Bumps SmittenBeing a mom always comes with all sorts of worries and concerns. Things get even more confusing when it’s time to start breastfeeding. Do you eat healthy enough? Is the fat in your milk sufficient? Unfortunately, you cannot increase your breastmilk’s fat content. The good news, however, is that there are several ways to make breastmilk fattier.
Follow the tips below to ensure that your baby consumes the fattiest of your breastmilk.
Start with Your Own Health
There is this common belief that the foods that a mother eats affect the content of her breastmilk. It is thought that if you consume more amounts of fatty food, your breastmilk will also have more fat in it.
But this is nothing but a myth and misconception. Eating food with higher fat content doesn’t automatically mean that your breastmilk will also have more fat in it.
There is one exception to this rule, though. If the mother is malnourished, this may affect her breastmilk’s fat content. Unhealthy moms can increase their breastmilk’s fat content by striving to be healthier.
It is applicable to more severe illnesses like anorexia. But if you don’t eat as you normally would for a long period of time, like when you suffer from flu for several weeks, this can also affect the amount of fat in your breastmilk.
See to it that you feel better at the soonest time possible and try some supplements for now.
Choose Your Fats with Care
Again, your diet has very minimal impact on your breastmilk, but it will have a huge and significant effect on your overall health. Since the foods you eat also affect your little one, you have to be extra careful when it comes to your fat intake.
For your baby to stay healthy, make sure you load up on polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats that can be found in seeds, nuts, fish, and vegetable oils. These are the types of at that are essential for the development of the vision and brain of your baby.
Increase Your Baby’s Feeding Duration
When your little one begins nursing, the foremilk is the first thing he drinks. This milk is thinner and can quench your baby’s thirst.
As your baby continues to nurse, your foremilk will then give way to hindmilk that is not only creamier and more caloric but also has a higher fat content. The general rule of thumb here is that fat is higher if the breast has lesser milk content.
However, never assume that the milk will be fattier if the feeding is longer. It is never about how long the breastfeeding session is because it is all about how empty the breast is. Take note that when the breast contains less milk, the milk will also have a greater proportion of fat.
The best thing you can do to make sure that your baby drinks the fattiest milk is to let your baby empty your breast first. While a mother’s breast is never technically empty, it would be easy to note the difference between a not full breast and a full one.
Let Your Baby Drink the Hindmilk
The milk found in front of your breast, or the foremilk, is important as this contains the essential nutrients and vitamins that your little one needs. But sometimes, it means that your baby doesn’t get the hindmilk. While foremilk contains more water, hindmilk contains higher amounts of fat.
Common tips for breastfeeding, like letting your baby feed on one breast for 15 minutes and on the other one for 15 more minutes, means that your baby will mainly drink the foremilk that doesn’t contain much fat.
You can try pumping your breast before you feed your baby to ensure that he drinks the hindmilk first. You can then let him feed on the foremilk out of a bottle if he still feels hungry.
Another helpful tip is to pump the hindmilk with every feeding if your little one doesn’t empty out your breasts completely. You can then feed your baby with this milk through the bottle. Either way, your baby will get the higher amounts of fat he needs.
Pamper Yourself with a Breast Massage
A breast massage is just like breast compressions and has the same effect. The hindmilk will arrive much faster since it helps you move it to the front of your breast.
Make sure you pamper yourself with a gentle massage both before and during feedings. You can do it in several ways. The first method is to put your hand close to your collarbone then massage downwards to your nipple while moving in circles.
See to it that you always work starting from the top to the bottom then proceed to work your way around your entire breast.
Separate Your Breastmilk
You can also try to separate your milk when pumping it. Pump out your breastmilk for around 2 minutes. Get another container where you will pump the rest of your milk.
You will notice that the milk in the two containers has different consistencies if you try to compare time. It is because the hindmilk that has more fat content is much thicker compared to the milk in front of your breast.
It is especially important when you pump the milk you feed to your baby. You should not just store them separately because you also have to ensure that you separate their containers in the freezer. Rather than grabbing the one in front, you have to ensure that you feed your baby at least one full feeding of hindmilk per day. Doing so increases your baby’s fat intake.
Consider Taking Supplements to Increase Your Supply of Milk
If you are having a hard time with your supply of milk, this may mean that your baby will not be able to get enough fat content from your milk as well. Generally speaking, when your breast is fuller, it has more breastmilk that contains more fat. The good news is that there are now lots of supplements available in the market that you can try to use to boost your milk supply.
Try these ways to make breastmilk fattier to ensure your baby’s health.
