Breastfeeding and Babywearing – Tips for Building Supply
Written with Jennifer Pitkin, IBCLC, RLC.
We all produce milk differently. Some of us produce less than we’d like.
Not to worry!
Here are some great tips for building supply while breastfeeding.
Tips for increasing your supply:
1. Feed your baby!
Check out a little video from Onya Baby on how to breastfeed while babywearing!
It’s super easy to give your baby nature’s original happy meal.
2. Wear your baby!
The closer baby is to you, the better. Keeping your baby skin-to-skin releases oxytocin, the feel-good love hormones that can help increase your milk supply.
3. Choose your expression method.
If you back carry, you can use a single pump, double pump, or hand express.
If you front carry, you can single pump.
4. Hook yourself UP!
Turn on your pump to a suction level *just above* your comfort level (as in, you couldn’t sustain pumping at that level) and then reduce it a bit. Same goes with a manual pump, just reduce the pressure you’re using. You only need to pump for a few minutes to tweak your supply. Pump or hand express for 2-3 minutes, 2-3 times/day for a few days.
5. Put your pump parts in the fridge (the ones not directly attached to the pump).
By storing your pump parts in the fridge for a few hours, you can have another quick pumping session later in the day. No need to wash pump parts every time!
More tips:
- Removing more milk (ANY more milk) tells your body to increase supply
- The quantity you remove may vary during different parts of the day or between days
- This is a gentle tweak to your supply, a great method if you’re returning to work
- There’s very little worry about oversupply if you’re only increasing milk by a bit
- You won’t pump much each time, and that is okay. Combine what you pump to make approximately 3 oz bags to freeze.
Keeping your baby close by babywearing is an excellent way to help increase your supply.
Babywearing can provide the following benefits for your new baby:
- Touch
- Smell
- Warmth
- Stability
- Movement
- Metabolic regulation in the infant
- Temperature regulation in the infant
- Higher Oxytocin (milk-making hormone) levels
Babywearing can provide the following benefits for you:
- Wearing baby enables you to be active. You can even get toned by lunging, squatting, and walking in place while pumping!
- Losing pregnancy weight –
- Nursing/pumping moms burn up to an extra 500 calories/day
- From Kellymom.com, “Studies have shown that most healthy breastfeeding women maintain an abundant supply while taking in an extra 1800-2200 (or more) calories per day.”
Babywearing offers a GREAT way to increase your supply.
You get to see, smell, and touch your baby while making a bit extra for when/if you do have time apart. Baby will benefit from a secure attachment to you, and will receive all the amazing nutrition and germ-fighting properties that only human milk can provide!
Read another breastfeeding post from Jennifer!
About Jennifer Pitkin:
Jennifer is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in private practice. She has two small children, both breastfed and worn. She loves hiking with her family and kids, usually in their Onyas, checking out the local trails. She founded the Family Friendly Business Initiative.
