Whether you're a new mom or a seasoned parenting pro, breastfeeding often comes with its fair share of questions. Here are answers to some common inquiries that mothers - new and veteran - may have.

I feel like my milk supply is decreasing. How can I increase it?

Your milk supply is determined by the stimulation that your baby supplies while nursing. In other words, the more you breastfeed, the more milk your body produces. So, if you seem to be producing less milk than usual, you should simply try to feed your baby more often.

Stress or illness can temporarily decrease your supply. Drinking lots of water and eating good, nutritious food can help. But also try to take some time for yourself each day, even if it's only for 15 to 30 minutes.

You can pump in between feedings to help stimulate your milk production. If you don't want to give your baby a bottle of breast milk just yet, you can "pump and dump" - pump your milk and then throw it away. But don't think of it as wasted milk - the effort you put into pumping can help make more milk available for your baby.

If your milk supply still seems low and you're concerned, you may want to talk to your OB-GYN, your child's doctor, or a lactation consultant.

If I wait a little longer to nurse or pump, will my milk supply increase?

Actually, no - it's the opposite. Waiting too long to nurse or pump can slowly reduce your milk supply. The more you delay nursing or pumping, the less milk your body will produce. Your body interprets this as a signal that you must just need less milk.

However, that doesn't mean that letting your baby sleep through the night (usually around 3 months old) is going to hurt your breastfeeding efforts. That just means that your body will cut back on the number of feedings, which is fine because your baby no longer needs to be fed all night long anyway. Cutting back on feedings during the day, though, can lead to a decreased milk supply over time.

I feel like I'm producing too much milk - it shoots into my baby's mouth. What do I do?

Whereas some women may feel like they don't have enough milk, others may feel like they're practically gushing during every feeding. For some women, their let-down (or milk ejection reflex) is simply really strong and their babies may even choke during feedings, especially at the beginning.

Some moms find that nursing on one breast only during each feeding helps. It also may be more comfortable for your baby if you gently break the suction when your milk starts to let down, let it spray into a towel, and then latch your baby back onto your breast again once your milk flow has slowed. Over time, you should notice your milk supply, as well as your let-down, becoming easier to handle.

My baby seems to favor one breast over the other. Is that OK or will it decrease my milk supply in the other breast?

Some babies may prefer one breast - maybe your nipple or areola is larger on one side. But to keep up your milk supply in both breasts - and prevent painful engorgement in one - it's important to alternate breasts and try to give each one the same amount of nursing time throughout the day. Why? Because if you continue to allow your baby to feed primarily on one breast, or on one for longer periods than the other, your body will produce more milk for the favored breast and less milk for the other.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends switching breasts during each feeding and alternating which breast you offer first for each feeding.

However, some lactation specialists are now recommending just nursing on one breast per feeding and switching breasts from one feed to the next. This allows the baby to get more of the hind-milk, which is fattier. (Containing water, vitamins, and protein, foremilk comes at a feeding's beginning. Hind-milk comes later and has higher fat levels, which aids in an infant's weight gain.)

If your baby doesn't take one breast at all during a feeding, just make sure to start the next feeding with that breast. As long your baby is doing well and you're comfortable, that's all that matters.

Reviewed by: Barbara P. Homeier, MD
Date reviewed: August 2005