Text/Picture: Dr Blue, PhD. Registered Educational Psychologist, Lactation Counselor, Ex Chemist
"I'm currently 7 months pregnant, and I don't even know if I'll have breast milk after giving birth. I have friends who didn't have any milk after giving birth," said a young mom.
Most people share this concern. It's a common worry among many mothers. They want to breastfeed but are afraid they won't have enough milk or any milk at all, leading to concerns about their baby not getting enough nourishment.
Some moms have reported that when they tried to breastfeed, their babies cried incessantly, seeming like they were never satisfied. In those moments, well-meaning relatives often step in as saviors and offer formula milk. Strangely, the baby stops crying, drinks the bottle, and falls asleep peacefully. This only reinforces the mother's belief that she has no milk.
One mother, after giving birth, tried to breastfeed, but her mother consistently discouraged her, claiming that she was too thin to produce milk. As a result, her baby was fed formula from birth. She said she attempted to breastfeed, but the baby resisted and refused to latch. When she reached out to me, her baby was almost 2 months old. I provided some guidance, thinking she might not follow through. However, several months later, she sent me photos of her baby and said, "Look, my baby is exclusively breastfed now! He's chubby and healthy! I want to thank you so much! I followed your advice, persisted, and successfully breastfed my baby, exclusively!"
There's also a mom who was exclusively pumping, and her baby was 4 months old. She believed she had very little milk, hardly enough to feed her baby. So, her baby only had about 2 ounces of breast milk once a day, and the rest of the time, he was given formula. She was on the verge of giving up and had accepted that she was a low milk supply mom. I provided her with some guidance, informing her that at 4 months, it's still possible to increase milk supply. She followed the advice and trained her mind. It didn't take long before her baby became exclusively breastfed and gained a healthy weight. She finally realized how abundant her milk supply was!
Many mothers find themselves teetering on the edge of perseverance and giving up after giving birth. This is entirely normal. Postpartum life can be exhausting, and the arrival of a new family member brings significant changes. Building a rapport with the baby takes time. Consequently, only a few mothers can continue breastfeeding. However, those who persist often discover that they have an abundant milk supply.
Women are gifted with breasts by nature, primarily for breastfeeding. Barring specific circumstances, most mothers will have sufficient milk to nourish their babies.
In reality, breast milk is something you train your body to produce.