Getting ready for a new baby is a stressful time. In addition to all the nursery decorating, baby proofing and baby buying that you’ve got to do, you’ve also got to decide whether or not you are going to breastfeed your baby. Although breastfeeding is not essential, it is the recommended method of feeding for the first few months of a baby’s life.
There are a few different reasons as to why a baby might not be getting enough milk. It could be that the mother is having difficulty producing milk or the baby is having difficulty latching on. In this article, we talk about key signs to look for to know if your baby is getting enough breast milk.
How can I tell if my baby is getting enough milk?
Breastfeeding mothers can tell that their baby is getting enough milk if:
The baby gains weight
They are feeding him/her every 2 to 3 hours
If the baby has regular bowel movements
Weight gain
It is important to regularly check on your baby’s weight as it is widely regarded as one of the best ways to decipher whether or not your baby is getting enough milk. If your baby is gaining weight at a steady rate, it suggests that your baby is getting enough milk.
However, do not let your baby’s initial few weeks of weight fluctuation worry you. In the first few days, you can expect around 10% weight loss from your baby’s initial birth weight, and this is normal. After these initial few days, though, your baby should begin gaining weight at a steady rate.
You Are Feeding Every 2 to 3 Hours
Another way that you can tell your baby is eating enough is if you are noticing that you are regularly feeding them. If they are wanting to be fed every 2 to 3 hours per day, and are having no problem latching on during these feeds, you can safely assume that they are getting enough breast milk.
Although regular feeds are extremely important, do not think you need to be on a strict schedule. If your baby is regularly wanting to be fed, listen to what they want. Likewise, if they don’t feel like a feed at a time when they usually would, there is no need to force it.
As long as your baby wants to feed at fairly regular intervals and get fed at least 8 to 12 times a day, regardless of schedule, you can safely assume they are getting around the right amount of breast milk.
Regular bowel movements
Dirty diapers should be happily welcomed, although that might not be what you are feeling when you’re changing them! A dirty wet diaper suggests that they are getting enough milk. Again, the first couple of days might not fit the regularity of poop that you should be expecting after day two or three, but after these first few days, you should notice regular bowel movements.
You are looking for a yellowish color poop, but should not necessarily be expecting a whole lot of it. A small pebble sized poop is what you should be expecting. These should be fairly regular and should make an appearance at least once a day for the first two weeks. Breast milk is easily digestible, though, so you do not need to worry if there are a couple of days when your baby does not have any bowel movements.
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What are some signs that my baby is well fed?
Three signs that your baby is feeding well are the following:
You can hear and see your baby sucking
Your baby dictates feeds
Your breasts feel softer after feeds
You can hear and see your baby sucking
A strong sucking motion is important when babies are breastfeeding. Although your baby might latch on and you might think they are getting enough milk, in reality, they might not be taking in as much as you think. However, if you can see and hear your baby sucking, it is a good indication that your baby is feeding well.
Your Baby Dictates Feeds
If your baby is not only telling you when they want to eat, but also when they are finished eating, there is a good chance they are getting all that they need. If they are de-latching themselves, it means that they are full and have had enough, which is a good sign and something to look for.
Your Breasts Feel Softer After Feeds
Before you feed your baby, you will probably notice that your breasts are full, heavy and hard, that is because they are filled with the milk you have produced. Once they have drunk enough milk, however, you should feel a bit of relief in your boobs as they should feel lighter than when you started. This is a sign that they have drunk a significant amount.
What are some signs that my baby might not be getting enough milk?
The signs that your baby might not be getting enough milk are:
Low energy
Poor latch on breast
No weight gain
Your baby has low energy
This might be a hard one to decipher from normal baby behavior as newborns are generally very sleepy. However, if your baby seems to be excessively sleepy, lethargic or generally has extremely low energy, there is a good chance that they have not gotten enough milk.
Poor Latch
If when you are breastfeeding you begin to realize that your baby is not latching on properly, you can probably assume that they are not getting enough milk. If a baby is struggling to latch on or the latch feels weak, it will therefore mean that they won’t actually be drinking very much, regardless of how long they have been seemingly feeding for.
Baby Is Not Gaining Weight
Just as you should be looking out to see if your baby has gained weight, it is equally telling if they have not gained weight. This is in correlation also to how often your baby has pooped naturally. If they have not gained weight and are not regularly pooping, it suggests that your baby is not getting enough milk.
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Ways to boost your breast milk supply
Three ways to boost your breast milk supply are:
Pump between feeding
Special foods and herbs
Lactation cookies
If you have been struggling to breastfeed your baby due to low breast milk supply, which is a problem that many new mothers struggle with, there are a few things that you can do that might help you boost your overall supply. Below are some home remedies to boost breast milk supply, but you should always seek medical advice if you are worried about your supply.
Pump Between Feeding
When you pump between feeds you are ensuring that you are not wasting a single drop of milk. You should pump whenever you find that your baby is not feeding from your breast. Therefore, if they miss a feed, you should pump, or if you find that you have leftover milk in your breasts, you should pump. This will ensure that if your baby is demanding a feed, you have something to give them all the time.
Special Foods and Herbs
Certain foods and herbs have long been used as home remedies for a vast array of ailments, struggling with breast milk supply being one of them. Herbs and spices such as garlic, ginger and fenugreek are amongst some of the most popular used to boost breast milk supply.
Lactation Cookies
Most people do not even know about the existence of lactation cookies, but they are one of the best methods that you can use to boost your breast milk supply, and they are delicious. There are some special ingredients in lactation cookies which help you to make more milk, such as whole oats and flaxseed meal, making this one of the most delicious means to boost your milk supply.
Things that can affect your milk supply
Here are elements that can affect your milk supply:
Allergy medication
Herbs and spices
Environmental factors
Stress
Some women simply have more stubble producing breast milk than others, it is a biological fact. However, there are also some specific factors that might be limiting your supply. With some of these factors, if you are able to identify them, and cut them out of your diet or change your routine, you just might be able to encourage your milk production.
Allergy Medication
There is a specific ingredient, pseudoephedrine, that is found in most allergy medications which can unfortunately limit breast milk supply. Although a single dose of the medication is going to make little to no difference, taking it every day can cause supply issues.
Nevertheless, if you have a well-established milk supply, the medication is unlikely to do anything or make any sort of difference. This means that once you have been breastfeeding successfully for a while and have a strong supply, you can probably start up with the medication again if you really need it.
Herbs and Spices
Some herbs and spices can limit and prohibit breast milk supply. Herbs such as oregano, parsley and sage are all herbs that are linked to limited breast milk supply. However, you would have to eat a lot of them for it to make any kind of difference. You will be okay with a parsley garnish on your soup for example, but eating a whole tonne of it will not do your milk supply any favors.
Environmental Factors
We are becoming increasingly aware of the effects the environment has on our health and well-being. Mothers who want to breastfeed who have been living in a toxin high environment. Even mothers whose own mothers have been around high levels of toxins can have problems breastfeeding.
The toxins in the air and the environment, as well as the toxins that are ingested through food and our water systems go directly into our bodies and affect them in negative ways. One of these negative manifestations is limiting milk supply as it can affect mammary tissue.
Stress
Your body can feel your stress and it can have negative effects on your body and your milk production. It is not easy for a new mother to alleviate her stress levels as having a new baby is inherently stressful. However, the advice that we can give you is to take time for yourself.
Something as simple as running yourself a nice hot bath with some bath salts or oils might be all you need to bring those vital stress levels down to a manageable level. Not only will you feel better within yourself, but you will also promote more milk to be produced in your breasts for your baby.
