If you’re nursing and worried about your milk supply, we’ve got great advice from the experts.

Lactation consultant Edith Kernerman, president of the International Breastfeeding Centre in Toronto, says the best way to increase milk production is to empty the breast regularly to make room for more milk. This will happen naturally, Kernerman says, if the baby is latched properly and feeding efficiently.

If the baby is having trouble latching, mothers can also increase milk production in the meantime, by expressing milk. However, Kernerman says, pumping shouldn’t become a tiring or stressful experience or it defeats the purpose.

Her tips:

• Get the best latch possible
• Know the difference between sucking and drinking so you know when to take action
• Use breast compressions, which are very effective at boosting supply
• Switch sides to keep the milk flowing
• Use herbal supplements like fenugreek and blessed thistle, or prescription medication domperidone
• If you need to supplement milk during a feeding, it is best done on the breast, using a tiny tube inserted in the baby’s mouth along with the breast

You can find more information in the clinic’s downloadable Protocol to Manage Breast Milk info sheet, or visit the International Breastfeeding Centre’s website for downloadable multilingual information sheets, video instruction and more.

And if you’re taking domperidone to increase your milk supply, check out our post about Health Canada’s advisory on the the drug.