Lactation crisis periods. Signs of problems with lactation

What is a lactation crisis, why does it occur, when does it happen, in what time frame and what to do if you have difficulties with breastfeeding? This phenomenon is a kind of imbalance between the amount of milk a mother has and the baby’s needs for it. The baby is growing, and every month he needs more and more nutrition. The breasts adjust and produce more milk, but this “adjustment” takes a little time. Usually from three to seven days. Lactation crisis This is a rather difficult period for mother and child. Often at this time, many mothers begin to supplement their children with formula, which provokes a further decrease in production. breast milk. Usually such mistakes are made by first-time mothers. They are especially recommended to consult a breastfeeding specialist. And we, in turn, will share how to increase lactation without difficulty and any biological active additives and tablets. We will also tell you how to understand that this is a problem with the amount of milk in the mother, and not some other discomfort in the baby.

They are approximate and roughly coincide with the child’s growth spurts, that is, when the baby begins to acquire new skills. These are 1, 3, 6 months - the brightest periods. Then the symptoms and signs of a lactation crisis do not appear so clearly, since the child is already receiving complementary foods.

At 1 month, the baby still can’t do almost anything. Just learning to hold his head up. But it is actively growing. He may gain 1-2 kilograms per month. For such weight gain you need a significant amount of calories in food. Usually a small, temporary lack of milk is expressed by the fact that the baby begins to literally hang on the chest for days, almost not letting go of the mother. It is important not to feed the baby on a schedule at this time, and allow him to breastfeed for a long time, including at night. Then the situation will quickly be resolved, and there will be enough food again.

The crisis of the lactation period of 3 months, when the baby is actively learning to roll over, can be expressed “louder” and be much more noticeable. The baby throws himself on the chest, but quickly drops it and cries. This behavior may be caused by too slow milk flow. So the baby gets angry. Try to feed your baby as often as possible. To make feedings more relaxed, give your baby the breast mainly before bedtime, during sleep and when waking up.

The crisis at 5-6 months is no longer so noticeable and does not become a reason for giving up breastfeeding. Many mothers, having noticed the baby “hanging” on the chest, simply try to introduce complementary foods as quickly as possible. Usually it's porridge. This option is quite acceptable. Well, the breast will adapt to the baby’s needs in any case.

Other causes of lactation crises, in addition to spasmodic periods of child growth, are improper organization of feedings. For example, if a mother suddenly refuses to feed the baby at night or introduces feedings strictly according to the clock. That's why, best prevention Lactation crises mean feeding on demand and absolute peace of mind. You don’t need to listen to those who talk about “not enough milk”; you need to be confident in your abilities. The situation is temporary, easily resolved, and not dangerous for the child.

What to do during a lactation crisis

1. Offer your baby the breast at least once every 2 hours, preferably more often. If the baby starts to be capricious, give him a breast, not a pacifier or a bottle of water. If the baby eats only mother's milk, he does not need water at all. Do not give it while you have problems with lactation. And replace the pacifier with your breast too.

2. Provoke oxytocin releases in yourself- a pleasure hormone that stimulates the flow of milk to the nipples, the so-called milk flow. How you will do this specifically is up to you. Perhaps watching something pleasant will help, interesting film or simply long rest in bed with the baby. Such option will do, if your child is not older than 3-4 months and spends almost all his waking hours lying down.

3. Make sure that the baby grasps the nipple correctly. If he does not do this deeply enough, the mother usually experiences discomfort, and they also do not contribute to milk flow.

4. Get more sleep. Helps someone co-sleeping. If you can’t put your baby to sleep with you, you can move his crib next to your bed and remove one wall. This is to have constant access to the baby, at the same time he sleeps separately, and you do not have to get up to him at night.

If the baby is very small, night swaddling helps a lot. No matter what his opponents say. Babies often startle when falling asleep and thus wake themselves up. And older babies, those who are already 4-5 months old, can roll over in their sleep, “hone” their skills. And because of this they wake up. However, you should not swaddle a child of this age or older if he has not known diapers before. The baby may wake up at night and be afraid that his movements are constrained.

