Does milk flow mean more milk? If you want more milk flow, please feed on demand.

Many elderly people say that if there is no milk flow, it means that there is less milk, and if there is milk flow, it means that there is more milk. Is this true? So how can we increase the frequency of milk flow? Is there any way to stimulate milk flow? What should mothers pay attention to when milk flow?

When milk letdown comes, you will feel your breasts become firm and your nipples secrete milk. If you use a breast pump to suck milk, you can see many lines of milk spurting out of your nipples. This is milk letdown. Milk letdown is something many mothers eagerly look forward to, and the occurrence of milk letdown also means that you have enough milk.

Many mothers don't know that babies will produce milk according to their own needs, that is, the baby's sucking will control your milk, so when the baby wants to eat, let him eat, don't save milk. If the baby is just born and is not very good at sucking milk, or the mother's nipples are sunken and the baby is not stimulated enough, the mother can use the above method to artificially stimulate the milk. This is also feasible. In addition, many times the milk from both breasts will come together, so don't stimulate both breasts at the same time. Sometimes even after feeding the child, the milk still comes. This is a normal phenomenon. You just need to clean up the leaking milk in time.

1. Diet adjustment

Before stimulating milk letdown, you can drink a cup of warm water or some milk-inducing soup, but be careful not to drink coffee. After replenishing enough water, take a deep breath and relax to breastfeed, which can make the milk letdown reflex more vigorous.

2. Heat the breasts

Applying a warm compress to the breasts before feeding can stimulate milk secretion. Change the warm towel every 1-2 minutes and apply the hot compress for 15-20 minutes, but avoid the nipples to prevent them from being broken due to high temperature and excessive dryness. In addition to applying a hot compress to the breasts, you can also soak in warm water or take a warm shower.

3. Breast massage

Proper breast massage is a good way to induce the milk ejection reflex.

You can massage your breasts in a circular motion from the outside toward the nipple. After stroking them several times, use your fingertips to gently squeeze milk around the areola to help initiate the milk letdown reflex.

Or you can use your thumb and index finger to gently pull or rub the nipples, gently massage the breasts, gently touch the breasts with your fingers or a comb, or gently roll your fist towards the nipples.

4. Nipple stimulation

After washing your hands, gently rotate your nipples left and right or lightly scrape them with your hands, and touch the front end of the nipples with your fingers from time to time to make them firm and hard. Each person's method may be different, and comfort is the main thing. If the nipples feel wet, it means the milk is coming.

5. Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the most natural way to induce milk letdown. Just the first few sucks by the baby will usually successfully stimulate the nipple, causing the mammary gland to release oxytocin, which will cause the milk letdown reflex and the milk letdown will occur.

6. Breast pump stimulation method

First, adjust the breast pump to the weakest setting. It is recommended to use an electric double-breasted pump (because milk from both sides drips out together when the milk comes). When the milk comes, adjust the motor to a stronger level to make it easier to express milk.

7. Breastfeeding and breastfeeding stimulation method

Use a breast pump to suck milk while feeding, that is, the baby eats one breast and the other breast is sucked by the breast pump at the same time. This method can suck milk quickly and more.

8. Thought + physical contact

Look at a picture of your baby and imagine that your baby is waiting for you with his mouth wide open, or look at your baby, hold your baby, and stimulate your milk letdown through skin-to-skin contact.

9. The influence of environment and mood

Positive emotions such as relaxation, happiness, and confidence can make milk letdown easier. On the contrary, negative emotions such as stress, worry, and impatience can inhibit the milk letdown reflex. Listening to soft music while feeding or expressing milk is conducive to the occurrence of milk letdown.

Mothers with too much milk should learn to reduce the number of milk bursts and adjust the lactation balance.

For mothers who already have too much milk, the biggest problem is that if the breasts are not emptied after breastfeeding, milk blockage will occur easily, and emptying the breasts will cause the milk supply to continue to increase. At this time, you can express a small amount of milk before breastfeeding, and massage the breasts with your hands during breastfeeding to promote the full removal of milk from deep in the breasts. Cooperate with the baby to make the breasts express milk more fully and smoothly in a shorter time, reduce the number of milk bursts, and regulate the balance of lactation.