How can thoughts affect breast milk production? & bull; hello healthy

Have you ever heard that a mother's thoughts on her breast milk affect milk production?

Many mothers worry about the production of their milk in the early stages of breastfeeding. The mother is afraid that her milk production cannot meet the baby's needs. Usually, the things that underlie the mother thinking that her breast milk is not enough are:

• The baby feeds frequently. Babies usually feed 8-12 times a day, but in the early days after birth, babies are usually restless or fussy. The mother thinks this is because the baby is not satisfied with breastfeeding, even though it does not mean that the mother's milk production is low.
• Mother's breasts feel soft. When your milk supply matches your baby's needs, your breasts may not feel full or tight, usually between 3-12 weeks after birth. However, while your baby is still breastfeeding, your breasts will produce enough milk for the baby.
• The baby suddenly feeds more frequently. Your baby may breastfeed more frequently when growth is accelerating. However, because your baby is breastfeeding more frequently, you may become worried that you are not getting enough milk, even though your body can adjust to the baby's needs by increasing milk production.
• The baby only feeds for a short time. However, this does not mean that your milk production is low. After two or three months, your baby will probably nurse a little shorter.

However, be careful with your thoughts, Mom, because your thoughts can indirectly affect your milk production.

What does the mind have to do with milk production?

In producing breast milk, the mother's body involves the brain. When the brain signals that the milk reserves are low, the mother's breasts will produce breastmilk again to meet the mother's milk reserves.

When the baby sucks your breast, it is also a stimulus for the pituitary gland in the brain to release the hormones oxytocin and also prolactin into the bloodstream. These two hormones are responsible for producing breast milk. However, when you are stressed, stress can slow down the release of the hormone oxytocin into the bloodstream, which can interfere with milk production. What you need to do the first time when you are stressed is to calm yourself first.

Actually, you don't have to worry. Why? Because the release of oxytocin into the bloodstream can actually have a calming effect and lower your stress levels. If you keep trying to breastfeed your baby, your stress will decrease and your milk production will not stop. In essence, you should not give up when giving breast milk to your baby.

However, most mothers think that their breast milk is not enough, when in fact it is enough. This condition is usually referred to as perceived insufficient milk or perceptions of insufficient breast milk. Because they are "consumed" by the mother's own perceptions or thoughts, mothers rarely give breast milk to their children and over time the mother's milk production also decreases and eventually stops. This is the most common reason why mothers stop breastfeeding their babies sooner.

How to launch breast milk production?

The more often you breastfeed your baby, the smoother your milk production will be. The baby's suction on your breast is a stimulus for your body to continue producing milk.

Therefore, keep your thoughts about your low milk production. Babies are sometimes more likely to breastfeed. This can happen because usually at the age of around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, or it could be at any time, the baby experiences faster growth, so it needs more intake. All you have to do at this time is follow the baby's desire to breastfeed or commonly known as breast milk on demand.

You can also do this to increase milk production:

• Make sure your baby is latching on to your breast properly or in the correct feeding position, so that the baby is comfortable while feeding.
• Breastfeed your baby as often as possible and follow the baby's wishes whenever he needs breast milk and when he feels full.
• Feed the baby with the right and left breast each time he feeds. Feed the baby on the first breast while still suction firmly, then offer the baby the second breast when the baby's suction starts to weaken.
• It's best not to give formula or pacifiers to babies as this can make them lose their interest in breast milk, which can also cause your milk production to weaken. Teach babies to start eating at 6 months of age.