According to experienced mothers, diapers help babies sleep 6-8 hours at night without waking up. But during a lactation crisis, you still need to feed the baby at night. Twice will be enough.

5. Drink more. At least 1.5 liters of fluid per day. You need to understand that this liquid is also used for the formation of milk, and is a need for your body.

These simple measures, if followed constantly, will not help to completely prevent a lactation crisis, but they will definitely make it less unpleasant, if not completely invisible, for you and your child.

The amount of milk depends on the various reasons: from how often the baby suckles, from the mother’s nutrition, her physical well-being and even from psychological state. But sometimes, against the background of general well-being, the amount of milk suddenly decreases and the baby seems constantly hungry. It is quite understandable that the mother is nervous and begins to look for reasons for the lack of milk, but in fact this may be a completely common phenomenon - a lactation crisis.

Why do they occur?

Lactation crisis- this is a temporary decrease in the amount of milk that appears without clear, apparent reason. In fact, at the moment of a lactation crisis in the mother’s body the amount of the hormone prolactin decreases- he is responsible for milk production. At the same time, the baby's need for breast milk increases. As a rule, children grow unevenly, “in leaps and bounds,” and the baby’s nutritional needs also increase unevenly. If yesterday the baby had enough breast milk, then tomorrow he may require an increase in the daily portion.

Lactation crises usually occur at 3–6 weeks, then at 3–4, 7–8 months of lactation. They last approximately 3–4 days.

Main features

Most often, a woman feels that her breasts have become empty and that much less milk is being produced today than the day before. Although the diet, daily routine and exercise stress remained the same. Sometimes the mother notes that the breasts are full as usual and the same amount of milk is released, but at the same time the baby is very often hungry and seems to be sucking constantly.

Such symptoms are quite natural, because the child is constantly growing and needs more and more energy and food. But the mother’s body cannot instantly adapt and immediately begin to produce more milk, so for some time the baby will show dissatisfaction and suckle more often and forcefully.

There is an exit

Lactation crises are easy to cope with, you just need to follow a few rules:

1. Mom needs to calm down, because a lactation crisis is a common occurrence, it does not last long and does not cause harm to the child’s health. On the contrary, fears and anxiety only interfere with normal milk production.
2. You definitely need to take a break from household chores. They can either be put aside for a while, or entrusted to someone close to you. During this period, it is better for mom to sleep more or do a simple favorite activity (for example, creativity, reading books). Don't overburden yourself either sports training– they can further reduce lactation.
3. It is advisable to spend as much time as possible with the baby; skin-to-skin contact is especially good for increasing lactation.
4. During this period, you need to put the baby to the breast as often as possible. It is imperative to feed the baby at night, because it is at this time of day that greatest number prolactin.
   You can also keep your baby at your breast longer, but only if there are no problems with the nipples (irritation, cracks).
5. During lactation crises, you can additionally drink lactogenic drinks (various teas, infusions) and consume lactogenic foods (carrots, almonds, feta cheese, fennel).
6. There is no need to immediately feed the baby with artificial formula; the baby will suckle less often, which means milk production will decrease.

These simple rules help increase lactation, and as a result, after one or two (sometimes after 3-4) days, the amount of milk will increase significantly.

If a mother doubts the correctness of her actions, you can seek help from a lactation consultant. Specialists will easily figure out the cause of the lack of milk and will always help restore its quantity.

Positive attitude and correct behavior mothers will definitely help cope with lactation crises and provide the baby with his favorite food.

Despite the wide variety of artificial nutrition for newborns, every mother knows that breast-feeding the best for the child. The baby should be well-fed and cheerful. But what if there is not enough milk and the baby looks hungry and upset. The onset of a crisis is a natural process, and when the right approach the problem will be resolved quickly.

What is a lactation crisis

When breastfeeding, any mother may experience the problem of lactic crisis.

A lactation crisis is an instability in the relationship between the availability of milk and the needs of the baby.

It's normal that in different periods Different amounts of breast milk are produced. It depends on the intensity, time of sucking, and the well-being of the nursing mother. The baby also has certain breakthroughs in development and the breast does not immediately adapt to the emerging requirements. It seems to mom that the amount of food she eats has decreased. The baby just needed more.

