CLEVELAND — As store shelves remain empty in the baby formula aisles, some new moms are seeking help from lactation specialists to see if they can increase the amount of their milk their bodies make. 

Dr. Ann Witt is a family physician, founder of Breastfeeding Medicine in northeast Ohio and director of Lactation at Senders Pediatrics in south Euclid.

“The most common thing we’re seeing is an increase in the desire to have an increased milk supply,” said Witt.

This could be due to: 

• Issues with lactation and latching
• Concerns about infant nutrition and weight
• Mother’s concern about taking medications while breastfeeding
• Unsupportive work policies and lack of parental leave
• Cultural norms and lack of family support
• Unsupportive hospital practices and policies

Witt said no matter the reason, it’s between the mother, her family and her doctor.

“I think there’s a lot going on. It’s very stressful when you’re worried about feeding your baby,” said Witt.

Witt said women who have stopped breastfeeding their babies may be able to begin again.

“It’s coming back to the basics. When you’re looking at milk supply, there are lots of things that impact our milk production,” said Witt. “Some of which we have control over, some of which we don’t have control over. After delivery, the thing that we most have control over is the frequency with which we stimulate our breasts, which gives feedback to our body to make more milk.”

She suggested moms increase the frequency between pumping and feeding to help prompt their bodies to produce more milk.

“There’s always been a small percentage of women that do struggle with making milk and that is why formula was invented,” she said. “There’s a need for it.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports nearly 84% of babies in the U.S. were breastfed, and the amount who are still breastfed by six months goes down to 56.7%.

The organization started the Healthy People 2030 Breastfeeding initiative to help get those numbers up to 42.4% of babies still being breastfed at six months, and 54.1% who are breastfed at age one year.

“I think it’s also realizing whatever your individual goal is — it’s important to support that goal, even when there’s a lot of different influences out there of options and what you should or shouldn’t do, what’s right for you and your family is the most important,” she said.

The CDC offers guidelines on re-lactation. Click here for more information.