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Writer's pictureJudy Lee Thurber

How much milk does a lactating woman produce in a day?

The best answer is however much her baby needs.


Personally, I didn’t pump very often, so I never saw a quantitative amount of breast milk. I did tandem nurse my newborn and my 2-year-old, and there were days when I felt like I rivaled the most productive Jersey Cow.


Since I don’t know the reason for the question, I can’t really provide more helpful information. I will add that there are days when it seems like the baby is drinking less than usual.


There could be any number of reasons for this:

  1. The baby has just completed a growth spurt,

  2. the baby doesn’t like the taste of something mother ate yesterday, or

  3. perhaps mother is releasing some toxins from her body fat causing a less desirable taste.

The remedies for these issues are pretty simple:

  1. This would be a good time to pump a few bottles to freeze just in case it’s needed when mother has to be away from baby for a short time.

  2. Eat something with garlic in it. Remarkably enough, garlic makes breastmilk taste very sweet, and a baby who was thought to be on a “nursing strike” will suddenly go on a “feeding frenzy.”

  3. Drink more water and get more rest. A nursing mother is doing enough work just producing food for another human being.

I hope this helps. More than anything - trust your motherly instincts.



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