This is a certain period of adaptation of the mother’s body to the requirements of the child. There is no need to panic or get upset, this is a solvable natural process.

Don't worry, the lactation crisis is inherent in nature.

Symptoms inherent in a lactation crisis

The onset of lactic crisis is accompanied by certain signs:

• The baby often demands to eat, becomes nervous and whiny.
• Feeding time has increased.
• The intervals between feedings have shortened.
• There is a feeling of emptiness of the mammary glands.

But even the emptiness in the chest does not indicate the onset of a crisis; perhaps the baby simply needed more food. Increased appetite is normal for infants.

Causes

Crises happen for natural reasons and you should not be afraid of them:

1. Associated with the spasmodic development of the child. The baby is growing and requires more milk. But my mother’s body did not have time to rebuild. It takes several days for milk volume to increase.
2. Mom's deficiency.
3. Fatigue and lack of sleep.

Periods and timing of the crisis

The time of onset and periods of duration of the breastfeeding crisis by month are strictly individual. There is no need to wait or worry that it will come. This will make the situation worse.

The standard crises are the first, 3 months, 4 months and 6 months. How long can a lactation crisis last? As a rule, it has a short period, about 3–7 days. With proper organization of the regime, it passes quickly.

3–7 days - duration of the crisis.

Lactation crisis in the first month

This important month in the baby's life. There is a shift in the development of sensory perception, the child is already familiar with something. A lactation crisis may occur at 1 month.

At such moments, the child may behave restlessly and needs something familiar - the close presence of his mother. With such anxiety in the baby, the mother may experience mixed feelings of misunderstanding and fear, worrying whether the baby has enough food, whether he is hungry, or something else is bothering him.

But the baby calms down when applied to the breast, so he can demand it more than normal. But many in such cases begin to think that a period of lactation crisis has come; if the baby often requires the breast, it means he is not getting enough. Experts advise putting the baby to the breast as required. Close connection established between mother and baby, and if there are no others irritating factors, he calms down.

Crisis in the third month

A milk crisis can occur at 3 months. It would seem that milk production has improved, the colic in the tummy has passed, everything is fine. But a child is characterized by a certain leap in development; he already perceives surrounding objects and people with interest and understanding. A breastfeeding crisis may occur at exactly 3 months.

During feeding, the baby may refuse, distracted by extraneous movements, to hang on the chest. During this period, it is advisable for the baby to fall asleep at the breast, this will stimulate the production of natural food.

The child should be allowed to learn and examine as much as possible, so that he gets tired, bored and eats willingly. If all the rules are followed, the lactation crisis at 3 months will pass painlessly for both mother and child.

Crisis in the fourth month of development

The crisis at this stage of child development is similar to the lactation crisis at 3 months. It all depends on the individual growth periods of the child. Certain leaps in development and weight gain require an increase in nutrition.

If you correctly follow the daily routine of yourself and your baby, the mother will quickly and without worry cope with the resulting shortage of milk.

Lactation crisis in the sixth month

A six-month-old child requires more and more attention in matters of feeding and communication. Therefore, the nature of the lactation crisis at 6 months is also different. At this stage of development, the child needs additional nutrients.

There are signs to determine whether a baby on breastfeeding needs complementary feeding: the weight has more than doubled, the child is capricious and constantly asks for food. Complementary foods are introduced in a sitting position with the help of an adult. It starts with five grams, and gradually the volume increases.

Each complementary food must be supplemented with breastfeeding.

Do not reduce the number of breastfeedings. Don't go to artificial mixtures. Wait time and milk production will be restored. In this case, it is necessary to comply certain rules stimulation of lactation, designed for periods of lactation crisis.

How to overcome

Psychological methods

The main rule is not to worry. Remember that if the baby’s health is fine, everything is fine. Sufficient lactation is progressing.

Milk crises during breastfeeding are short-lived phenomena. And the deficiency will stimulate increased sucking, therefore, there will be good milk production. Do not forget that the mother’s anxious state can affect the child and aggravate the problem.

