Patient's question:
1. Now that it's been 7 days postpartum, my milk isn't very thick. When will it become thick? The baby seems to always be hungry.2. The baby has bitten one of the nipple holes so badly that it's torn, but there's no bleeding, just a lot of pain. Can I still let the baby feed from this side? If not, what can I do to fix it?
Doctor's answer:
Hello: If a lactating woman's milk supply is insufficient, methods should be adopted to increase milk production. First, identify the reason for the insufficient milk supply and boost confidence, maintain a positive attitude, and continue to nurse even if the milk volume is small. Arrange a proper diet and lifestyle, avoid excessive fatigue, and ensure a nutritious diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Drink more water, breast milk, or herbal teas. Additionally, combine with Chinese medicine or acupuncture treatment.(1) Common Chinese herbal formulas include:
- 10 grams of Ephedra, 15 grams of Angelica Sinensis, 12 grams of Hydropower, 9 grams of Aconitum, 9 grams of Gentiana, 15 grams of Bupleurum, 10 grams of Salvia, and 5 grams of Terminalia. Take once daily, decocted with water and taken orally.
(2) Western medicine: Take 0.03 grams of Domperidone, 2-3 times daily, for 5 days.
(3) Acupuncture points can include:
- External acupoints, Shaohai, Hegu, and Shenque.
- Moxibustion on the Xuanzhong acupoint.