How breastfeeding works Your milk supply Your breasts produce milk in response to your baby feeding at your breast. The more your baby feeds, the more your body makes milk, provided that your baby is correctly positioned. If you reduce feeding, you will make less milk. The let-down reflex Your baby s sucking causes milk to gather behind the nipple, ready for feeding. You will see quick sucks change to deep swallows once the milk has begun to flow.
Babies often pause while they wait for more milk to be delivered .
Anxiety or tiredness can stop the let-down reflex, so try to rest and relax as much as you can while you are breastfeeding. A supplement of vitamins A, C and D, plus seven pints of cow s milk per week are available free to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers if your family receives Income Support or Jobseeker s Allowance . Use the free milk as a drink, on cereals or to make sauces and puddings. The vitamin drops are available to all mothers at very low cost. Ask your midwife or health visitor about it.