Maintaining a daily routine and improving the life of a nursing mother

Milk crises are a consequence of irrational or Not correct mode from a nursing mother. Frequent lack of sleep, fatigue, worries and bad mood are a direct consequence of the crisis.

Solution to the problem:

• focus on proper routine a day for yourself and your baby;
• regular good sleep. It is advisable to put everything aside and sleep a little while the baby sleeps;
• if possible, involve loved ones in helping with housework;
• put the baby to the breast as soon as required. How bigger baby eats, the more milk will be produced.

Sometimes, for psychological satisfaction and to lift your spirits, you need to arrange an interesting walk or meeting.

Massage

For peace of mind nervous system To stimulate blood circulation, a course of massage is recommended, as a result of which lactation also increases.

Warm baths

Warm treatments help some. They are recommended for pronounced deficiencies.

Warm, relaxing baths will improve blood circulation and promote lactation.

You can also practice warm wrapping. Before feeding, wrap your breasts in a warm towel.

Nutrition

Very important factor in mom mode during period milk crisis when breastfeeding in order to stimulate lactation is correct, balanced diet and drinking plenty of fluids.

Meals should be varied, high-calorie, and contain plenty of protein foods at least five times a day. Since the baby may often wake up for night feedings, it is advisable to drink more nutritional fluid at night. This could be tea with milk, compotes.

But the choice of food products should be approached carefully so as not to cause allergic reaction The child has. There are natural lactation stimulants: carrot juice with milk or cream, anise seed decoction, anise, fennel and oregano tea, caraway seed decoction.

Increased number of applications

Putting the baby to the breast as needed is the first rule for stimulating lactation. It is even recommended to give to both breasts, but to apply to the second only when the first is completely empty. You should not resort to mixtures. The crisis is short-lived, and the child will become accustomed to formula.

There are cases that children even refuse to breastfeed. It's easier to suck on a bottle than to breastfeed. The baby will be full longer, require breastfeeding less often - lactation will decrease. Therefore, complementary feeding can aggravate the problem of lactation.

Night feedings

Night feeding is a period of intense production of the hormones prolactin and oxytocin, which directly stimulate lactation. Every mother knows the feeling in the morning full breasts. Good result gives sleep together and frequent meals child at night. It is night application that helps solve the problem without drug intervention.

What not to do during lactic crisis

Basic rules of what a mother should not do during a breastfeeding crisis:

1. Be nervous, worry.
2. Express yourself. It is enough that the baby empties the breast himself.
3. Supplement with artificial nutrition, even if the baby looks hungry. Distract him, and then put him to the chest again.
4. If complementary feeding is provided, only from a spoon. The bottle is strictly prohibited. The baby may refuse to breastfeed.

Breast milk - indispensable product for the child and it is the nursing mother who can give it to her child. But this requires knowledge of the principles proper feeding and stick to them. If you want, everything will be fine. Lactation crises are a natural phenomenon, but any mother can cope with this problem on her own.

How do you cope with the lactation crisis? Share in the comments.

Any young mother wants her baby not to lack nutrition, to latch on to the breast correctly and to eat milk well. But sooner or later, nursing mothers face a problem such as a decrease in lactation, when breast milk is no longer enough to meet the child’s needs. This period is called a lactation crisis - a phenomenon that is not dangerous, but causes a lot of concern.

Lactation crisis: what does it look like?

Almost every mother faces the problem of decreasing breast milk at least once, and there is no need to be afraid. However, it is important to understand that the lactation crisis is a physiological phenomenon, and some special medical treatment in this case it is not required. In most cases, the crisis occurs a month and a half after birth, and can often be repeated for more later feeding. This is not dangerous for the mother’s body, but it brings considerable inconvenience. Therefore, it is better to be psychologically prepared for such a phenomenon in advance in order to do everything possible to get out of the situation.

A nursing woman can recognize the onset of a lactation crisis on her own, without resorting to the help of doctors, and they will help her with this following signs and symptoms:

• The baby does not want to let go of the breast for a long time and sucks milk longer than usual;
• The child is often capricious, sleeps poorly, and constantly reaches for the breast;
• Mom herself feels the problem, realizing that milk is not increasing.

