What is an inappropriate approach to managing breast milk supply?

Managing breast milk supply effectively is crucial for breastfeeding success, particularly in the early weeks postpartum when establishing a sufficient supply is key. Skipping breast feedings regularly is an inappropriate approach because it can lead to a decrease in milk production. Breastfeeding works on a supply-and-demand basis; the more frequently a baby is fed or milk is expressed, the more milk the body is stimulated to produce.

Regular breastfeeding sessions, pumping after feeds, and decreasing the interval between feedings are all strategies that help to increase or maintain breast milk supply. Regular feeding ensures that the breasts are emptied, which signals the body to produce more milk. Pumping after feeds can help to further stimulate milk production by removing any extra milk left in the breasts, while decreasing intervals between feedings can effectively increase the frequency of stimulation, leading to higher production levels. Therefore, engaging in practices that disrupt the regularity of feedings, such as skipping feeds, is counterproductive to managing and increasing breast milk supply.