Milk deficits are rare, but most of my patients are worried about the amount of milk they produce. So if you are one of them, check my list.
Congratulations! You are a new mom and choose to breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding can be challenging, but you will praise this choice in the future.
With new duties as a parent come new fears. Am I a good mother? Should I hold my baby this or that way? How to soothe him? Maybe he is hungry, and I should give him a bottle?
In some cases, modified milk can be beneficial, but before giving formula, read the following ideas on evaluating if your baby is getting enough milk.
1. Several wet diapers and poops
Until your baby is six weeks old, you should change 8 to 12 wet diapers and at least 6-8 poops per 24 hours. When a baby gets older, the number of poops will gradually decrease, which is normal! This is because the baby’s intestine matures, and it can be even one per few days.
2. Check how your child latches up
If the latch is good, the baby drinks milk with ease, and you hear swallowing – it’s the reason to be calm. Please contact a lactation consultant if you have doubts about your breastfeeding technique or are unsure of what you see and hear.
3. Weigh your baby before feeding and after
Put a baby in clothes and diapers on baby scales, note the weight, feed the baby, and put it again on the scale. Calculate the difference. When a newborn weighs 70g more, it has drunk approximately 70 ml of milk.
4. Pump out milk and check how much you get
Another method to check if you have enough milk supply is to pump it with a breast pump and see how much milk the baby can get for 15 minutes.
Remember that pumping right after feeding the baby and in the middle is a great way to increase milk production. In addition, pumped milk can be frozen in sterile plastic bags and used when you’re out.
5. Is your baby relaxed and sleeping well?
Sleeping well means that a newborn is relaxed or even falls asleep after 15 minutes to an hour of feeding.
Yes, a baby can frequently eat, but if it demands constant presence by your breast and is anxious, it is a definite red flag.
6. Chart your newborn’s growth on percentile grids
This long-term method is based on regular weighing, measuring, and comparing results with percentile grids.
You should always consult measurements with a pediatrician cause interpretation might be tricky. However, babies with lower percentile scores can still be healthy and eat well.
Still unsure? The best option always is to contact a pediatrician and lactation consultant.
Go to my contact and let’s talk about your doubts.