Stocking up
If you want to provide as much of your own milk as you can before switching to an alternative, you’ll need to stock up your supplies.
There are different ways you can maximise your own milk while you can.
How can I increase my milk supply?
Milk production is like economics, demand dictates supply. Being aware of how boobs work, i.e. the physiology of breastfeeding, is a good starting point in understanding how to increase milk production.
The best way to increase your milk supply is by regular feeding or expressing, ensuring the latch and removal of milk is optimal. For pumping and storing, this will mean making sure the size of the flange is right.
Some people swear by galactagogues; supplements or food items that supposedly increase milk supply. The evidence for these is poor to non-existent, so be warned that eating your own body weight in fenugreek is unlikely to help much, if at all, and you’d be better skipping the lactation cookies for a yummy alternative (Fox’s classic, anyone?)
It is possible to medically increase milk supply using drugs. Domperidone, or motilium, is sometimes used off-label for this reason. However, domperidone has some very serious side effects, including the risk of sudden cardiac death, and can’t be taken alongside some other medications. Therefore, it should only be used under strict medical supervision.
Can I harvest colostrum?
Colostrum is the first milk produced by the breasts during pregnancy and for the first few days after birth. It’s a sticky, yellowish fluid rich in vitamins, minerals, protein and fat and with a high concentration of antibodies called secretory Immunoglobulins (sIg’s). These immunoglobulins line the infant digestive system and, together with other infection fighting components in colostrum, help to protect babies against respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses.
Expressing and storing colostrum prior to birth is called colostrum harvesting. Anyone can harvest their colostrum before their baby is born from 36 weeks gestation onwards. However, occasionally hand expressing when pregnant can stimulate contractions, so speak to your midwife prior to attempting colostrum harvesting. If you have any contractions while expressing colostrum, stop and contact your midwife immediately.
How do I express my milk?
Expressing milk means manually withdrawing milk out of your breasts which can then be used to feed your baby. You can express by hand or with an electric or manual pump aka pumping. The milk can be used immediately to feed your baby or it can be stored to be used later.
Once milk is expressed it must be stored appropriately. If you are planning on stocking up, then freezer storage is likely to be the most suitable.
