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More than any other factor, the success of breast feeding depends on how frequently the baby is allowed to suck. Most mothers agree that an infant should be put to the breast immediately after birth, even while the mother is still in the delivery room; and that the more often the baby nurses, the greater is the milk supply.

Sucking is so essential to stimulate the milk flow that if it decreases, it may cause a nursing failure. For example, sugar water given in hospital can ruin the baby’s appetite and make the baby too sleepy to suck vigorously.

The mother who is most successful at nursing is a happy, relaxed, calm individual who worries none at all about the housework. Who cares if the dirt is swept under the bed or if paper dishes are used temporarily? An over busy, impatient, or resentful mother allows her baby far too little time stimulate milk flow.All babies should, of course, be kept on a demand schedule and fed whenever hungry. Such infants will gain better, cry far less, allow both themselves and their parents to remain more relaxed, and soon set up a meal pattern of every three or four hours.

Nursing is also important for the sake of mother, so that the milk duct could be drained. A cracked nipple or inflammation, abscess, or infection are almost associated with an incompletely drained milk duct. When a baby is taken from the breast, however, the duct remains plugged, and a painful infection may persist for weeks.Sometimes even a mother who has oversupplied milk should pump the rest of her milk and drain the duct to avoid infection and disease. Pumping milk could also stimulate the next milk supply so it won’t decreased or, even worst it may stopped.
Some reasons why milk supply decreasing are:

• Lack of nursing or pumping the milk, including the quality, quantity and frequency of nursing.

• Disability of the baby to suck his mother’s nipple, that may caused by; bad bone structure of mouth and jaws; incorrect nursing technique; problems with baby’s digest system.

• Lack of nutrition or inadequate nursing diet from the mother.

• Illness, infection, disease or problems with the breast.

• Low baby birth weight. Baby who was born in low birth weight would have a very weak sucking ability that influence to the mother’s milk supply.

• Premature baby. This baby will also have difficulty to suck his mother’s milk, since his digest organ and system are immature and weak.

• Stress, frustration, tired, angry, and desperate environment. Those situations never be good for both of mother and baby

• Smoking and alcohol habit. Cigarette or nicotine, and alcohol could fasten the decreasing of milk supply by destroying hormones in the breast to produce more milk.

• Birth control pill intake. Taking birth control pill that contains estrogen and progestin could decrease the volume and process of milk supply. However, pills that contain only progestin can be very effective as long as the mother take it at the same time each day or night. These pills are relatively safe to take while nursing. Please ask for doctor’s recommendation before take any birth control pills or other methods.