There are no specific foods to eat that will stimulate production of breast milk, but there are things that can help with milk production. More important than what you eat is how your baby eats. When a baby is properly positioned, well-attached and sucking effectively, the longer a baby nurses at your breast the more milk will be produced. This is the single most important way to increase your milk production.

From a diet and nutrition standpoint, there are two important factors critical to producing milk. The first is drinking enough fluid. It doesn’t have to be milk; water or juice is fine. You may be producing from 20 to 40 ounces of fluid a day, and that’s quite a lot. Thirst is a good indicator of need, but may not do the whole job. It’s a good rule of thumb to drink a bit more, past being quenched. It is also a good habit to fill a glass of water for yourself to drink while your baby is nursing. Drinking sufficient fluids won’t make you produce more milk, but is important in replenishing lost fluids.

Nursing requires about an extra 500 calories per day. Women that go on restricted diets in an attempt to lose weight while they are nursing may be eating too few calories, which leaves them fatigued and without the energy necessary for optimal milk production.

Beer has been touted for years as being a stimulus to milk production. However, research shows that babies don’t like alcoholic breastmilk, and actually drink less of it, resulting in less stimulation to the breast. Ultimately, this means a decrease in milk production.

Stress can negatively affect milk production, but reaching for a beer is not the best way to relax. Find an alternative way to rest and de-stress. Have a sitter come in so you can nap. Join a car pool so you can rest or sleep on the trip to and from work. Find ways to eliminate unnecessary chores, or perhaps relax your standards for tidiness and instead, sit down and close your eyes for a moment or two!

Caffeine stimulates milk production, but it also stimulates your baby. Caffeine finds its way into breast milk and large amounts can act on your baby as it does on you. Caffeine stays in baby’s system longer than in an adult’s, which will prolong its effect. Also, caffeine can make your baby irritable, as well as interfere with his sleep. One cup of coffee or a soda will not be a problem, but in large quantities (five or more cups of a caffeinated beverage a day), the levels of caffeine in breast milk can reach amounts that affect your baby.

The best prescription for maximum milk production is effective and frequent breastfeeding or milk expression, plenty of fluids, adequate calories and rest.

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Dua hingga 5 percent ibu yang menyusukan anak akan menghadapi masalah kekurangan susu yang mana berkaitan dengan teknik penyusuan.

Berikut antara perkara yang boleh dilakukan bagi meningkatkan penghasilan susu anda:
1. Pastikan bayi anda berada pada posisi yang betul
2. Menyusukan bayi sekerap yang mungkin
3. Minum air secukupnya, makan makanan yang berkhasiat
4. Elakkan diri dari aktiviti yang membuatkan anda ‘stress’
5. Dapatkan nasihat tentang ubat-ubatan yang boleh membantu meningkatkan penghasilan sus ataupun dapatkan herba-herba yang merangsang penghasilan susu.

Untuk memudahkan penyusuan susu ibu:

1. Gunakan pam yang sesuai dan selesa, jika anda dapati bayi anda tidak ‘mengosongkan’ payu dara anda, pam susu sehingga payu dara anda benar-benar ‘kosong’.
2. Bergaullah dengan rakan-rakan, saudara mara yang memahami tentang kepentingan penyusuan susu ibu.
3. Susukan bayi anda mengikut kehendaknya.(nurse your infant on demand)
4. Elakkan penggunaan puting tiruan.
5. Sertailah ‘kumpulan sokongan penyusuan susu ibu’ contohnya, susuibu.com.

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Question: My four-month-old baby’s stools have always been a yellow colour (breastfed). However recently they are a greenish colour. Could this be due to something I have eaten?
She did have a stomach bug last week where her stools were green and smelly and watery, but I thought she was over it. Is this situation normal, or has the bug returned? She has also gone from one huge nappy a day to about three dirty ones a day. She started on rice cereal twice a day last week. Could this have anything to do with her changing bowel habits?

Answer: A baby’s bowel movements will change once solids are added to her diet. They may become more firm and have a less pleasant odor than the exclusively breastfed baby’s stools.
Green stools in a healthy baby may indicate a sensitivity/allergy to a medication or a food. Since your little one’s change in stooling seemed to corresponded with the addition of rice cereal to her diet, you might want to return to an exclusively breastmilk diet for a few weeks and see if her stools remain green. Her digestive system may not be quite ready for solids – a few weeks might make a difference.
Green stooling can also be the result of a foremlik-hindmilk imbalance, though the timing of your baby’s stool change, in relation to her illness and addition of solids, leads me to believe that this is not the cause of your baby’s green stools.
When a baby is sick and has diarrhea, she may have green stools. She may also be stooling very frequently (between 12 and 16 times a day.) As you described, when your baby was sick last week, her stools were also watery, and had a bad smell. if your baby appears healthy, is nursing well, and her stools have just changed in color, there is probably no reason to worry. If you are at all concerned, be sure to check in with your baby’s Health Care Provider to help put your mind at ease. Best wishes in mothering!

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