【Major Points】
- Breastfeed early, frequently, and as much as possible.
- Have confidence and strong motivation, and stay in a good mood.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet, get enough rest and relax.
- Family support helps reduce maternal anxiety and helplessness, and extends breastfeeding duration.
How dose milk production work?
Milk production is based on the principle of supply and demand. When the newborn sucks on the breast or hand-expressed breast milk, it will stimulate the sensory nerves over the nipple and areola. The sensory stimulus from the newborn's sucking will transmit the message to the hypothalamus in the mother's brain, which then activates milk secretion. The hypothalamus will trigger the pituitary gland to release prolactin and oxytocin. The prolactin stimulates mammary gland cells to produce milk, and oxytocin causes the milk ducts to contract and release milk. Therefore, newborns need to suck on the breast frequently to stimulate continuous milk production.
Ways to promote lactation:
- Skin contact on the delivery table between mother and newborn not only enables the mother to secret milk easier but also has a positive impact on the baby's breathing, heartbeat, and blood sugar stabilization.
- Keep rooming-in and breastfeeding early after delivery as soon as possible. The duration and frequency of breastfeeding should not be restricted. Instead, it should be based on the baby’s needs. Continuous feeding at night will help maintain lactation.
- When a mother needs to be apart from her newborn for any reason, milking regularly is imperative to keep continuous lactation. Keep express milk every 3–4 hours, at least 6–8 times per day.
- Check your breastfeeding positions and your baby is latching on correctly. (including the area on both nipple and areola for the newborn to suck on).
- A balanced diet during the breastfeeding period is recommended. Drink at least 2000 CC of water daily, eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, and lean protein sources with small amounts of sugar and saturated fat.
- Sufficient rest and relaxation are essential. A tired body will affect appetite, mood, and hormone secretion, which inhibits the oxytocin reflex. So when the baby sleeps during the day, the mother can join too.
- The oxytocin reflex can be stimulated by applying warm compression before milking, massaging, expressing milk with other breastfeeding mothers, looking at the baby's photos or listening to the baby's cry. The best way to maintain lactation is to start breastfeeding early and do it continuously. All while getting adequate rest , relax, keep a good mood and avoiding stress.
Reference
- Mikołajczyk-Stecyna, J. (2024). The impact of exclusive breastfeeding on breastfeeding duration. Applied Nursing Research, 79, 151824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2024.151824
- Syahri, I. M., Laksono, A. D., Fitria, M., Rohmah, N., Masruroh, M., & Ipa, M. (2024). Exclusive breastfeeding among Indonesian working mothers: Does early initiation of breastfeeding matter?. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 1225. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18619-2
- Talebi, S., Kianifar, H. R., & Mehdizadeh, A. (2024). Nutritional requirements in pregnancy and lactation. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 64, 400–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.10.155
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No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Beitou District, 
Taipei, Taiwan 11217, R.O.C.
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