The reasons for such changes are explained quite simply: as the baby grows, so do his needs, to which the mother’s body simply does not have time to adapt.

Why is the milk supply decreasing?

The period of breastfeeding has been studied by specialists for a long time; as a result of observations, experts identify three main reasons that lead to a decrease in lactation.

Reason 1. This is a baby’s “growth spurt” at one time or another when the child becomes more active. He learns to roll over, lift and hold his head, rise on his arms, crawl - that is, he spends a lot of energy. Accordingly, it requires more power. And the mother’s body needs some time to adapt to the needs of the little one - soon everything will return to normal and there will be enough milk again.

Reason 2. Often, a lactation crisis can be associated with the depressed state of a nursing woman: bad mood, monotony of life, fatigue, etc. After all, with the birth of a baby, her usual life changes dramatically: constant lack of sleep and loss of strength begin, which often leads to blues, apathy and even depression. Therefore, it is not surprising that all these nuances do not have the best effect on lactation.

Reason 3. The amount of breast milk depends on the correct diet, and if it is not organized correctly, this can also lead to a lactation crisis. The most common mistakes young mothers make are that many begin to skip nightly and morning breastfeeding, often abuse pacifiers or supplement the baby with formula, which is not recommended to do unnecessarily.

Main periods of decreased lactation

On average, a lactation crisis lasts two to three days, in rare cases– up to one week. Moreover, some nursing mothers avoid this problem, some women encounter this phenomenon once or twice, but it also happens that a lactation crisis occurs several times (especially if breastfeeding continues enough long period time). Let's look at the three main periods of a lactation crisis.

1 month. The first “step” that a baby overcomes: it is at this age that he ceases to be a newborn and begins to grow stronger “by leaps and bounds.” The child himself cannot yet understand how much he needs. this moment milk is required, he eats more or less, and milk begins to be produced in the same way. You need to wait out this period calmly - the baby will “determine” and lactation will quickly normalize.

3 months. At this stage, as a rule, the next crisis occurs (plus or minus two to three weeks). By this time, the woman and the child have already become firmly attached to each other, the little one eats milk with appetite, and suddenly - dissatisfaction, crying, a long “hanging” on the chest... It seems to the mother that lactation has decreased, but this is not so. The baby just becomes more active, he needs more food, but there is no increase in milk, hence the whims.

6 months. This is the very period when, due to his sufficiently “adult” age, the child no longer really gets enough of milk. Mom increasingly begins to feel “emptiness” in her chest and mistakenly thinks that she is losing lactation. In fact, everything functions perfectly, it’s just that the baby quickly “empties” the breast, and milk does not have time to be produced. This means that the time has come to think about complementary feeding.

Mistakes moms make during a lactation crisis

Any nursing woman during a lactation crisis is frightened by situations when the child’s behavior changes and he begins to be capricious. This becomes a reason for mistakes that are very undesirable to make. Frightened mothers, not knowing that the crisis is a temporary phenomenon, begin to get nervous, which can actually lead to a decrease in lactation. Some begin to feverishly express milk (which cannot be done, as this deteriorates its quality). Others run for formula to supplement the baby's feeding (and if the mother does not plan to stop breastfeeding, then such an action is not justified). All a woman needs to do is calm down, everything will soon return to normal.

Do I need to supplement my baby with formula during a crisis?

As already mentioned, when breastfeeding (especially during early stages) supplementary feeding is not encouraged, even if the mother is haunted by the thought that the baby is constantly hungry. Unless, of course, we are talking specifically about a lactation crisis, and not about a real milk shortage. In the first months the baby has enough mother's milk, and it is not recommended to resort to mixtures without reason. Otherwise, you can easily make a child an “artificial” child - he will quickly realize that sucking from a bottle is much easier and more convenient than sucking from his mother’s breast. Therefore, do not be surprised if, after introducing complementary foods, the baby refuses breastfeeding and milk production stops due to lack of stimulation. If the mother nevertheless decides to introduce formula into the child’s diet, then again: it must be given from a spoon, it cannot be poured into a bottle - the little one may become lazy and refuse to breastfeed.

Is it possible to prevent a lactation crisis?

