Breast milk contains nutritional ingredients that are essential for a baby's healthy growth. It can help babies build and improve their immune systems and reduce the risk of various diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

For mothers, breastfeeding helps the uterus recover and reduces the risk of ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and other conditions.

However, many novice mothers may have various difficulties during the feeding process, and insufficient breast milk is one of the most common worries.

Multifarious lactagogue methods are now popular among novice mothers, including massage, dietotherapy and lactagogue drinks. However, inappropriate methods may not increase breast milk and even cause various breast issues, such as lumps and inflammation.

So, it is crucial to be cautious about lactagogue methods.

There are many reasons for insufficient breast milk, ranging from mothers' unbalanced diet, depression and fatigue to babies' sucking issues.

New mothers need to attain an appropriate work-rest balance and maintain a positive attitude. As mothers gain more feeding experience and babies increase their feeding frequency, the volume of breast milk will normally grow.

For some mothers who have an insufficient supply of milk, they can try lactagogue methods with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) under the guidance of doctors.

The treatment of postpartum breast milk issues using TCM methods can be traced back more than 1,000 years ago.

Doctors of TCM believe that the common causes of insufficient breast milk can be divided into two categories. The first is a lack of qi and blood, which prevents the female body from producing milk. The other is stagnation of qi and blood and poor breast collaterals, which results in the body having breast milk but experiencing low discharge. The second situation is easier to ignore.

To better help novice mothers to breastfeed smoothly, the Women's Health Care Department of Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children (CQHCWC) has opened a Breastfeeding Outpatient Department with professional doctors.

Physicians who have obtained the qualifications of national breastfeeding consultants will offer professional assessments on women's breast milk status during lactation, help them understand the necessary knowledge and skills of breastfeeding and build up confidence. TCM doctors will give diagnoses and provide personalized lactagogue plans using TCM.

Address: Breastfeeding Outpatient Department of the Women's Health Care Department, District A on 4th Floor, CQHCWC (Ranjiaba Branch)

Hours of operation: 8 am - 12 pm and 2 pm - 5:30 pm from Monday to Friday