Many times women believe they have low supply, or it's decreasing, but it's actually a lack of education with what is normal and what isn't. Hopefully by now, you see a ton of milk is not needed to feed your baby. Breastfed babies only drink a few ounces of milk every couple of hours.

We know if milk is not removed from the breast consistently, supply can be affected over time, but there are some other causes of decreasing supply as well.

Tongue and lip ties are very common these days. Midwives, doctors, and pediatricians tend to check for them right after baby is born or shortly after. When ties are present, babies can have a hard time opening their mouth wide enough to latch properly. When the latch is not correct, milk cannot be transferred from the breast efficiently. Improper or insufficient milk transfer tricks the body into thinking that is all the baby needs and therefore production slows.

One of the most common symptoms of tongue and lip ties are cracked and bleeding nipples. If you have a hard time getting baby to latch and experience nipple trauma, please find a local IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) for an assessment, or a pediatric dentist.

As popular as they are, lactation cookies and teas can often be detrimental to a mom's milk supply, especially the commercially marketed items. They most often contain fenugreek which has been shown to decrease supply overtime with continued use. Keep in mind that herbs have different effects on different people. Even if a friend or family member says they took fenugreek, or that lactation treats helped them, overall it is not recommended. It's best not to chance it.

Another "supplement" that can cause a decrease in milk supply is cold medication, especially those with decongestants. Avoid them if at all possible. If you are feeling sick, natural remedies should be considered like vitamins, elderberry syrup, etc. If you have any concerns, reach out to a lactation professional for help.

Schedules are definitely helpful when it comes to trying to manage your day and time, but it can affect your supply if you aren't careful. Recall "watch your baby, not the clock" from earlier in the class. When you limit your baby's intake with a schedule, you tell your body that only that amount of milk is needed and on that schedule.

For example, if your baby drinks 2 ounces of milk every 2 hours (by nursing directly at the breast) because you only allow them to eat for 20 minutes every couple of hours, then your body is being told to only produce 2 ounces every 2 hours. Your baby, however, eats more like this (hypothetical numbers of course):

• 8am: 3ounces (breakfast)
• 9am: 1 ounce (snack)
• 11am: 2 ounces (snack)
• 3pm: 3 ounces (lunch)
• 4pm: 1 ounce (snack)
• 7pm: 3 ounces (dinner)
• 9pm: 2 ounces (dessert)

When you allow your baby to nurse on demand, they in turn tell your body how much milk is needed and to keep producing around the clock. So just keep nursing!

We know our bodies NEED water and breastmilk is mostly made of water. We also now know breastmilk is made from blood and not the gut. Dehydration affects your blood and therefore can affect milk supply. You might see and hear people recommending certain foods and drinks like oatmeal, Gatorade, Body Armor drinks, Starbucks drinks, etc to increase supply. The underlying issue these foods and drinks actually help is...hydration. But why spend money on these items and ingest unknown ingredients versus what you know is healthy for you?

Now, you don't need to drown yourself in water. Your normal 8 glasses of water is fine. Drink to thirst. That's it. That's all.

When it comes to menstruation, you might notice a temporary decrease in your supply. Once again, think back to how milk is made...from the blood. Menstruation is also related to...blood. So it makes sense that one affects the other. But again, it's only temporary. To try and combat this dip in supply, you can take a calcium magnesium (combination) supplement about two weeks before and about 3 days after your period. If you haven't had your period, you can track your ovulation and still apply the same premise with the supplement.