How do you know if your baby is getting enough breast milk?

Is the baby eating enough or not, does the child get enough nutrition, does he have enough breast milk.

“Is my baby getting enough to eat?” is one of the most common questions that causes concern among parents of infants. Surely you have asked yourself this question at least once. So how do you know if your baby is getting enough milk?

All signs indicating whether the baby is getting enough milk can be divided into reliable and possible (probable). Reliable signs indicating insufficient milk supply include:

Insufficient weight gain.

The child's weight gain is the first and most important criterion that you need to pay attention to. You should weigh your baby weekly or at least once a month.

A medical professional should assess changes in weight, height and other indicators. You can focus on the average indicators of the normal dynamics of weight gain in an infant: 1st month +600 g, 2nd month +800 g, 3rd month +800 g, 4th month +750 g, 5th month + 700 g, 6th month + 650 g.

But don't forget that every baby is unique and can gain weight differently, so don't panic ahead of time. Your pediatrician will definitely give you recommendations on how to correct your baby’s diet if your child has poor weight gain for more than two months in a row. In addition, the presence of other signs of low milk supply is important.

How do you know when your baby is full?

Signs of satiety

In the first week after childbirth, a woman may produce small amounts of milk. Many mothers worry that the baby does not have enough of this portion and that they need to supplement it with formula. But, as practice shows, until a baby is six months old, milk alone is more than enough. To reassure anxious mothers, here are a few signs that your baby is full:

After feeding, the breast becomes softer and empties;
The baby sleeps long, soundly and calmly for several hours after eating;
Urination occurs 10 to 15 times every day;
The newborn has smooth, elastic skin and a healthy complexion;
A well-fed and healthy baby is quite mobile;
Weight gain and development of the baby occur systematically, without changes;
The baby, having eaten milk, feels happier;
The stool is dark and mushy.

Usually feeding occurs about 7 times a day, since children sleep a lot. Meals can last from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on mobility and appetite. Usually, a baby who is full releases the breast on his own, regulating his portion of milk.

Some mothers believe that if a child cries, it means he is hungry. But do not forget that this is perhaps the only way for a baby to indicate some kind of discomfort. Accordingly, screams may indicate colic, pain, teething, changes in weather or temperature, and the baby may simply require your attention.

Signs of hunger in newborns

Determining that your child wants to eat is not difficult; there are a number of obvious signs that will signal “Mom, I want to eat!”:

Restless sleep and low activity. The baby becomes lethargic and sleeps not the prescribed 2-4 hours at a time, but much less;
Thumb sucking, smacking, desire to put everything in the mouth;
Small weight gain over a period of time;
A strong reaction to the approach of mother, to her smell.

Mistakes young mothers make when feeding

Sometimes children do not get enough milk alone due to improper organization of the feeding process. Let's look at the most common mistakes.

Diet

Switching to feeding by the hour can lead to a decrease in the amount of milk produced by a woman. In the first few weeks of life, newborns need to be fed on demand, approximately once every 3-4 hours, and then begin to get used to the regimen.

Time limit

Some mothers think that the baby takes too long to eat, so they disconnect him from the breast. Because of this, the child begins to cry because he has not had enough to eat. How to determine that he is already full? Children regulate their portions themselves; accordingly, when they reach satiety, they refuse to breastfeed. It happens that milk runs out during a feeding session. If satiety has not yet arrived, the baby will show dissatisfaction and try to grab the breast again.

Incorrect attachment to the breast

When the baby eats, he should take the nipple and areola completely into his mouth. If feeding is incorrect, he only grabs the nipple, and therefore, in addition to milk, he also swallows air. This can lead to colic and hiccups, as well as malnutrition.

A comfortable position for the baby while eating is very important. The back, neck and head should be on the same line. Then the baby will not have to stretch, he will easily take the breast, and will not squirm. You need to choose several comfortable positions for both the newborn and the mother, and if necessary, use a special pillow.

Pacifiers and pumping

Often children are given a bottle of milk instead of a breast. Pumping too often can cause your mom to produce more milk. Then the child will drink his quota, but will not have time to get to the richer milk. Consequently, saturation does not last long. Also, if you give pacifiers to babies too often, they get used to it and refuse the breast.

Indigestion

The baby may be malnourished if he is unwell or does not digest milk properly. A runny nose also interferes with normal nutrition: the child has to constantly abandon the breast due to lack of air. Breast refusal is also possible due to diseases of the oral cavity, such as thrush or stomatitis, which cause discomfort.

Important! Kids regulate their own nutrition, they feel when they want to eat and report it in their own way. It is enough to observe the behavior of the newborn to determine whether your milk is enough for him or whether he needs to add formula.

Passing a small amount of concentrated urine.

The number of acts of urination per day is the second sign that will help you understand whether the baby has enough milk. Carry out the so-called “diaper test” by refusing to use disposable diapers for a day.

