If mother cannot give up cigarettes, she should consider low-nicotine cigarettes, limit cigarettes to fewer than ten per day and smoke in a room away from the baby since the danger of passive smoke is significant. Possible suggestions may include nursing the baby more often, switching sides and positions several times during a feeding, using a breast pump to stimulate the milk supply, and learning techniques to condition the let-down reflex. In addition to building the milk supply, the breastfeeding mother may also want to evaluate her diet for acceptable nutritional levels. Protein and calcium intake need to be checked since they are the two nutrients that require the greatest daily increase during lactation. The amount of fluids the breastfeeding mother is drinking might also need to be monitored.
Many mothers drink a glass of fluid with every nursing or pumping session.
Thirst should be the main indicator of how much the nursing mother drinks during the day, since over-drinking can interfere with prolactin and may reduce the milk supply. The mother diagnosed with a chronic or acute disease may also have special dietary needs. If mother and baby must be separated during mother's illness, regular expression of her milk will maintain the milk supply and prevent a breast infection. Milk can be collected by hand expression or use of a manual, battery, or electric breast pump. When ill, mother will need extra nutrients to aid healing and replace any loss of body stores or reserves.