A young mother, while enjoying the company of her baby, may suddenly discover that she has run out of milk. What to do in such a situation? First of all, do not panic, because stress does not contribute to lactation. We need to find out if there really is a problem, and if so, whether it is systemic or temporary.
Is the baby worried and often asks for breasts? And when he takes it, quickly throws it and cries? This happens at a very early age, and most often the problem is not that milk is lost from a nursing mother. The child may be disturbed by colic, constipation, he can simply be soothed by the proximity to the breast and the smell of his own person, especially if he does not have a dummy. A little later, feeding problems can be a sign of teething, so don't panic ahead of time.
Another sign of a possible violation of lactation, the mother may consider the fact that she does not feel breast filling and, for example, pumping does not work. This is also not a reason to worry, because in an established mode, exactly as much milk is produced as the child needs. Forto check if the baby is really malnourished, you can weigh him before and after each feeding. This way you can really make sure that the milk is gone. What to do in this case? There are several options.
First, you need to eliminate any negative factors: stress, lack of sleep, etc. All household chores should be temporarily put aside, a nursing mother should rest as much as possible. Secondly, you can resort to such "helpers" as teas and homeopathic remedies that stimulate lactation. Also, the mother should eat well and drink enough fluids. A good way to eliminate such problems is traditionally considered green tea with milk and dairy products in general. An important factor is the frequent attachment to the breast, even if it is ineffective - this also stimulates lactation.
Why is milk disappearing? There can be many reasons for this: stress, chronic fatigue, supplementation with formula. Yes, yes, in her desire to calm the child, the mother can do herself a disservice. Many babies refuse to return to the breast after trying bottle formula. Some don't behave like that, but they are a minority, so it's best not to risk it.
Sometimes a breastfeeding mother, even an experienced one, who seemed to have perfectly established lactation, also experiences problems and discovers that her milk has disappeared. What to do with it? Take it easy too. As a rule, from the moment of childbirth and up to about a year, 2-3 such crises occur, but theyare rarely long-term. It is very important at this point not to give up and not switch to formula - breastfeeding will actually be completed. To prevent this from happening, you need to take the fact that the milk is gone as calmly as possible.
What to do if, nevertheless, at some point, the mother gave up and fed the baby with a formula? Return to the chest as quickly as possible. If the baby refuses, you can use special pads for feeding, they make sucking easier. You can also use SNS-systems - with the help of them you can leave the baby full, as well as stimulate lactation. This is the perfect solution for those who are having trouble breastfeeding normally.
It must be remembered that mother's milk is the ideal food for babies up to about six months. Its composition adapts to the needs of a particular child, which is why it is so important to breastfeed, if possible. And the most universal way to improve lactation is constant application.
