What can I add to breast milk to thicken it?

Understanding the Need for Thicker Breast Milk
Thickening breast milk can be a crucial step for some infants, particularly those experiencing difficulties such as dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In these cases, thicker milk can help reduce the risk of aspiration and improve feeding safety. However, it’s essential to approach this practice with care and ideally under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Common Thickeners for Breast Milk
There are several options available for thickening breast milk, each with its own characteristics and suitability for different situations:
1. Commercial Thickeners: One of the most popular products is Gelmix, a hypoallergenic, USDA organic thickener specifically designed for infants. This product is tasteless and odorless, making it easy to mix into breast milk without altering its flavor. Gelmix is particularly noted for its smooth consistency when dissolved, which is crucial for infants who may have swallowing difficulties.
2. Oatmeal: Another method involves using oatmeal to thicken breast milk. This can be done by mixing a small amount of finely ground oatmeal into the milk. The process typically involves cooking the oatmeal, blending it to a smooth consistency, and then mixing it with the breast milk. This method is often favored by parents looking for a more natural approach.
3. Rice Cereal: Some parents opt to add rice cereal to breast milk. This is a common practice, but it’s important to ensure that the cereal is finely ground to avoid any lumps that could pose a choking hazard. The addition of rice cereal can provide a thicker texture, which may help with feeding issues.
Considerations and Recommendations
When considering thickening breast milk, it’s vital to consult with a pediatrician or a feeding specialist. They can provide tailored advice based on the infant’s specific needs and health conditions. Additionally, there are no standardized practices for thickening breast milk, which means that what works for one infant may not be suitable for another.
Parents should also be aware of the potential for thickened milk to affect the infant’s feeding patterns. Thicker milk may require different feeding techniques, and caregivers should be prepared to adapt to these changes to ensure the infant is feeding safely and effectively.
Conclusion
Thickening breast milk can be a beneficial strategy for infants facing certain feeding challenges. Whether using commercial products like Gelmix, natural options like oatmeal, or rice cereal, it’s essential to prioritize safety and consult healthcare professionals to determine the best approach for each individual child. By doing so, parents can help ensure that their infants receive the nutrition they need in a safe and effective manner.

What helps dry up breast milk?

Tips for Drying Up Your Breast Milk

• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen.
• Put cold packs on your breasts.
• Use cold cabbage leaves (wash fresh cabbage and refrigerate; pull off one leaf at a time and lay them over your breasts; keep the leaves on your skin until they get soft).

What helps fatten breast milk?

Read on for a few ways to give your milk a boost, from maximizing your output to improving its nutrition and ability to keep baby healthy.

• Get More Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
• Eat Smart to Up Your Supply.
• Increase Your Iron Intake.
• Supplement With Probiotics.
• Nurse or Pump Often.
• Drink (Water) for Two.

How can I increase the thickness of my milk?

You will want to use one tablespoon of cornstarch for every cup of milk you want to thicken. 3. Use other thickening agents. If you do not have cornstarch, you can use other thickening agents such as gelatin, potato starch, tapioca flour, arrowroot flour, rice flour, xanthan gum, among others.

What is a food thickener for breast milk?

Breast fed babies can be given an alginate thickener before feeds, and bottle feeds can be thickened with a preparation based on rice starch, corn starch, locust bean gum or carob bean gum.

How do you thicken up breast milk?

If you do decide to thicken, Simply Thick (a gel based product) is the only thickener that will thicken breast milk. It is covered by some insurances but otherwise can be pricey.

How to fix watery breast milk naturally?

Offer more frequent feedings.
Nursing more often prevents milk with a higher water and lactose content from building up in your breasts, so your baby takes in less lactose while she drinks. A gentle breast massage before a feed may also maximize the fat content of the milk if you’re dealing with an oversupply issue.

What causes breast milk to be more watery?

The longer the time between feeds, the more diluted the leftover milk becomes. This ‘watery’ milk has a higher lactose content and less fat than the milk stored in the milk-making cells higher up in your breast. You can’t tell how much fat your baby has received from the length of a feed.

How can I fatten up my breast milk?

6 Ways to Power Boost Your Breast Milk

1. Get More Omega-3 Fatty Acids. These play an important role in baby’s brain, nervous system and vision development.
2. Eat Smart to Up Your Supply.
3. Increase Your Iron Intake.
4. Supplement With Probiotics.
5. Nurse or Pump Often.
6. Drink (Water) for Two.

What is the best thickener for breast milk?

gelmix is the only thickener made for children and especially for baby formula and breast milk. It was recommended to us by our ped gi and the results have been great.

How to increase the thickness of breast milk?

If you consume more protein, it can help to increase your breast milk supply. This means more milk and more protein for your baby, which can then help to make your breast milk fattier. The best way to incorporate protein into your diet is through chicken, lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and seeds.