Key Takeaways
- Frequent and effective milk removal is usually the most important step for increasing milk supply.
- Newborns commonly breastfeed 8–12 times in 24 hours, including overnight.
- Weight gain, wet diapers, swallowing, and milk transfer are more useful indicators than breast fullness or the amount collected in one pumping session.
- Express or pump when a normal feeding is missed or your baby cannot remove milk effectively.
- Seek professional help promptly if your baby has fewer than six wet diapers a day from around day five, continues losing weight after day five, becomes increasingly yellow, or is unusually difficult to wake.
Worry about milk supply is common, especially during the first few weeks after birth. However, cluster feeding, softer breasts, shorter feeds, evening fussiness, or a low amount from one pumping session do not automatically mean that your supply is low.
Milk production generally responds to how frequently and effectively milk is removed. Correcting a shallow latch, improving milk transfer, feeding more responsively, or expressing after a missed feed may help increase supply.
This guide focuses mainly on newborns and the early weeks of breastfeeding. Feeding and diaper patterns change as babies grow.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for care from your doctor, midwife, pediatrician, nurse, or lactation professional.
How Can You Tell If Your Milk Supply Is Low?
The amount you collect with a pump is not always an accurate measure of your total milk production. Pump output can vary with the time of day, pump fit, suction settings, stress, and how recently your baby fed. Many babies also remove milk more effectively than a pump.
Assess your baby’s intake using their weight trend, wet diapers, swallowing, alertness, and feeding effectiveness instead.
| Reassuring signs | Signs that need professional assessment |
| You can hear or see regular swallowing | Little or no swallowing during most feeds |
| Your baby sucks rhythmically with deep jaw movements | Repeated clicking, slipping off, or difficulty remaining latched |
| Your baby appears relaxed or satisfied after many feeds | Persistent feeding difficulty, unusual sleepiness, or distress after most feeds |
| Your baby begins gaining weight after the normal early loss | Continued weight loss after day five, loss of more than 10% of birth weight, or poor weight gain |
| At least six wet diapers in 24 hours from around day five | Fewer than six wet diapers in 24 hours from day five |
Newborns commonly feed 8–12 times in 24 hours. By approximately day five, fewer than six wet diapers, continued weight loss, poor swallowing, difficulty remaining latched, or yellowing skin may indicate that a baby is not receiving enough milk.
Fussiness or clicking alone does not prove that supply is low. Consider the complete picture, especially diaper output, weight, swallowing, and alertness.
How to Increase Milk Supply
1. Breastfeed More Frequently
Milk production works largely through supply and demand. Frequent, effective milk removal tells the breasts to continue making milk.
Offer the breast when you notice early hunger cues, including:
- Rooting or turning toward your chest
- Bringing hands to the mouth
- Licking or smacking the lips
- Becoming restless or moving the head from side to side
Try not to wait until your baby is crying. Crying is a later hunger cue and can make latching more difficult.
Most newborns breastfeed approximately 8–12 times in 24 hours. Some feed every one to three hours, while others cluster several feeds close together. Feed responsively rather than following a rigid schedule, unless your baby’s clinician has given you a specific feeding plan.
Very sleepy newborns may need to be woken for feeds until milk intake and weight gain are well established.
2. Check Your Baby’s Latch
A deep, comfortable latch helps your baby remove milk efficiently. A shallow latch can cause pain and reduce milk transfer.
Signs that the latch may need assessment include:
- Pain that continues after the first few sucks
- Cracked, bleeding, or damaged nipples
- Repeated clicking or slipping off the breast
- A nipple that looks flattened, pinched, or misshapen after feeding
- A baby who struggles to remain attached
- Little visible or audible swallowing
With a deep latch, the baby’s mouth is open wide over the breast, the lips are turned outward, the chin rests against the breast, and swallowing is visible or audible. Breastfeeding should feel like pulling or tugging rather than pinching or persistent pain.
Ask a midwife, IBCLC, health visitor, nurse, pediatrician, or another trained breastfeeding professional to observe an entire feeding. Small positioning changes can sometimes make a substantial difference.
3. Make Sure Your Baby Is Actively Drinking
A long feeding does not necessarily mean that your baby is transferring milk effectively. Some babies remain at the breast while making light, fluttering sucks with little swallowing.
