Is your baby getting enough breast milk?

Mothers are often concerned about their child getting the right nutrition in the right quantity, especially if they are breastfeeding. With formula milk, mothers can completely monitor the amount of milk given at every feed. With breastfeeding, mothers cannot measure the exact amount in millilitres which the baby takes every time he is breast fed. However, there are still ways for mothers to check if their baby is getting enough breast milk to satisfy his needs. Here are some of the most obvious indications which can help mothers know if their baby is getting enough milk.
Weight gain

If the baby shows weight gain in the days or weeks after birth, it is an obvious sign that the baby is getting enough milk to grow. However, weight gain will not start immediately from day one, as babies do lose weight initially and then start gaining after a few days of birth. Breastfeeding moms should take into consideration that the rules for weight gain that apply to formula milk or bottle fed babies are not the same for breast feeding.

Baby’s nursing habits

Your baby will clearly show you when he is hungry and when he is full through his feeding and nursing characteristics. Mothers can also tell if their baby is getting enough milk from the way the baby feeds at the breast. Babies usually open their mouth wide, with their lips turned out, as they suck at the breast in a slow and rhythmic manner. The rhythmic movement of the mouth is easy to identify as the baby pauses after each suckle to swallow a mouthful of milk. Each pause indicates that the baby has successfully swallowed, which you can also tell by the sound of swallowing. However, not all babies produce a swallowing sound while feeding, which is completely natural. The longer your baby pauses between each suckle, the more milk the baby got.

Babies also alternate between sucking and nibbling at the breast from time to time, which is also natural. However, if your baby spends a lot of time nibbling rather than sucking at the breast, then it may not be normal. You should make sure that your baby comes off your breast feeling filled and satisfied. That will be an indication that the baby has got enough milk. If that is not the case, you should seek professional help and advice.

Bowel movements

Monitoring your baby’s bowel movements is another way to check if the baby is getting enough milk. Usually, during the first 2 – 3 days after birth, a baby passes meconium, which is a dark green, blackish substance which accumulates in the baby’s intestines during pregnancy. After 3 – 4 days, the baby’s stool becomes lighter in color and takes the appearance of normal stool, which is a mustard coloured pasty and watery substance. A breastfeeding baby whose bowel movements change color on the third day after birth is considered normal.

The quantity and frequency of your baby’s bowel movements is the best way of knowing if the baby is getting enough milk. By the end of the first week after child birth, your baby should be passing 2 – 3 normal stools each day. If the stool color does not change after 5 days, you should consult a specialist. After a month, the baby may again change his bowel movements, from 2 – 3 each day to 1 every 3 days. This is also natural and you should not be worried about it, as long as the stool consistency is yellow and pasty.

Baby’s urination

A healthy baby should be urinating more than 6 times a day, during the first week after birth. The baby’s urine should be clear as water, and you should not be giving any extra fluid intake to the baby. During the first 2 – 3 days after birth, the baby may pass pink urine. Like meconium, this is completely normal and you should not worry about it. If the urine color does not turn to normal after the first 3 – 4 days, you may want to use a breast pump to ensure that your breasts are producing enough milk to feed the child. Breast pumps like medela style and pump style advanced can be used to get the milk flowing. Do not introduce bottle milk or water at this stage, as it will only cause the baby to demand less breast milk, which will affect your milk production levels. Make sure you feed the baby at regular intervals, to allow more milk to be produced by your breasts.

Ensuring your child’s health is the best thing a mother can do for her baby. Making sure that your baby is getting enough breast milk is important to ensure proper growth and development of the baby.