1) You feel excessively tired
Breastfeeding is hard work, and women who do it need about an extra 450 to 500 calories per day. Women who don’t take in enough calories may experience symptoms like fatigue and difficulty maintaining a healthy weight—not fun, especially when you are caring for a newborn.
What you can do
Speak with your doctor or healthcare practitioner about your caloric needs. They will usually recommend that you continue to take your prenatal vitamins postpartum or switch to an alternative supplement. Eating a nutritious and well-balanced diet will also help too.
2) You’re not producing enough milk
While some women naturally produce less milk, prescription and over-the-counter medications can also limit your milk supply. Decongestants, fertility medications and antihistamines can especially negatively impact your milk production, so it may be wise to avoid them while you’re breastfeeding. Read more about the drugs that reduce breast milk production here.
What you can do
Luckily, there are supplements that can may help increase your breast milk supply. Speak with your healthcare provider about fenugreek, Brewer’s yeast, Moringa and red raspberry leaf as they might enhance milk production.
Foods such as lean meats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables can also help increase your breast milk supply and provide your body with nutrients it may be lacking due to the demands of breastfeeding.
3) Your baby isn’t getting enough vitamin D
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfed babies generally do not get enough vitamin D, which can lead to softening and weakening of the bones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that breastfed and partially breastfed babies be supplemented with 400 IU of vitamin D per day, so speak with your doctor to ensure that your child is getting enough.
What you can do
If your child is not getting enough vitamin D, your pediatrician will likely recommend a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D liquid infant drops are available over-the-counter, but you’ll still want to check in with your doctor to see if your baby should take them.
4) Your menstrual cycle is off
After pregnancy, a lot of breastfeeding women will continue to skip their menstrual cycle. Skipping this monthly visitor may sound great, but extra precautions should be taken between you and your partner as you are still fertile and could get pregnant (…again).
What you can do
Talk with your OB/GYN about your various birth control options. It’s important to keep in mind that estrogen-containing birth control products can decrease your milk supply, so you may want to consider other options, like:
- Progestin-only mini-pill oral contraceptives
- Birth control injections
- An IUD (intrauterine device)
- A birth control implant
5) You feel overwhelmed
There’s no shame in feeling overwhelmed with breastfeeding. Between dealing with all changes your body is going through and learning how to take care of a new human being, it’s easy to feel stressed. Life for a new mom can be rocky.
What you can do
Remember, it’s ok to ask for help! Consider talking to a lactation consultant, who can be a great resource if you have any questions or trouble breastfeeding. Appointments with a lactation consultant may be in-person, virtually, or on the telephone. Some insurance companies may even cover the cost of a set number of visits.
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