Look for:
- Deep jaw movements
- A brief pause when the mouth opens widest
- Regular swallowing
- Rounded rather than hollow cheeks
- A softer breast after feeding
When swallowing slows, place your hand well behind the areola and gently compress the breast. Hold the compression while your baby actively sucks and swallows. Release it when your baby pauses, then compress again when active sucking resumes.
Offer the second breast when your baby is no longer actively drinking from the first. You can return to the first side if your baby remains interested. Breast compression and switching sides may help maintain milk flow.
4. Pump or Hand Express After Missed or Ineffective Feeds
Express milk when:
- Your baby misses a normal breastfeeding session
- You are separated from your baby
- A bottle replaces a usual breastfeed
- Your baby is too sleepy or unwell to remove milk effectively
- A lactation professional recommends additional stimulation
When direct breastfeeding is not possible, pumping or hand expressing about as often as your baby normally eats can help maintain production.
Not everyone needs to pump after every breastfeed. Unnecessary pumping can be exhausting and may contribute to oversupply in some people. Use an individualized plan whenever possible.
Pumping should not cause ongoing pain, bleeding, bruising, or nipple damage. A flange that is too small or too large can cause discomfort and may reduce milk removal. Ask a lactation professional for help with flange fit and pump settings when necessary.
5. Offer Both Breasts
Allow your baby to feed actively from the first breast, then offer the second. Alternate which breast you offer first at each feed.
Offering both sides gives your baby another opportunity to drink and stimulates both breasts. Do not switch according to a strict time limit; focus on active swallowing and your baby’s cues.
It is also normal for one breast to produce more milk than the other.
6. Use Skin-to-Skin Contact
Place your diapered baby upright against your bare chest while you are awake and able to supervise safely.
Skin-to-skin contact can help you notice early feeding cues and may encourage a sleepy baby to become more interested in feeding. Keeping your baby close also creates more opportunities for responsive breastfeeding.
Do not fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. Move the baby to an appropriate sleep surface whenever you feel sleepy.
7. Support Your Nutrition, Hydration, Rest, and Recovery
You do not need a special breastfeeding diet. Eat regular, varied meals and drink according to thirst. Keeping water nearby during feeds can be convenient, but forcing excessive fluids is unlikely to correct low supply.
Rest may be difficult with a newborn, so ask for practical help with meals, housework, shopping, or caring for other children.
Adequate food, fluids, rest, and support help your general recovery and wellbeing. However, they cannot correct a shallow latch, ineffective milk transfer, or infrequent milk removal. Address feeding effectiveness first.
A Simple 48–72-Hour Action Plan
Do not wait 48–72 hours before seeking help if your baby has inadequate wet diapers, continued weight loss, increasing jaundice, dehydration, or unusual sleepiness.
| When | What to do |
| At every feed | Check for a comfortable, deep latch and listen for swallowing |
| When swallowing slows | Use gentle breast compression and offer the other breast |
| At early hunger cues | Offer the breast without waiting for a scheduled time |
| After a missed or ineffective feed | Hand express or pump |
| During the day | Use supervised skin-to-skin contact |
| Over the next two or three days | Record feeds, wet diapers, supplements, and pumping sessions |
| If there is no improvement | Arrange an assessment with a lactation or healthcare professional |
Some people notice a change within several days, while others need longer. The result depends on why supply is low, how long the problem has been present, and how effectively milk is being removed.
What Can Cause Low Milk Supply?
Low supply is frequently associated with milk not being removed often enough or effectively enough. Possible reasons include:
- A shallow or painful latch
- Infrequent or scheduled feeding
- Missed feeds without expressing
- Separation from the baby
- Illness in the baby or breastfeeding parent
- A tongue restriction that interferes with milk transfer
- Previous breast or chest surgery
- Delayed milk production after birth
- Significant bleeding after delivery
- Retained placental tissue
- Thyroid disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes, or other hormonal conditions
- Insufficient milk-making tissue
- Medicines or hormonal contraception that affect supply
Ask a healthcare professional for an assessment if you have followed a consistent feeding or pumping plan and your supply does not improve. An underlying medical condition or infant feeding problem may need treatment.
