Many mothers decide to purchase a breast pump because they
want to increase their milk supply. DO NOT BUY A PUMP FOR THIS
PURPOSE! Unless you are separated from your baby, increasing your
milk supply can be done very easily without the use of a pump.
The secret is simple—nurse your baby more often! The breasts
operate on a system of supply and demand. The more often you nurse,
the more milk will be produced by your body. Let baby nurse as
long as he wants (do not limit time at the breast). Be sure YOU
are drinking adequate liquids (6-8 glasses a day), eating a balanced
diet, and getting plenty of rest. Your milk supply will increase
faster if you are not tiring yourself out with housework and errands.
While you are working on increasing your milk supply, pacifiers
and supplementary bottles should be avoided, as they decrease
sucking time at the breast and therefore affect the supply/demand
production of milk. Supplements of formula, juice, or water fill
up the baby so that he will not nurse as often or frequently from
the breast. If you have been giving your baby large amounts of
supplements, you may have to cut back gradually. A breast pump
is NEVER as efficient as a baby in stimulating milk production,
in fact, the manual and small battery/electric pumps AT BEST will
only maintain the current milk supply.