“Doodh kam toh nahi ho raha?” Few questions haunt new mothers more. First, the reassuring truth: most mothers who worry about supply actually have enough — babies just feed often by design. But when supply genuinely needs a boost, these evidence-aligned steps work.

First, Check It Is Actually Low

Reliable signs baby is getting enough: six or more wet nappies a day after the first week, steady weight gain at checkups, and baby seeming settled after most feeds. Cluster feeding in the evenings, short feeds, and soft breasts after the early weeks are all NORMAL — not signs of low supply. If weight gain is genuinely slow, involve your paediatrician and a lactation consultant early.

The Golden Rule: Demand Drives Supply

Milk works on economics — the more is removed, the more is made. The most powerful supply boosters are free:

• Feed frequently and on demand, 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, including nights.
• Fix the latch — a deep latch removes milk efficiently; a shallow one leaves milk behind and signals “make less.”
• Offer both breasts each feed, and let baby finish the first before switching.
• Add pumping after or between feeds if you need an extra push — even 10 minutes signals demand.
• Skin-to-skin time raises the milk-making hormones measurably.

Traditional Foods That Help

Indian kitchens have backed lactation for centuries. Methi (fenugreek) seeds or leaves, jeera water, saunf, garlic, oats, ragi, dill (suva), and gond ladoos all feature in traditional galactagogue lists, and several have supportive evidence. They work best as food, in normal amounts, alongside frequent feeding — not instead of it. Hydration and enough calories matter more than any single ingredient: keep water beside your feeding chair and never skip meals.

What Hurts Supply

Long stretches without feeding or pumping, rigid feeding schedules in early weeks, routine formula top-ups without medical need, severe sleep deprivation and unmanaged stress, smoking, and some medications (check anything you take with your doctor).

When to Get Help

If baby’s weight gain is poor despite all this, see a lactation consultant — one session fixes most latch and positioning issues. Sometimes a doctor may prescribe a galactagogue medication. And if breastfeeding ends up supplemented or replaced, hear this clearly: fed is best, and your love is not measured in millilitres.