How to get more milk

If your child is not getting the milk they need, the key is to increase breastfeeding and milk production.

Gem

What can we do to make sure our baby gets more milk?

If your baby needs more milk, fortunately, there are many things you can do. And even if you only suspect that your baby is not getting enough milk, it feels good to know that you are doing something. Swipe to see how you can increase breastfeeding and milk production. If you do not find help here, then scroll further down the page for more suggestions.

Is your baby not getting enough milk?

If your baby is not getting enough milk, the most important thing is to breastfeed more frequently. This helps ensure that your baby comes to the breast whenever there is a need. However, this can be easier said than done. Your baby may not always be interested in the breast, or there may be difficulties with the sucking technique, meaning the baby does not get as much milk as needed.

Below are suggestions for what you can do in different situations. If you are still worried about whether your baby is getting enough milk, contact your health visitor – or the birth centre during the first week after birth. If you are unsure about the signs that your baby is getting enough milk, you can find help via the link below.

Read more about the signs that a baby is getting enough milk

Offer the breast as soon as your baby shows signs

You are well on your way to ensuring that your baby gets enough milk when they come to the breast often and are breastfed frequently. Frequent breastfeeding is especially important in the early period after birth, when newborns need to feed at least eight times a day, and preferably more.

Frequent breastfeeding stimulates milk production so that milk flows more easily. Therefore, offer the breast often and as soon as your baby shows early signs of hunger. These may include moving arms and legs, sticking out the tongue, making sucking movements, bringing the hand to the mouth, or searching for the breast. If your baby does not show clear signs, still try offering the breast.

Skin-to-skin contact, preferably in a laid-back breastfeeding position, can help activate your baby’s natural reflexes.

Keep your baby skin to skin

When your baby lies skin to skin with you, they are often quicker to latch well onto the breast. This is particularly important in the first period after birth, but skin-to-skin contact remains beneficial for breastfeeding as your baby grows. Skin-to-skin contact is especially important if your newborn is sleepy or not interested in feeding. Babies who lie skin to skin tend to come to the breast more often. Skin contact also has other benefits, such as helping your baby feel calmer and cry less.

How can we increase milk supply?

The amount of milk in the breast is determined by how often your baby is breastfed. The more frequent the breastfeeding, the more milk will be produced. Milk production adjusts automatically to your baby’s needs, as long as your baby is allowed to suck at the breast as often and for as long as they want. If breastfeeding more frequently does not seem sufficient, it may be necessary to stimulate milk production by expressing milk. Talk to hospital staff or your health visitor, who can guide you on how to increase milk production.

Expressing breast milk after birth

Supplementing with a bottle reduces milk production

If you suspect that your baby is getting too little milk at the breast, it is generally not a good idea to give infant formula. When a baby feeds less at the breast, milk production adjusts to the lower demand, and less milk is produced. As a result, supplementing with a bottle can lead to the baby receiving even less breast milk. I

f you are considering giving infant formula, contact the maternity ward or your health visitor, who can advise you based on your wishes. If your goal is full or partial bottle-feeding, they can also guide you on how best to proceed.

Read more about the benefits of breastfeeding

Let your baby control the feeding

Once your baby latches onto the breast and begins to suck, allow them to continue for as long as they want. It is important that the baby decides when they are finished.
If you remove your baby from the breast too early, they may not get the milk they need. Signs that your baby is finished include releasing the breast, sucking very slowly, or falling asleep at the breast.
If your baby sucks very slowly or falls asleep, you can gently place a finger in the corner of the mouth to release the latch and protect your nipples. If you are unsure whether your baby has had enough milk, you may offer the other breast.

Try a laid-back or side-lying position

Different breastfeeding positions work for different parents and babies. If your baby does not latch well and therefore does not get enough milk, try removing the baby from the breast and letting them latch again. Another breastfeeding position may work better for you.

Women breastfeeding child in laid-back breastfeeding position using a nursing pillow as support behind the neck.

The laid-back breastfeeding position can be particularly helpful, including in situations where the baby is not getting enough milk. In this position, the baby’s sucking reflex is strongly stimulated, and many babies suck more effectively and receive more milk.
This position can also help the breastfeeding parent relax. The same applies to the side-lying position.

Watch the video to see how to position the baby in the laid-back breastfeeding position. You’ll also find more inspiration on how to find a good breastfeeding position in the link below.

Read more about breastfeeding positions

Signs of a good latch

Your baby gets milk most effectively when they have a good latch on the breast. Signs of a good latch include:

  • the baby’s chin touching the breast while the nose is free
  • a wide-open mouth, with lips turned outward
  • The lower lip covers more of the darker skin around the nipple than the upper lip
  • rhythmic sucking and swallowing movements
  • Breastfeeding should not be painful, although some nipple tenderness in the first weeks is normal.

Read more about pain during breastfeeding

How to help your baby achieve a good sucking technique

For your baby to latch well and suck effectively, the baby should face you directly, tummy to tummy, so there is no need to turn the head. If your baby turns the head away from the nipple, it can help to offer a drop of expressed milk.

The baby’s nose should be level with the nipple, so the baby needs to tilt the head slightly back to latch. When your baby opens their mouth wide, bring the baby close to the breast so they can latch properly.

In the video below, you can see what it looks like when a baby has a good latch and an effective sucking technique.


If your baby cannot latch because of very flat or inverted nipples and therefore does not get enough milk, a nipple shield can sometimes be a solution. If you are considering using a nipple shield, always talk to the staff at the birth centre or your health visitor first. A nipple shield can affect milk production, and in some cases less milk may be produced.

