Breastfeeding is a crucial period in the life of both a woman and a child. Some young mothers face the problem that when breast-feeding a baby, their weight remains small and does not increase for a long time. Most often, this indicates problems with the nutrition of the mother or a lack of milk. In this case, the woman begins to look for effective means to increase lactation.
Feeding Features
Recently, the country's attitude to feeding a newborn with breast milk has changed dramatically. Many women advocate natural feeding of the child. Milk mixtures are no longer considered an effective and high-quality replacement for breast milk.
Experts say that it is very important for a child to eat breast milk for at least 6 months, but 2 years is considered the norm. But in some women, lactation ends within 2-3 months after the baby is born.
Lack of milk most often appears as a result of various errors during breastfeeding, stress, emotional feelings, fatigue, lack of basic support from relatives. To maintain the health of the baby in good condition and ensure its rapid development, a woman should use a mixed diet.
Feeding rules
To begin with, it is important to determine what rules to follow during feeding, so as not to accidentally disrupt lactation:
- Most importantly, a woman should want to breastfeed her baby. If a young mother does not have a dominant breastfeeding, then any factors will provoke a folding of HB. In this case, nothing will help improve lactation.
- The family of a newborn baby should have a calm and friendly atmosphere. During this period of time, it is important for a woman to provide support in her desire to feed breast milk. Relatives of a woman should help her around the house, make sure that she does not overstrain and does not carry heavy loads. In the first few months after birth, a woman should not work, as this can provoke a cessation of milk production.
- During the restoration of lactation, the child should be applied to the breast, if necessary, and left for as much time as he needs.
- It is important to feed the baby in the morning - this will help increase the amount of prolactin in the woman's body, which is responsible for the production of breast milk.
- It is important for a woman to make the right diet, stop eating junk food. Strict diets are also prohibited in this case.
- Additional feeding should be used only if all other methods have been tried.
- A newborn should suck milk only from the mother’s breast. Additional feeding, if it is very important for the condition of the child, is given from a spoon, syringe or special devices.
Only by observing all the described rules can you start using various folk remedies to increase lactation in women.
The main signs of malnutrition
Specialists advise a woman to carefully look at the behavior of the child and his weight. If a baby is malnourished, the following symptoms appear:
- Small weight gain, only 125 g per week.
- Problems with urination. A healthy and well-fed baby will walk in a small way at least 6 times a day, in some cases at 12 - everything will depend on age. It is possible to determine the amount of fluid released by weighing disposable diapers.
- The child begins to be very worried and nervous near the mother’s breast.
Such symptoms apply to healthy children. If the newborn baby is weak, sick or not full-term, then even with a good lactation in a woman, he may remain undernourished and need additional nutrition. In this case, the child simply does not have enough strength to suck the right amount of milk.
With such a problem, a woman should express milk and feed the baby from a spoon or syringe. It is forbidden to give a bottle. After some time, the child’s body will adapt, begin to function normally, will become stronger. The need for expressing milk after this will immediately disappear.
Diet change
To begin with, a woman should carefully consider her diet and menu features. Products to increase lactation in nursing mothers:
- meat (boiled bird, fish);
- milk or dairy products (liter per day);
- cottage cheese (100 grams);
- cheese (30 grams);
- fresh vegetables and fruits, salads;
- butter (20 grams);
- vegetable oil (25 grams).
What is important to exclude from nutrition:
- products that include a large amount of carbohydrates (confectionery, bakery products, sugar);
- alcohol in any quantity and form;
- foods that may cause an allergic reaction: caviar, nuts, coffee, citrus fruits;
- spicy seasonings and spices (garlic, pepper, ketchup, sauce).
Increased lactation
There are women in labor who initially risk getting problems with lactation. This includes women who were unable to fully feed the previous child, as well as those who have been producing milk for a long time. In the first case, the intake of folk remedies to increase lactation in nursing women will be appointed already in the second half of bearing a child. In the second - immediately after the problem is identified. But other women can use alternative drugs to improve lactation. Many drugs do not provoke an increase in the amount of milk, but only provide its quick rush.
The best ways to increase the amount of milk produced are: feeding only at the request of the baby, sleeping together and applying to the breast at night. If none of this helped to improve lactation and normalize complementary foods, then you can start using various drugs, after consulting with your doctor.
Nutrition Improvement Drugs
Means for increasing lactation in nursing mothers can be prescribed even during pregnancy to women who are at risk:
- "Femilak" - a product that includes milk protein and taurine. It is used to normalize the condition of a pregnant woman, to increase the volume of secreted milk in nursing women. Positively affects the formation of the fetus, its organs and systems. The tool does not affect weight gain.
- "Thought mom plus" - a drug that provides the rapid production of milk. It helps to prolong lactation, and also protects against the development of osteoporosis and caries.
