BreastandBottlefeeding.com

Helping moms learn to balance breast and bottlefeeding
Website companion to Balancing Breast and Bottle: Reaching Your Breastfeeding Goals

Supply and demand
Milk supply is dependent upon milk removal: a baby breastfeeding effectively, or pumping with a high quality pump.  
 
Every time your baby breastfeeds, it tells your body how much milk to produce.  The more milk your baby removes (eats), the more milk your breasts will produce.  This is called supply and demand.
 
If your baby uses a bottle for a feeding and you do not pump, your breasts no longer receive the signal that your baby needs "x amount" of ounces for that feeeding.  This can lead to a drop in milk production.  Likewise, if your baby uses a pacifier to space feedings, your body no longer receives the signal to maintain milk production at the intervals your baby needs.  This can lead to a reduced milk supply, too.
 
Pumping to maintain supply
If you are able to pump your breasts for a missed feeding, your body will remember to maintain milk production.  Pumping with a high quality pump provides the nipple stimulation needed for milk supply.  It also allows you to save milk for another feeding.
 
Separation and supply
It is not uncommon for a mother to notice a slight decrease in her milk supply by the end of the work week.  Thankfully, breastfeeding over the weekend usually brings the supply right back up.  Maintaining and boosting milk supply during sepation are explored in Balancing Breast and Bottle.
Less than enough
If a mother's milk supply dwindles during the week, or perhaps her employment doesn't allow for frequent pumping, it is important to note that breastfeeding need not be all-or-none.  Both mother and baby reap many benefits of breastfeeding even if the baby is receiving some formula during separation.  As long as the baby is continuing to breastfeed when mom and baby are together, the mother's body will remember to keep producing milk during those times.  
 
Balancing Breast and Bottle includes information on storing and using breastmilk, and how to balance feedings when formula is part of the equation.  We invite you to learn more to find the balance for your family.
If your baby breastfeeds effectively and often, and you pump with a high quality pump yet your milk supply is low, there may be an underlying cause.  To learn more, we recommend the book Making More Milk and its companion website www.lowmilksupply.org.
 
 
 
 
 
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