How to maintain your breastmilk supply

Most breastfeeding* parents produce enough breast milk to feed their infants. However, many new parents say that they are unsure about their breast milk supply during the early days, and even months after breastfeeding has begun.

Here you will find information about how breast milk* supply is established and what you can do to maintain supply throughout your breastfeeding journey.

How breast milk supply is established

After the birth of the baby, colostrum is the first breast milk for your baby. It is a thick and sticky substance that is high in protein and minerals. Mature breast milk usually takes about two to five days to come in. To stimulate mature breast milk production, it is important that the colostrum is expressed frequently by hand or baby sucking at the breasts.

Having your baby lay skin-to-skin on the chest right after the birth helps to speed up early breast milk production.

To maintain milk supply, the breasts should be emptied either by the baby breastfeeding or by hand expression/pumping. Babies usually feed every two to three hours. Therefore, the breasts need to be emptied at least eight times per day to maintain healthy milk supply during the first month.

Here are some tips to help maintain breast milk supply as your baby grows

Breastfeed* your baby frequently, according to their hunger cues
Make sure your baby has a good latch
Watch for signs that your baby is breastfeeding effectively and emptying at least one breast per feeding
Have more skin-to-skin time with your baby
Take steps to lower your stress and get enough sleep
Maintain a healthy diet while breastfeeding