- Enfa-Mom - helps to improve nutrition, provides the body with all the nutrients and trace elements that are so important during breastfeeding.
Use of dietary supplements
"Apilactin" is prescribed to a woman immediately after the birth of a child. The product includes pollen and royal milk.
Apilak is a drug whose main active ingredient is royal jelly. Experts advise it to be used to restore immune defense, reduce stress and disorders. The drug goes on sale in the form of tablets, the course of treatment lasts for 15 days. The drug does not have contraindications, since breast milk is completely safe. It does not lead to adverse reactions, excluding individual intolerance in some people.
Supplements have a good effect in case of problems with lactation, but, like many other medicines that contain bee products, they are more likely to cause allergic reactions in women and babies.
Latogenic additives
The Milky Way is a product created specifically for women during lactation. The preparation contains galega extract. This herb helps to increase the amount of milk produced and does not lead to an allergic reaction in the child. Women who are not at risk can take the drug during lactation crises.
Juices and various drinks
There is a wide selection of healthy drinks, both industrial and home-made. The composition of such juices is most often carrots, nettles, rose hips, licorice, anise, caraway seeds and radish. Teas are best bought from Hipp, Fleur alpine and Grandma’s basket.
There are several recipes for breastfeeding mothers who can use them to make healthy drinks at home:
- Anise tincture. To do this, take 2 teaspoons of seeds and pour a glass of hot water, insist for an hour. After the drink is cooled to room temperature and taken in 2 tablespoons three times a day before meals.
- Juice with carrots. Juice from fresh carrots is squeezed and consumed 2-3 times a day. To improve the taste of the finished juice, it is recommended to add milk or a few tablespoons of honey.
- Drink from seeds and caraway seeds. Squeeze juice from one medium-sized lemon, add 100 grams of sugar and 15 grams of caraway seeds. Next, the juice is poured 800-900 ml of liquid. Cook for 5-10 minutes. Drink juice several times daily.
- Milk with dill. To do this, chopped dill seeds are poured with kefir and slightly salted. Next, the nutmeg is added to the product. The finished drink should be consumed in the morning.
Homeopathic remedies
Homeopathy includes the best means to increase lactation, as it is safe and does not lead to complications, which is very important at the time of feeding. The most common and effective homeopathic remedy is Mlekoin.
It includes natural ingredients that help to increase the amount of milk in a short time. It consists of the following plant components:
- stinging nettle;
- meadow lumbago;
- agnes cactus.
Herbal ingredients that help improve lactation normalize blood flow. In addition, you can increase the amount of milk by normalizing sleep patterns. Such a tool helps to make feeding not only the right, but also a pleasant process. The drug goes on sale in the form of granules.
Unlike other drugs, Mlekoin is taken during the entire period of breastfeeding. Also, the tool is useful for women who suffer from problems with veins.
Main misconceptions
Many believe that lactogonics are completely safe. Yes, they are made only from natural ingredients. But the risk of complications remains high. The safest homeopathic remedies include those that contain the least amount of active ingredients.
Milk will burn out if you use drugs. But this is not true. Milk continues to be stored without application and decantation for 40 days. If you wish, you can restore breastfeeding later. Some women managed to breastfeed even adopted children.
All lactating women should use special means to maintain lactation. This is also a misconception, as many newly minted mothers can feed their baby without the use of additional stimulants. Some require medication at the time of a crisis. Other "nurse" when taking lactogonics, herbs and tea do not note any positive effect.
Specialists also identify another group of lactation-stimulating drugs. They contain hormones. But it is important to remember that such funds are unsafe, therefore, their admission should take place only under the strict supervision of a doctor.
Reception about receiving funds
Reviews about the means to increase lactation are quite positive. Nursing women note that drugs give an almost instant effect, stimulate milk production and improve lactation. Such funds help provide milk, the amount of which is enough for the entire period of feeding the newborn.
According to reviews, an increase in lactation is guaranteed, but in order to prevent possible complications, it is important for a young mother to carefully monitor her health, try to relax more and not strain herself.
Lactogon after pregnancy
"Lactogon" - a tool that plays the role of a biological supplement. The drug is recommended to be taken with food. It consists of:
- carrot juice;
- nettle;
- ginger;
- dill;
- bee milk;
- vitamin C.
The drug helps to improve lactation and leads to accelerated milk production. Tablets are distinguished by their effective action, but have some contraindications: a possible allergic reaction.
"Femilak" and its composition
The most common and effective way to increase lactation is Femilak. It includes only natural components in its composition:
- powdered cow's milk;
- serum;
- minerals;
- vegetable oils.
This drug to enhance lactation enriches a woman’s diet, restores the body, replenishing its needs for useful trace elements and vitamins.