CHALLENGES & ADVICE FOR MILK PRODUCTION Let-down (the flow of milk) If your breast milk comes out too fast, your baby may have trouble swallowing all of it. This is common with newborns. Your baby becomes better at nursing, usually by 2 months of age. To help your baby, try pumping some milk before nursing or stop nursing your baby several times during the feeding. This gives your baby a chance to catch a breath, burp, or swallow. For some mothers, breast milk comes down very slowly. Relaxing, massaging your breast, or using warm compresses before nursing may help your milk flow better. These tips may also help let-down occur faster: • Find a quiet nursing area • Focus on your baby • Enjoy the close contact with your baby • Lie down while nursing Emotions Emotions or stress can affect let-down and may reduce the supply of breast milk. Try to relax and continue to breastfeed or express your breast milk. This allows your milk supply to return to normal. Engorgement (full or hard breasts) This sometimes occurs if the baby does not breastfeed often or long enough during the first 3 to 5 days after birth, when your milk first comes in. There are many reasons for this. Some babies refuse the breast and others try to nurse but have problems latching on. When your breasts are hard and full, the nipples may flatten. This makes it hard for your baby to latch. If one or both breasts become full or hard between feedings, use a breast pump or your hand to express your breast milk. Expressing milk makes it easier for your baby to nurse because you are less engorged. Different nursing positions also may help. Ask your doctor or lactation consultant for support if this happens and you cannot get your baby to feed. These tips may help, too: • Nurse often • Apply a warm washcloth or take warm showers • Gently massage your breast • Use ice packs to help reduce swelling • Pump some of your milk before nursing Overcoming common breastfeeding concerns Page 2 of 4