what to do when your breast milk supply is running low

you're not pumping as much as you used to. your baby seems hungry even after a feeding. what's happening, you wonder. "you must be running out of milk," your co-workers or non-breastfeeding friends tell you. you stare at the formula sample you just received at your door (how DO they know just when your strength is wavering?). what should you do?

the answer: call in sick. cancel your appointments. take the phone off the hook. take your other kids to the sitter or grandma's for a day. take your baby and go to bed.

get your husband, mom, friend, or neighbor to agree to take care of "things" while you are in bed with your baby. ask them to bring you water (lots of water), meals, and snacks for a day. your ONLY focus will be to lie in bed with your baby and nurse. that's it. get out of bed when you need to pee. then get back in. don't turn on the tv. don't bring the junky magazines into your bed. the only thing you will be doing for the next 24 hours is being there with your baby and offering your breast. just lie there with your shirt off. put a towel underneath if spilled milk on the bed makes you jumpy to do laundry. when your baby sleeps, you sleep. when your baby cries, show her the boob. that's it.

you will find, at the end of the day, that you have gotten into a sort of rhythm with your child. you are more aware of her feeding cues. you are more in tune with her cries. and your milk supply will be more in synch with what she needs.

it may seem strange. it may not feel "modern" to just lie in bed all day with "nothing" to do. but, if you think about it, is there anything more important to be doing right now? you're giving your child the unhurried opportunity to ask for and receive what it is she needs most right now - your attention, your comforting, and your milk.