Diana West, BA, IBCLC, and Lisa Marasco, MA, IBCLC, have written a comprehensive book about low milk supply to address these common concerns:

PART 1—INVESTIGATING YOUR MILK SUPPLY

Chapter 1—Understanding Your Milk Factory

Seasons of Breast Development: Growing a Milk Factory • Hormones and the Milk-Making Process • Milk Ejection: Nature's Delivery System • How Your Body Decides How Much Milk to Make • Baby Calls the Shots • The Resource-Efficient Breast • The Role of Storage Capacity • Does Milk Production Have an Upper Limit? • The Milk Supply Equation • Milk Production Is Designed to Succeed

Chapter 2—What's Normal and What's Not?

Commonly Misinterpreted Baby Behaviors • Commonly Misinterpreted Maternal Indicators • Do You Have Enough Milk?

Chapter 3—How to Know if There Really is a Problem

Determining If Your Baby Is Getting Enough Milk • Weight Gain to Gauge Milk Intake • Diaper Output to Gauge Milk Intake • Feeding Test Weights • Measuring Production by Pumping • The Final Results • Developing a Milk Management Strategy

Chapter 4—Supplementing Without Decreasing Your Milk Supply

When to Begin Supplementation • How Much to Supplement: A Starting Point • Choosing a Supplement • Supplementation Devices • Weaning from Supplements • Solids as Supplements

Chapter 5—Getting Your Milk Production Off to a Good Start

Get a Head Start: Expressing Milk Before Baby Is Born • Nurse in the First Hour • Keep Baby Skin to Skin as Much as Possible • Delay Bathing • Optimal Milk Production Depends on an Optimal Latch • Optimizing Milk Removal: Breast Massage and Compression • Proximity and Frequency • Avoid the Visitor Syndrome • Express Milk After Breastfeeding • Don't Skip Nighttime Feedings • Putting It All Together: The Essential Elements

PART 3—INVESTIGATING CAUSES OF LOW MILK PRODUCTION

Chapter 6— Is It Something You're Doing?

Finding Causes of Low Milk Production • Latch Problems • When Milk Seems to Dry Up Overnight • Stealthy Saboteurs: Common Substances That Inhibit Milk Production • Nursing During Pregnancy • Outside Interferences • Feeding Frequency and Duration • Your Need for Sleep • Unnecessary Supplementation • Nutrition • Hydration

Chapter 7— Is It Something Your Baby Is Doing?

Suck Problems • Palatal Variations • Facial Abnormalities • Airway Problems • Cardiac Problems • Nervous System Issues • The Large, Small, or Early Baby • Infections • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Chapter 8— Is It Something About Your Breasts?

Anatomical Variations • Breast Structure • Surgeries • Infections • Injuries

Chapter 9— Is It Your Hormones?

Hormonal Issues: The Big Spider Web • Edema • Obesity • Diabetes • Hypertension • Anemia • Postpartum Hemorrhage and Sheehan's Syndrome • Placental Problems • Thyroid Dysfunction • Infertility • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) • Luteal Phase Defect • Gestational Ovarian Theca Lutein Cysts • Menstruation • The Age Factor • What Do I Do Now?

Chapter 10—Can Your Mind Affect Your Supply?

Mind over Milk or Milk over Mind? • Potential Inhibitors of Milk Ejection • Harnessing Your Mind to Make More Milk

PART 4—INCREASING MILK PRODUCTION

Chapter 11—Physical Techniques to Make More Milk

Breastfeed More Frequently • Breast Massage and Compressions • Warmth • Touch • Pumping • Alternative Therapies

Chapter 12—Galactogogues: Foods, Herbs, and Medications That Stimulate Milk Production

Targeting: Choosing the Best Galactogogue for Your Needs • Pharmaceutical Galactogogues • Lactogenic Foods: Setting the Stage for a Good Milk Supply • Navigating the World of Herbal Galactogogues • Milk Ejection Aids • Homeopathic Galactogogues • When Do I Stop Taking a Galactogogue?

Chapter 13—Making More Milk When You Return to Work or School

Maximizing Your Milk Production • Make Your Plan • How Milk Production Can Decrease • Increasing Your Supply While Working • Solids Take the Pressure Off

Chapter 14—Making More Milk in Special Situations: Exclusive Pumping, Premies, Multiples, Relactation, and Induced Lactation

Exclusive Pumping • Premature Babies • Multiples • Relactation • Induced Lactation

PART 5—SURVIVING THE PRESENT AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Chapter 15—Coping with Low Milk Supply

Making Peace with Your Milk Supply • Coping Techniques

Chapter 16—What About Next Time?

A Proactive Approach • Hope Is on the Horizon • Thank You for Sharing Your Journey with Us