Normally, a child up to two weeks after birth should wet diapers one time more than the number of days of his life. Well, after 12-14 days of life, the normal amount will be considered about 12 times. Pay attention to the appearance and smell of the liquid. It should be almost colorless and odorless. If your child urinates less than 6 times a day and the urine is yellow with a strong odor, you should contact your pediatrician.

How to avoid making a mistake?

It often happens that if a child does not have enough breast milk, the mother tries to cope with the problem on her own, listening to the teachings of grandmothers, friends, and parents. Following erroneous advice that is dangerous for the baby can lead to serious consequences. To prevent them, it is recommended to follow simple rules:

You should not try to increase your breast milk supply with too much food. The production of the product does not depend on the calories absorbed. The only thing that can be achieved is to cause rapid accumulation of fatty tissue and provoke problems with excess weight.
Avoid weighing your baby every day. The risk of error is too high; weight gain depends on many factors. It is better to weigh yourself once a week - this will allow you to accurately determine whether the little one is gaining weight and whether feeding adjustments should be made.
Do not force a breastfed baby to drink liquids (water, fruit juice) frequently. Mother's milk contains substances that are necessary for a small organism. Doctors recommend introducing complementary foods only six months after birth.
Goat and cow's milk are an undesirable alternative to mother's product. Poor absorption of protein often leads to disruption of the child’s digestive processes. If there is no choice, do not give pure cow or goat milk - dilute it with water after boiling.
Do not try to supplement your baby with formula. Each time, the toddler will consume less and less mother's milk, which will quickly affect the quantity - the mammary glands will begin to rapidly reduce production.

Another mistake that young mothers often make is trying to increase the amount of breast milk by consuming large quantities of cow product.

You should not abuse this healthy drink - it is better to give preference to warm tea, to which you add a little cow’s milk.

After consulting with your pediatrician, you can conduct a series of control feedings over 1-2 days.

The child is weighed before and after feeding, wearing the same clothes and without changing diapers. The difference in weight will be equal to the volume of milk received by the baby at one feeding. Similar measurements are carried out during several feedings, the arithmetic average will be the desired indicator. An insufficient amount of milk sucked by the baby during repeated feedings also indicates that the baby does not have enough nutrition.

Also pay attention to any possible signs that your child is not getting enough to eat. The intervals between feedings maintained by the baby are quite short - less than two hours, and therefore you often put him to the breast. And after feeding, he seems dissatisfied and often cries. The baby doesn't sleep well at night. He has “hungry” stools: rare, small in volume, dense, dry or green.

Main reasons leading to malnutrition

Malnutrition may be caused by:

hypogalactia - decreased production of breast milk;
improper attachment of the child;
flat, inverted nipples;
lactostasis - stagnation of milk, manifested by painful swelling of the breast;
short frenulum of the tongue.

Let me remind you again. Do not worry! All these problems can be fixed.

If true hypogalactia is directly related to the mother’s hereditary predisposition and lifestyle, then the other four reasons depend on the breastfeeding technique. They can be adjusted.

Hypogalactia

Hypogalactia is a condition in which less milk is produced than the baby needs.

And although there is a hereditary predisposition to this, lifestyle also has a significant influence.

will help you overcome this problem :

Eat right. You need to eat, even more often than you ate before pregnancy. Preferably before each breastfeeding. The list of the healthiest foods includes meat, cottage cheese, fish, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. It is advisable not to eat citrus fruits and chocolate (they may cause allergies); foods that increase gas formation (legumes, white cabbage, black bread, a lot of flour can cause colic in the baby). If the milk is low-fat (“like water”), you can eat sour cream, nuts, and pork in moderation. They make the milk fattier.
Drink more (up to 2.5 liters per day) fluid. Give preference to simple clean water, green tea, compote, fruit juice, and fermented milk products.
Rest. A nursing mother needs at least 8 hours of sleep at night and 1 to 2 hours of daytime rest per day. Spend more time outdoors.
Apply your baby more often. At the same time, the flow of milk increases. In the first days of a baby's life, it is advisable to feed every hour. Don't forget about night feedings. Give both breasts at one feeding, ending with the breast you started with.
Communicate with your child. Skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby causes milk to flow.
Seek support and help from your husband and relatives. Psychological comfort in the family is very important.
Herbal teas for mothers containing cumin, dill, fennel, and anise are designed to enhance milk production. Drink a cup of this tea an hour before feeding, try to relax and unwind. The taste of the milk will improve, and the baby will eat with appetite.

Incorrect attachment of the baby to the breast

Incorrect attachment of the baby leads to discomfort and dissatisfaction of the baby, cracks in the nipples, which is painful for the mother.
The baby is unable to breastfeed fully, and therefore the baby cannot get enough to eat. Conditions for correct application.

Baby position: belly to belly, face to chest. It is up to the mother to decide whether to feed lying down or sitting. Choose a position that suits both of you.
The baby's head and body lie on the same line. The chin touches the mother's chest.
The baby should latch onto the nipple along with the areola (pigmented area around the nipple).
The baby's lower lip is slightly turned out.
The mother should be relaxed and focused on the child.

