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Premature Baby, Cannot Breastfeed Due To Insufficient Milk Production. Medicine To Increase Breast Milk?
Question: Hi I had a premature delivery in 31.5 weeks. Now he is 3 months old can i start giving him rice/dal water or only milk is to be given to him. Also i m not able to breast feed him sufficiently because i do not have milk production is there any medicine or anything i can take to increase my breast mlk
Hi,
Thanks for posting query.
In preterm infants, Solid food should be introduced at four to six months past the infant's due date. The infant's swallowing mechanism will not acceptably handle solid food until two and one half to three and one half months past the infant's due date. Hence it is early to start food other than breast milk for your baby.
Human milk from the baby’s own mother is the recommended diet for human babies especially for those born early and at very low birth weight till 6 months after birth. Research suggests that breast milk protects babies against infections and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Maintaining a breast milk may be difficult in some women like you.. Here are some suggestions:
A. Fluids and rest
The stress and fatigue that come with having a premature baby can be counter-productive to your milk supply. A good diet and plenty of fluids are essential, and need to be planned for as best you can. If you find your supply is dwindling despite your best efforts, try to spend a day or two in bed, getting up only to eat and express.
B. Increase frequency of pumping if you are feeding by expressing breast milk.
Most women find that frequent shorter pumping sessions work better than longer ones spaced further apart, for example, 10 minutes every three hours rather than 20 minutes every four hours.
C. Herbal and Medicinal preparations
There are various herbal remedies that are popular and worth trying (but not all at once!). These include brewer's yeast, fenugreek tea or capsules, blessed thistle (also called milk thistle) and mother's milk tea
D. Medications
There are also medicines which can help your let-down such as Metoclopraminde, available as Reglan in the U.S.A. and as Maxalon or Pramin in Australia and England. The lactation consultant at your hospital can advise you on these. They aren't suitable or effective for everyone.
With warm regards,
Dr.Mahesh Koregol
Thanks for posting query.
In preterm infants, Solid food should be introduced at four to six months past the infant's due date. The infant's swallowing mechanism will not acceptably handle solid food until two and one half to three and one half months past the infant's due date. Hence it is early to start food other than breast milk for your baby.
Human milk from the baby’s own mother is the recommended diet for human babies especially for those born early and at very low birth weight till 6 months after birth. Research suggests that breast milk protects babies against infections and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Maintaining a breast milk may be difficult in some women like you.. Here are some suggestions:
A. Fluids and rest
The stress and fatigue that come with having a premature baby can be counter-productive to your milk supply. A good diet and plenty of fluids are essential, and need to be planned for as best you can. If you find your supply is dwindling despite your best efforts, try to spend a day or two in bed, getting up only to eat and express.
B. Increase frequency of pumping if you are feeding by expressing breast milk.
Most women find that frequent shorter pumping sessions work better than longer ones spaced further apart, for example, 10 minutes every three hours rather than 20 minutes every four hours.
C. Herbal and Medicinal preparations
There are various herbal remedies that are popular and worth trying (but not all at once!). These include brewer's yeast, fenugreek tea or capsules, blessed thistle (also called milk thistle) and mother's milk tea
D. Medications
There are also medicines which can help your let-down such as Metoclopraminde, available as Reglan in the U.S.A. and as Maxalon or Pramin in Australia and England. The lactation consultant at your hospital can advise you on these. They aren't suitable or effective for everyone.
With warm regards,
Dr.Mahesh Koregol
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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