Breastfeeding is hardly ever smooth sailing. There are tons of issues that nursing moms have to deal with, such as problems with latching, breastfeeding in public, painful breasts, and undersupply—one of the leading reasons for the discontinuation of breastfeeding. If you’re struggling with undersupply, here are five things you should take note of.
1) You shouldn’t blame yourself.
Sometimes it’s easy to point out the reason behind your undersupply, and sometimes it isn’t. It could be because of a previous medical condition, it could be because your baby has trouble sucking, it could be because you and your baby were separated early on (if you were sick, for example). It happens to the best of us, so don’t beat yourself up for it.
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2) Don’t feel bad for feeding your baby formula.
There’s a lot of pressure now for us to feed our babies breastmilk, and it’s understandably frustrating when you’re struggling with that. Remember that the most important thing is to make sure that your baby is fed. If that means feeding him/her formula, then so be it. Although breastmilk is ideal, many of us were raised on formula, and we turned out all right!
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3) You can turn to milk banks.
Moms with extra breastmilk donate what they have to milk banks. If formula doesn’t work for your baby, you can look for a milk bank near you.
4) There are different ways to increase your milk supply…
You can try supplements, pumping, and medication to help boost your supply. Consult with a lactation supply, who can recommend different ways to boost your milk supply.
5) …But they don’t work for everyone.
All our bodies are different, and just because it worked for someone else doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll work for you, and vice versa. Again, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t notice any changes in your milk supply. Keep trying and relax—the better you take care of yourself, the better your chances of boosting your supply.
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