your milk will remain in this phase until you or your baby decides to wean off of breastmilk. The biggest challenge of this phase is supporting mom and her needs.

Contributing Factors

Stress and hydration are critical when it comes to your supply. Both are difficult to manage in your postpartum state. Although there are many stressors around you, try and set boundaries, maintain consistency, and constantly remind yourself to take it one day at a time! When staying hydrated, water may not be enough. Look into an electrolyte option that works for you.

Why is hydration so important?

When your baby latches and begins to suckle at the breast or when you are using the "stimulation" phase on your breast pump, a hormone called oxytocin gets released and communicates to your body for your milk to begin flowing. This is called your "let-down". Oxytocin is awesome because it also communicates to your brain that you're thirsty. This is your body's natural way of staying hydrated! Be sure to have water available during every breastfeeding and or pump session so you can best support and maintain your milk supply.

How does your baby play a role in your milk supply?

Keep in mind, you may be doing everything right but your baby still isn't able to efficiently breastfeed. This just means they are not "transferring" the milk; They are sucking without consuming the necessary amount of milk. Commonly, the issue is due to their latch, their inability to remove your milk, or an uncoordinated suck and swallow pattern. Also, they may be at the breast passively sucking, as they would on a pacifier, instead of actively sucking. During a productive suck pattern you can hear or see your baby swallowing.

If you feel like you have sufficient supply but your baby still seems hungry, don't assume there is something wrong with your feeding style or the make up of your milk.

Aiding Resources

Will using a PACIFIER negatively impact my baby's ability to breastfeed?

In short, no! If and when your baby is crying, after other tactics to help them calm down have not worked, offer the pacifier. This elicits the natural suck reflex and helps baby learn to soothe. Once calm, the pacifier should be removed. Using it as a tool rather than a treatment will not create nipple confusion. I would argue it may even aid to more effective breastfeeding sessions because by crying less it decreases the opportunity for gas to build up and overstimulation. Additionally, when breastfeeding a calm baby compared to a fussy baby, you will have greater success and a much more enjoyable experience for all.

When should I offer a BOTTLE?

Many families plan to bottle feed expressed milk or formula. In addition to giving mom a break, it also provides the opportunity for others to get involved and bond. Note- mom still needs to pump during this feed and she should also be one to offer a bottle. This communicates milk comes from different people and in different forms. As a reminder, mom should be stimulating her breasts with breastfeeding and or pump sessions at least every 4 hours. If baby is eating at the breast, they will be eating every 2-3 hours so stimulating every 4 hours happens naturally and is easy to accomplish.

Once breastfeeding has been established and up to 3 weeks old is when you should offer the bottle. Developmentally, 3 weeks is when a baby socially starts to be more aware and engaged. Waiting to offer a bottle for the first time beyond 3 weeks old can be more challenging for some babies who will only prefer to eat at the breast and therefore can and will hold out to do so. This is especially important for moms returning to work and having to physically be away from their baby.