Question
One week postpartum, the milk supply is low, the baby has not suckled, and even the breast pump cannot extract milk. The baby was born prematurely at 36 weeks with a birth weight of 4 jin and 3 liang (about 2.1 kg) and is currently in an incubator. The doctor recommends using a breast pump to extract breast milk for the baby, but the milk supply is insufficient. What methods can be used to quickly increase the milk supply?
Answer
Born prematurely at 36 weeks, you have insufficient breast milk one week postpartum. In this situation, the baby has not been able to breastfeed directly and is instead being fed with expressed breast milk using a breast pump. To increase the milk supply and get the milk flowing quickly, it’s essential to ensure you have adequate deep sleep and maintain a positive mood. Additionally, increasing your nutritional intake by eating more soupy foods such as chicken soup, fish soup, lean meat soup, and millet congee is recommended. Keeping a cheerful mood and getting enough sleep are key.