Do Lactation Cookies, Teas, or Supplements Work?
No cookie, tea, herb, drink, or individual food has been shown to reliably correct low milk supply.
Products marketed as milk boosters may contain fenugreek, fennel, blessed thistle, milk thistle, goat’s rue, or other herbs. Evidence for many of these ingredients is limited or conflicting.
Fenugreek, for example, has not been consistently shown to increase milk production. It can cause nausea, diarrhea, allergic reactions, asthma symptoms, changes in blood sugar, liver problems, or medicine interactions. People with legume allergies, diabetes, or those taking blood-thinning medicine may face additional risks. The ingredients in supplements may also differ from the amounts stated on their labels.
Do not use an herbal or prescription milk-supply product without discussing it with a qualified healthcare professional. Supplements and medicines should never replace an assessment of latch, milk transfer, feeding frequency, pump effectiveness, or possible medical causes.
When Should You Seek Help?
Contact your baby’s healthcare professional or an appropriately trained feeding specialist promptly if your baby:
- Has fewer than six wet diapers in 24 hours from around day five
- Continues losing weight after day five
- Has lost more than 10% of their birth weight
- Cannot remain latched
- Is rarely heard or seen swallowing
- Appears unusually sleepy or is difficult to wake for feeds
- Has a dry mouth or other signs of dehydration
- Develops increasing yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Is not gaining weight as expected
- Causes persistent nipple pain or damage during feeds
Seek urgent medical care if your baby cannot be properly woken, appears limp or seriously unwell, or has difficulty breathing.
Do not stop or reduce medically recommended formula, pasteurized donor milk, or expressed-milk supplements without discussing the change with your baby’s healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can breastfeeding supply return after a temporary drop?
Yes. Milk supply can often recover after illness, stress, missed feeds, travel, or another temporary disruption. Breastfeed or express milk regularly, check that milk is being removed effectively, and address the cause of the decrease. Recovery may take several days or longer. Seek help from a healthcare or lactation professional if supply does not improve or your baby shows signs of inadequate milk intake.
Can my period reduce milk supply?
Some breastfeeding parents notice a temporary drop in milk supply around ovulation or the start of their period. The change is usually mild and short-lived. Continue feeding or pumping regularly, and contact a healthcare professional if the decrease is significant or does not improve.
Is it normal for milk supply to change during the day?
Yes. Many people produce more milk in the morning and less in the late afternoon or evening. Babies may also cluster feed in the evening, which can make supply seem lower than it is. Daily diaper output, weight gain, swallowing, and overall milk transfer are more reliable indicators than the amount available at one particular time.
Can I rebuild milk supply after it has dropped?
Milk supply can often be increased after a temporary decrease, although results vary. Frequent breastfeeding or pumping, effective milk removal, skin-to-skin contact, and correcting latch or pump-fit problems may help. Rebuilding supply may take several days or longer, depending on the cause and how long production has been reduced.
Can pregnancy affect milk supply?
Yes. Hormonal changes during pregnancy commonly reduce milk production, especially during the second trimester. Some babies continue breastfeeding despite the lower supply, while younger babies may need additional milk. Speak with a healthcare professional if you are pregnant and concerned that your child is not receiving enough.
Can having too much milk cause feeding problems?
Yes. Oversupply or a forceful milk flow can cause coughing, gulping, pulling away from the breast, frequent spit-up, or discomfort during feeds. Avoid adding unnecessary pumping sessions, as extra milk removal can increase production further. A lactation professional can help you adjust positioning and create a safe plan for managing oversupply.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Newborn Breastfeeding Basics
https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/breastfeeding/newborn-basics.html
American Academy of Pediatrics – First Office Visit, 3-5 Days
https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/newborn-infant-and-early-childhood-nutrition/newborn-and-infant-health-assessment-and-promotion/first-office-visit-3-5-days/
National Health Service – Breastfeeding: Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?
https://www.nhs.uk/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding-problems/enough-milk/
USDA WIC Breastfeeding Support – Low Milk Supply
https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/low-milk-supply
National Library of Medicine LactMed – Fenugreek
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501779/
