Breast milk

Hi prashanti, There are home remedies such as eating jeera which are known to increase breast milk production. you can try that. Also, have a good diet that includes milk, vegetables, fibre-rich foods... all these help in let down of milk. Hope this helps.

Hi Prashanti, there are a lot of over-the-counter powders and medicines available that you can ask you gynaecologist about. these are safe and can be added to milk or had as such. have lots of liquids as liquids help with the let down of milk. do not worry--a common fact is that every mother has sufficient milk to feed her child and is neve short. nature has designed it this way. also, the mroe you feed your child, the more your body will respond to the need and produce more milk.

hello prashanti. i had the same issue and my doctor advised me a few things which i will share with you 1) do not stress. the more you stress, the lesser milk the body produces. 2)relax and enjoy. it really helps. the best let down of milk, i used to have was when i used to go out for an outing 3) eat well and healthy. no need to overload on ghee etc. but lots of fibre 4) sleep well, exercise well 5)have confidence that you are a good mother and your body will produce enough for your child. these things helped me, hope they help you too.

You could try pumping breast milk and storing it. the logic is, the more you use breastmilk, the more the body produces. so when your baby is sleeping, or there is a gap in feeding, pump and store it for the next feed. Then after the pumped feed, the next time, the baby latches on, your breast would have produced milk again. Also, if your baby is growing healhty, then he is getting enough feed, so don't worry.

Hi Prashanti, this is our granny's home remedy-1. Prepare sabudane ki kheer and eat it twice a day. It will increase breast milk. 2. Eat masoor dal(that pink dal) daily. It has the property that increases the milk production. These are tried and tested home remedy. Also cuddle your child, pressing against the breast. This will help.

