How do I increase my milk supply?

What the evidence says

The biggest lever you have is how often and how well milk is removed from your breasts. Canadian guidance explains that breast stimulation and milk removal are the key drivers of milk production, and that most feeding worries improve with time, support and patience rather than special products. Aiming for 8 to 12 feeds or pumps in 24 hours, including one overnight session when prolactin is naturally higher, offering both breasts, and holding your baby skin-to-skin are all recommended steps.

Before assuming supply is truly low, it's worth checking your baby's growth and diaper output with your doctor or a lactation consultant, since many worries turn out to be a normal feeding pattern rather than an actual low supply. Real risk factors for low supply include a difficult or cesarean delivery, a preterm baby, twins, thyroid problems, or previous breast surgery, so mentioning these helps your care team target the right fix, whether that's a latch adjustment, more frequent feeding, or addressing a medical cause.

On nutrition, staying hydrated and eating well supports supply, but there is no need for special foods or expensive lactation products just to make milk. If you and your provider decide a galactagogue (herbal remedy or medication like domperidone) is worth trying after other steps haven't helped, know that a Cochrane review of 41 trials found only low or very-low certainty evidence that these actually boost milk volume meaningfully, so they are considered a second-line option, not a replacement for frequent, effective milk removal.

If supply concerns continue despite frequent feeding/pumping and skin-to-skin care, ask your doctor, midwife, or a lactation consultant for a hands-on assessment, since latch problems, tongue-tie, or hormonal issues sometimes need specific treatment.