If breastfeeding proceeds smoothly and with a sufficient amount of milk, then the possible onset of a lactation crisis can be alleviated as much as possible. It is impossible to prevent this phenomenon 100%, because every woman’s body reacts differently to such processes. Therefore, all that remains is to wait and perform the following actions:

• Putting your baby to your breast more often will help stimulate the lactation process. It is especially recommended to increase the amount of night and morning feedings;
• Be sure to get enough sleep! Perfect option– go to bed with the baby, and ask one of your relatives to help with household chores; they are unlikely to refuse;
• Try to find time to relax: walk with your husband in the park, get your hair done at the hairdresser, go to a cafe with a friend - this will bring positive emotions;
• Attend proper nutrition, which is very important for lactation. A nursing mother needs to eat five times a day, meals should be balanced;
• Don’t forget to massage your breasts before each feeding; you can apply something warm to it or drink warm tea with milk - it will be easier for your baby to suckle milk.

What to do during a lactation crisis?

If, nevertheless, a lactation crisis has occurred, and the baby does not stop being capricious, what should the mother do? First of all, calm down and don’t get nervous, otherwise there will actually be problems with milk production. Drug treatment during this period is not required, doctors “prescribe” rest, sleep, communication with the child and a good mood. It is very important to put your baby to the breast as much as he requires, especially at night and morning hours– at this time milk is produced better. The more often the baby eats, the better for stimulating lactation. Mom also needs to drink more liquid: water, tea with milk, freshly squeezed juices, fruit drinks and compotes. There should be no coffee, soda or store-bought packaged juices in a nursing woman’s diet!

How can you tell if your baby has enough milk?

There are situations when a child really does not have enough mother's milk, which has nothing to do with a lactation crisis. How to determine the difference between these two phenomena in order to know for sure whether the baby is receiving the necessary portions of milk? You just need to count how many times a day the baby urinates. The norm should be about 8-12 times, but if the indicators are less, it is necessary to observe the child for another two to three days. If the number of urinations has not changed or has become even less, it means that the baby does not have enough breast milk and needs additional nutrition. But you shouldn’t transfer the toddler completely to artificial nutrition, it’s better to do it mixed.

How to check the intensity of lactation?

In order to make sure that milk production is intensive, you need to check your body temperature in the usual way(in the armpit area), then body temperature under the chest - and compare the numbers. If lactation proceeds in accordance with all standards, then the temperature under the mammary gland will be half a degree or one degree higher. For example, if the thermometer showed 36.6 under the armpit, then under the breast it will be 36.7. If the temperature does not show any difference, then the lactation protest is not intense enough.

How to enhance lactation using folk remedies?

Breastfeeding does not accept any medicines, because they are easily transmitted to the baby through milk. And here traditional methods in the form of teas and decoctions are not only effective, but also useful. Which natural gifts promote milk production?

1. Grate the radish, squeeze out the juice, add a spoonful of honey and take before feeding.
2. Add a teaspoon of lemon balm, angelica, chamomile and oregano to the brew of regular black tea, pour boiling water over it, cool, strain and drink like regular long tea.
3. Place dandelion flowers in a layer in a jar, sprinkle well with sugar, then again a layer of flowers, and again a layer of sugar - and so on until the very top. After a couple of days, the dandelions will settle and release juice due to the sugar. It should be taken by spoon 3-4 times a day.
4. Pour boiling water over three teaspoons of chopped nettle herb, leave for 10 minutes, strain and drink. The norm for a nursing woman is a full cup three times a day.
5. Grate the carrots, squeeze the juice and drink three times a day. You can add honey to taste.
6. A decoction of the following herbs and plants perfectly enhances lactation: ginger, fennel, saffron, cumin, anise, dill and cinnamon. The dosage may vary according to individual taste.
7. Mix a whisper of crushed cumin seeds with lemon juice and a tablespoon of sugar. Pour a liter of water and boil over low heat for several minutes. Infuse, cool, strain and take half a glass no more than twice a day.
8. Grind the kernels of walnuts (at the rate of 50g per serving) and pour them with hot milk (150g per serving). Infuse until warm, add a spoonful of honey and take three times a day. Honey can be replaced with sugar, and milk with cream.