Hi! Prashanti

Hi! Prashanti Foods known to help increase breastmilk Fenugreek seeds (methi): Methi seeds have been used for ages to increase breastmilk supply and now there is research to back this ancient belief. Research has shown that fenugreek or methi increases milk supply. Some doctors say that if you include methi in your diet, you will have an increased supply of milk within a week. Besides, fenugreek seeds are a great source of iron, calcium, vitamins and minerals. But be careful not to consume too much as it is a mild dieuretic and you may end up losing a lot of water. Fenugreek tea (methi ki chai) is a popular drink given to new mothers. Methi is can be added to many dishes, especially vegetables, and meat dishes and can also be used while making paranthas and pooris or stuffed rotis. Fennel Seeds (saunf): Studies have found that fennel seeds increase milk supply. Some doctors also say that fennel seeds help prevent colic in your baby. They are rich in vitamin C. Besides, they are a good mouth freshener and aid digestion. Fennel seeds can be added to vegetables, rice preparations, dals and desserts. In many traditional homes fennel water (saunf ka pani) and fennel tea (saunf ki chai) are given regularly to new mothers. Garlic (lehsun): Among its many curative properties, garlic is said to help in increasing breastmilk supply. Studies have shown that the infants of mothers who eat garlic tend to feed for a longer time, and many babies seem to like the flavour in breastmilk. Though garlic can be eaten on its own, you may find it more appetising when used as a condiment in dals, meats, vegetables, pastas and pickles. Garlic milk is a popular traditional post-delivery drink given to nursing mums. Foods traditionally believed to increase milk supply Though there isn't any scientific research to back the following foods, many mothers swear by them and say they were helpful in increasing breastmilk supply: Cumin seeds (jeera): As well as stimulating milk supply, cumin seeds are said to improve digestion and provide relief from constipation, acidity and bloating. They are also a source of iron to help you gain strength after birth. Cumin seeds are an integral part of many Indian dishes. You can roast them and add them even to snacks, raitas and chutneys or drink cumin water (jeere ka pani) Black sesame seeds (til): Black sesame seeds are an excellent source of calcium and are believed to help increase milk supply. These seeds contain many other beneficial nutrients like copper. You can try til ke ladoos and use black sesame seeds in foods like pooris, khichri, biryani and lentil dishes. Some also prefer to use white sesame seeds in gajak or revdi, Holy basil (tulsi): Tulsi has been traditionally used to help cure a number of ailments. It's a great source of vitamin K. In addition to improving your milk supply, it is believed to have a calming effect, improve bowel movement and promote a healthy appetite. Add the leaves to cooked vegetables and soups. Or you can make a hot drink out of them by boiling them in water and drinking the tulsi tea (tulsi ki chai) with honey. Dill seeds (suwa): Dill is a good source of iron, manganese and calcium. It is believed to improve milk supply, digestion and sleep. Dill is a mild diuretic and should be consumed in moderation. You can use dill seeds whole or ground in many foods such as pickles, salads, cheese spreads and curries. Dill tea (suwa ki chai) is a popular postnatal drink. Carom seeds (ajwain):Carom seeds are believed to help in cleansing the stomach and aiding digestion. Carom seeds can be used while cooking vegetables, in raitas, stuffed pooris and paranthas or making ajwain ka pani. A drink made of carom and fennel seeds (saunf aur ajwain ka pani) is believed to increase lactation and improve digestion. Green and gourd vegetables: Vegetables from the gourd family like bottle gourd (lauki), apple gourd (tinda) and sponge gourd (tori) are a traditional foods that may help improve milk supply. Not only are these vegetables nutritious, they are also easy to digest. Green vegetables like beans (frans been), spinach (paalak), fenugreek (methi ka saag) and asparagus (soot mooli) are an excellent source of minerals and vitamins as well as phytoestrogen which is believed to enhance lactation. Cook these vegetables with spices or make snacks like thepla, vegetable poha or idlis. Pulses or lentils (dals) : Pulses, especially red lentils or masoor dal are not only believed to improve milk supply but are also high in iron and fibre. Use a pressure cooker to prepare them to save time and add spices and condiments of your choice. Red vegetables: Carrots (gajar), sweet potatoes (shakarkandi) and beetroot (chukandar) for example are high in beta-carotene, which is beneficial for your baby if you are breastfeeding. Beets and sweet potatoes are high in iron and help to maintain the liver. Carrot seeds have been known to improve milk supply. You can include them in salads, soups, porridge, meat dishes or desserts like gajjar ka halwa. Nuts and dried fruits (meva): Almonds (badaam) and cashews (kaju) are believed to boost breastmilk production. They make an excellent snack and easily available or you could blend them with milk to make delicious badaam milk or kaju milk. You can also add them to sweet and savoury dishes to boost their flavour. Some dried fruits and nuts are also used to make traditional foods such as panjiri, laddoos and halwa for breastfeeding mums. Oats and porridge (daliya): Oats are a great source of iron, calcium and fibre and are popular with nursing mums. Broken wheat (daliya) is another nutritious option. They are commonly eaten as porridge and you may choose to add nuts, milk, spices or fruits to improve the nutritional value. Oils and butter: Certain fats from oils and butter are healthy. Oils like olive oil, flaxseed oil and sesame oil are healthier oils believed to aid breastfeeding. Butter, coconut oil and ghee, when consumed in moderation, can boost energy. Use them to cook or just drizzle some over chappatis. Is there anything else I need to do to increase milk supply? Yes. In addition to eating the right food, be sure to: Drink 10-12 glasses of water - breastmilk is liquid after all so you need the regular intake of fluids to produce it. A good way to keep up your liquid intake is to drink a glass of water every time you feel thirsty. Like most breastfeeding mums, you will soon find that you get thirsty with every feeding session. This is because as you feed, your body secretes a hormone that makes you thirsty. Breastfeed your baby regularly - your body adapts milk production to the amount being demanded. So if you start supplementing your milk with formula or other supplements, your milk supply will go down. The more you feed your baby, the more milk your body will produce. You may find that milk production is best when you develop a feeding routine for your baby and feed at regular intervals. This gives your body the time to produce the needed amount again. Get enough rest - if you are too tired, your body will not have the energy to produce milk properly. So try to catch up on your sleep and rest during the day if you are up a lot at night. Try to relax - getting used to your new life as a mum can be stressful at times. Stress is known to affect the let-down reflex that secretes milk and even milk production. So for your and your baby's sake, its a good idea to try to relax. Hope this helps