If the mother has flat, inverted nipples, it is difficult for the baby to suck. It will take patience and persistence. Over time, the shape of the breast changes, it softens, and the nipples become more elongated. And after two weeks the problem with feeding disappears. Until this time, you can use special breast pads. If necessary, milk is expressed and given to the baby from a spoon.

Lactostasis

Lactostasis is a problem that often occurs at first. This occurs due to the presence of more milk, and the baby is unable to completely empty the breast. The mammary gland swells, becomes painful, the temperature may rise to 38 - 38.5 degrees, but overall health does not suffer. When the mammary glands become engorged, it is difficult for a child to suck, and not all babies can cope with this problem.

For lactostasis, the following is recommended:

more frequent attachments by the baby;
Express a small amount of milk before feeding. Pumping softens the breast and helps the baby;
massage during feeding, stroking from the armpit to the nipple;
when you finish feeding, express the milk until a few drops are released;
Wear a properly fitted nursing bra.

If there is no effect from the recommended measures (the temperature continues to be high and you feel unwell), consult a doctor for advice and treatment.

Short frenulum of the tongue

This is a situation in which the baby cannot latch and suckle properly. Most likely, the mother will be informed about the short frenulum in the maternity hospital or later during an examination by the local pediatrician at home. This is a situation in which parents themselves will not do anything. Therefore, it is important to listen to your doctor’s recommendations and follow them.

Dear mothers! You can identify and solve feeding problems yourself. But do not forget that the local pediatrician is always ready to help. Remember, every woman can breastfeed. You need desire, the right emotional attitude, lifestyle and family support.

Feeding should only bring joy. Happy breastfeeding!

Why doesn't the child eat enough?

So, you have determined that the baby remains hungry throughout the day, now you need to identify the reasons that interfere with optimal lactation and lead to malnutrition. Since both mother and baby are involved in feeding, the nutrition process needs to be considered from all sides.

The reasons for the lack of milk are often due to the incorrect behavior of the mother (or her environment) during the lactation period:

difficult emotional family situation, which also includes the woman’s overwork, chronic lack of sleep, lack of understanding from relatives, symptoms of postpartum depression;
improperly selected diet (lack of food or unbalanced diet);
incorrect drinking regime (a woman during the lactation period should drink the required amount of warm liquid, which stimulates the formation of milk);
problems associated with the condition of the breast (cracks, nipples that are uncomfortable for the child, stagnation of milk);
the desire to feed the baby by the hour, including a reluctance to breastfeed at night (early morning feeding stimulates the glands, ensuring optimal activity throughout the day);
feeding the baby in special silicone pads, in which it is extremely difficult for the child to grasp the nipple correctly (the use of these devices is fully justified only during the treatment of cracked nipples);
giving children extra water without an important reason (high temperature, dehydration, intestinal dysfunction);
the use of bottles and pacifiers, as a result of which the baby is lazy to suckle.

Another likely reason is expressing milk too often, leading to an overabundance of this product. In general, milk secretion can be anterior or posterior. Foremilk is thinner and contains less fat (“empty”), which is what is produced during frequent pumping.

Hind milk is fatty, which means it is more nutritious and filling. The baby can only get enough of hindmilk, because fatty foods are not digested so quickly and leave a feeling of fullness for a longer period.

The baby may remain hungry if the feeding process is interfered with:

colic that worsens while eating;
nasal congestion or damage to the oral cavity;
incorrect latching of the chest.

The following experiment will help you discover feeding deficiencies: when you give your baby the breast, listen to how he swallows. The normal ratio is two or three suckings interspersed with one sip (in the first minutes of feeding, the baby should do a lot of sucking to increase the flow of milk from the breast). If there are few swallowing movements, the baby will remain hungry.

How to tell if your baby has enough milk

There are characteristic symptoms, the appearance of which may indicate malnutrition in the baby:

The baby begins to cry a lot and switches to screaming for no apparent reason. But crying itself can occur without any apparent reason. But this symptom itself is a factor that something is wrong in the body;
Severe decrease in baby's activity and malaise. But you need to know that a child can be calm on his own and show a minimum of activity;
Severe sleep disturbance, short intervals or complete absence;
The child walks poorly “for the most part.” The reason is not constipation, but insufficient stool. In the first month of life, a child defecates 9-12 times a day, literally after each intake of milk. The third month is characterized by a slow decrease in quantity. The baby’s need to consume mother’s milk also changes;
It is necessary to monitor the baby, and if it turns out that he sucks a finger or the edges of a diaper, and often smacks his lips, then this may be the reason for the baby’s refusal from his mother’s breast. It's all about excessive word formation and swallowing;
The baby is not gaining weight. The normal process of weight gain is to start by adding 100-150 grams per week in the first month, 200 grams per week from the second month and 300-350 grams after six months. This is the standard breastfeeding period;

It must be remembered that milk consumption standards are individual for each child. Factors such as body weight, appetite and level of physical development influence. 200 milliliters is the norm for the first 5 days, per month the optimal norm is 600 milliliters.