The main thing that every nursing mother should remember is the fact that a lactation crisis is not a deviation or pathology, and there is no reason to panic. Yes, problems may arise, but they are short-term and dealing with them is not so difficult. If a woman does everything correctly, then the lactation crisis will pass almost unnoticed. Good mood and positive emotions are the main key to success.

Every mother who is committed to prolonged breastfeeding should be aware that during lactation there will be periods when the baby does not have enough milk. These are the so-called breastfeeding crises or lactic crises. Milk crisis– is not a reason to give up lactation. If the mother does not intend to stop feeding, eats well, gets enough sleep and is not stressed, then lactation can be restored.

What it is

A breastfeeding crisis is a situation where the amount of milk produced does not meet the baby's needs. During this period, the breast seems empty, the baby experiences anxiety, screams during or after feeding, and constantly demands milk. This situation continues for 3-4 days (although sometimes it can drag on for 6 days or more). And if during this period the mother behaves correctly - putting the baby to the breast more often, eating on time, finding more time for rest and sleep, feeding on demand and at night, then after a while the situation will improve. The amount of breast milk increases to the volume needed by the baby.

The first breastfeeding crisis occurs at 3-6 weeks of the baby’s life, then repeats at 3, 7, 11 and 12 months. Some believe that during these periods milk production temporarily decreases, others associate the ebb and flow of milk with the influence of the phases of the moon. But most qualified specialists They agree that a lactation crisis is a consequence of a child’s spasmodic growth. The baby's energy consumption increases and the usual portion of milk is not enough for him. And when the breast “adjusts” to his needs, lactation again becomes measured and full.

What not to do during a milk crisis

Mom needs to understand that lactation, especially during early stages, controlled by hormonal and emotional background. This means that with her nervousness she can create a vicious circle and aggravate the problem.

First of all, you shouldn’t stress, be nervous, or deprive yourself of food and sleep.. Stress suppresses the production of the hormone oxytocin, which is responsible for the outflow of milk from the breast; the phrase “milk disappeared from nerves” is by no means without foundation. And although it is difficult to feel calm when the baby is screaming and demanding the breast, the mother needs to try to relax. Take a hot shower, drink a decoction of valerian or motherwort, ask your relatives to take care of the baby for at least a while. And in the free time, try to relax, eat quietly and sleep.

When a breastfeeding crisis lasts about 3 days, it does not pose a danger to the baby. At this time, there is no need to supplement the baby's drink, supplement with formula or porridge, or soothe the baby with a pacifier. Milk flow can only be ensured by frequent breast stimulation through lactation. Do not interrupt your baby's appetite - this will make it more difficult to restore lactation.

However, for psychological support it is quite possible to buy a jar of the mixture, age appropriate and keep it unopened in case the crisis drags on for more than 3 days. Some mothers already experience relief from this, and lactation improves even without the use of auxiliary methods.

Those around you should also put themselves in the position of the mother and provide her with help around the house, at least short-term child care. But most importantly, no one should ever doubt that mom has enough milk.

How to overcome lactic crisis

To restore normal breastfeeding, essentially only one condition is needed - frequent application baby to breast. Only nipple stimulation can cause milk flow. And the more there is, the more and faster this natural food for the child arrives. Breastfeed on demand. If the baby does not get enough from one breast, immediately offer him the second, and when that is empty, return the baby to the first breast. The baby should suck as much as he needs. While following this recommendation, do not forget to eat and drink enough warm liquid.

The maximum amount of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the secretion of breast milk, is produced from 3 to 7 am. During these hours, it is worth organizing additional pre-dawn feedings - this way you can restore interrupted lactation.

Skin-to-skin contact helps overcome the crisis, and if conditions permit, feed the baby naked, covering him with a diaper, so as to feel maximum contact with the body. By taking certain precautions, you can practice co-sleeping with your baby.

Pumping stimulates lactation in the same way as breastfeeding. Therefore, it is quite possible to use a breast pump. Expressed milk is fed to the baby from a spoon or from a syringe; it can be stored in the refrigerator or frozen in a sterile container in the freezer.