Although malnutrition may affect the quality of milk, studies show that the amount of breastmilk produced depends mainly on how often and how effectively the baby sucks on the breast. If a mother temporarily produces less milk than the infant needs, the infant responds by suckling more vigorously, more frequently, or longer at each feeding. This stimulates greater milk production. Exclusive breastfeeding means giving no other foods or liquids, not even water. These substitutes are less nutritious than breastmilk, lack antibodies to fight infections, and often carry contaminants.
Some evidence suggests it can.
Two randomized intervention trials, in Burma and Guatemala, have so far been conducted to answer this question. In both studies, food supplementation of malnourished lactating mothers resulted in a small increase in infant milk intake. In another study in Indonesia, maternal supplementation during pregnancy improved infant growth rates, possibly by increasing breastmilk production. It depends on the mother s diet. Breastmilk is rich in the vitamins and minerals needed to protect an infant s health and promote growth and development.