Breastfeeding Tips - Is Your Baby Getting Enough Breastmilk?

You are aware of the health benefits of breastfeeding and you want to provide the best possible infant nutrition that you can...your own breastmilk.  Yet somehow you don't know if you are producing enough breastmilk.  How much is enough?

It is difficult to convince yourself, your mother, or even your husband that your baby is getting enough breastmilk when you are not filling up the container yourself and measuring how much the baby has taken.  But breastfeeding is not just a different type of milk in a different type of container.  There is physiology associated with breastfeeding and you should know how it works.

Breastfeeding works on supply and demand. The more often you feed your baby and the more breastmilk  the baby takes away, the more milk you will produce.  But it doesn't happen overnight.   It can take several months for this process to regulate itself.  Apparently this is too long for some and a lot of mothers give up before their baby's 3rd month of life is completed.

Just because nursing is natural does not mean it comes naturally to every woman.  Many things can happen that interfere with the normal and natural breastfeeding process. One of the main ways that this process is interfered with is by separation of baby and mother in the first days following birth.

Baby should be put to the breast within the first 30 minutes of life and fed at least 8 times per day.  This time of early and frequent nursing will not only establish a good milk supply but provide frequent opportunities for the baby to perfect his latching technique.

The advantages of breastfeeding in this early period are many including supplying the baby with the rich immuno-protective properties of colostrum which is the precursor to breastmilk. Hormones released during suckling cause uterine contractions and promote normal involution of the uterus to its pre-pregnant state.

Signs your baby is not getting enough breastmilk:

• lack of weight gain.  Baby should be back to birth weight by three weeks.
• infrequent wet diapers.  Baby should have 6-8 wet diapers per day.
• fatigue - if baby is not getting enough breastmilk  he may be fatigued and lack the energy to suck vigourouly enough to empty the breast completely.  He may even fall asleep before he has had enough to eat.
• your breasts do not get firm before the next feeding is due

Do not confuse sleepiness and lack of crying with "contentedness".   Sometimes babies who are underfed do not cry often or hard because they lack energy.  In fact your underfed baby may be quite placid and sleepy.  He needs more breastmilk to give him the energy to cry and fuss when he wants more to eat.

If breastfeeding did not get off to a good start for you and your baby it is possible that your baby is not getting enough breastmilk.  If you want to continue to provide your baby with all the advantages of breastfeeding here are some breastfeeding tips to help you build up your milk supply and get your baby gaining on the good stuff!.

Breastfeeding tips:

• breastfeed your baby at least 8 times per day in the first few weeks.  If the baby is sleepy then wake him up. Bath time is a good wake up for most babies!
• express or pump milk between feedings. Save this milk.
• get plenty of rest (between feedings and pumping!)
• make sure your baby is latched on properly.  His mouth should be almost completely covering the dark red area around the nipple.  If your baby is not latched properly you may have sore nipples and it is more work for the baby to remove the milk from the breast.
• let your baby nurse until he naturally lets go of the nipple.  Babies who have "had enough" will naturally slide off the nipple if a little pressure is exerted.
• use both breasts at every feeding and pump both breasts completely dry after the baby has finished feeding.

If your baby is not back to birth weight by three weeks of age you should offer supplemental feedings in a bottle using your own expressed breastmilk but only after the baby has fed from both breasts.  If you do not want to confuse your baby with an artificial nipple you can offer the extra breastmilk with a spoon or a dropper.

Within three days of this regimen you should notice that your breasts are producing more milk.  You will know this because your breasts will feel firmer and may even ache when it is time to feed the baby.

If your baby is getting enough breastmilk to satisfy his needs he will eventually start gaining and becoming more alert ...and he may even start to cry more often!

But do not be fooled into thinking that everything will now proceed in a consistent way.  Breastfed babies often will go through growth spurts and nurse more frequently for a few days until the milk supply is increased to meet their needs.

It is a wonderful system of supply and demand!  Your breasts can supply the milk your baby needs as long as you understand the breasfeeding system and nurse your baby on demand you will always have an endless supply of  breastmilk when your baby needs it and it will always be at the right temperature and in a sterile container too!