Even more advice to help ensure your baby gets enough milk

Have you already tried breastfeeding more frequently, spending time skin-to-skin, and finding a breastfeeding position that helps your baby suck better? If so, swipe to see further suggestions for what you can do if your baby needs more milk.

It varies how much is needed

If you have already tried offering the breast more often, having plenty of skin-to-skin contact, checking the sucking technique and breastfeeding position, and letting your baby control the breastfeeding as described above, you can read on for additional suggestions.

The amount of support needed and which measures help vary from family to family. Do not hesitate to contact your health visitor if you are still concerned that your baby is not getting enough milk.

Try stimulating your baby’s sucking reflex

Your baby’s sucking technique can be supported by stimulating the sucking reflex. You can do this by letting your baby grasp a finger during breastfeeding, or by making sure the baby’s feet have something to push against, for example, a pillow or the breastfeeding parent’s arm. The reflexes activated through the baby’s hands and feet are linked to the sucking reflex. In this way, they can help the baby continue sucking.

Try a gentle ‘reset’ with breastfeeding

This means allowing the baby to relive the first breastfeeding experience after birth. You can do this as follows:

  • The baby lies on your belly, skin to skin
  • You place your arms around the baby to form a “nest”, allowing the baby to push against your arms with their feet
  • The baby will then begin to search for the breast and, hopefully, latch well. This may take some time, so patience is important.

Take a break from the pacifier

Some babies fall asleep when given a pacifier, even though they could have sucked a little longer at the breast. If you suspect that your baby is not getting enough milk, try taking a break from the pacifier and offer the breast instead.

Compress the breast during breastfeeding

Gently compressing or ”squeezing” the breast during breastfeeding increases pressure in the breast and stimulates milk flow. This can make it easier for the baby to get more milk in a shorter time. In the video below, you can see how to breastfeed using breast compression.

Relax and drink enough fluids

It is important to take good care of yourselves. When the breastfeeding parent is able to relax and drink enough fluids, this supports milk production. Opposite this, stress and pain can inhibit the let-down reflex.

If something feels difficult, it is a good idea to talk about it. This may be with each other, but you can also contact your health visitor to discuss concerns or challenges, large or small.

Consider whether the breastfeeding parent needs practical support from a partner or others in everyday life. Too many demands can affect both breastfeeding and milk production.

Increase milk production using a pump

Normally, milk production increases when the baby is put to the breast more often. In some situations, however, it may be necessary to use aids such as a breast pump to ensure sufficient milk production. For example, if your baby is very sleepy in the first weeks after birth and does not breastfeed at least eight times a day, it is important to stimulate the breast so that enough milk is produced.

If you are unsure whether expressing milk is needed, contact your health visitor, who can guide you on the best approach. You can also contact the birth centre during your baby’s first week.

Read more here: Expressing breast milk after birth

What do we do if we still suspect that our baby is not getting enough milk?

If you are still worried, if your baby continues not to suck enough at the breast, or if other difficulties remain unresolved, do not hesitate to contact your health visitor. If your baby is under one week old, contact the birth centre.

Read more about where to get help

Good to do

  • Breastfeed more frequently. This helps the breast produce more milk
  • Change breastfeeding position if needed and check the sucking technique
  • Spend time skin to skin with your baby
  • Avoid pacifiers
  • Get enough rest and fluids during the day
  • If your baby is not gaining enough weight, contact your health visitor.

Who can you contact?

If you experience challenges with breastfeeding – big or small – do not hesitate to seek professional advice. Swipe to see whom you can contact and when.

Who can you contact at the maternity ward?

You can contact the maternity-ward staff both during pregnancy and after birth.

Before birth, your midwife is the person to speak with about the early time with your baby and your thoughts about feeding – whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. If you have had previous breastfeeding problems, you can create a plan together.

Most maternity wards also offer antenatal classes, and your midwife can inform you about these.

After giving birth, you can receive help with breastfeeding from staff on the delivery or maternity ward while you are admitted.

All parents can also contact a breastfeeding hotline at their maternity ward within the first week after birth if they need help or guidance.

You can contact your municipal health-visitor service

The health-visitor service is available to all pregnant and new parents in Denmark. After birth, you will be offered free home visits with support and guidance to help you get a good start with your baby. Depending on your municipality and your stage in the process, different services and contact options may be available.

Some municipalities offer prenatal visits from a health visitor, where you can discuss breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, and preparing for life as a new family. Check your municipality’s website to see whether this is available where you live.

If you have special needs, you can contact the service to ask whether prenatal visits are offered to you.

Your health visitor will contact you and offer the first home visit. You can always call your municipal health visitor service for advice or guidance.

You can contact your GP if needed

Always speak with your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and need medical treatment. In most cases, there is a medication that is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Contact the on-call doctor or call 112 in an emergency

For sudden illness or worsening symptoms that cannot wait until your GP is available, or for minor injuries, you can contact the on-call doctor – or call 1813 if you live in the Capital Region.

In emergencies, if something is life-threatening or dangerous, call 112.

Contact volunteer breastfeeding counsellors

You can also contact volunteer breastfeeding counsellors if you need advice or guidance. Denmark has two support organisations: Forældre & Fødsel and Ammenet. The volunteers are mothers who have breastfed themselves, and both organisations provide guidance based on the recommendations of the Danish Health Authority.

Get help from Forældre og Fødsel

Get help from Ammenet

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Breasts and hands of a woman hand extracting breast milk