Often new mom’s think their milk supply is not enough for their babies. Feel of your breast, not able to pump enough milk, frequency of nursing are not proper ways to determine low milk supply. If your baby is exclusively breastfeed and gaining proper weight, then you are producing enough breast milk. Even if you are not keeping a check on the weight of the baby the adequate amount of wet diapers clearly show that your feeding is enough and you have an adequate amount of milk supply.
Here are some important signs that indicate your baby is receiving enough milk:
- Your baby is nursing at least 6 to 8 times a day. Breastfeed baby often feed more than formula fed babies because breast milk is digested easily. Moreover, babies often need continuous contact with their moms.
- If your breast feed baby increases the frequency of feeding, don’t panic as this is just a “growth spurt”. Don’t offer supplement to the baby as it will reduce your milk supply, the more the baby latches the more milk body will produce.
- Breastfeeding is comfortable, breast become softer after feeding and you get rid of pain after you breastfeed.
- Check your baby pee count; it should be around 6 to 8 wet nappies.
- If your nipples are not leaking, nipples only leak during initial days of feeding and after that they will adjust to demand of the baby.
- Your baby’s poo must be “Mustard Yellow” in colour
Symptoms of low milk supply are:
Although this is quite rare because the more the baby latches, the more milk mother’s body will produce.
- Baby is wetting fewer nappies
- Baby is crying and not settled after feeds
- Baby’s weight gain is an issue
- Baby is lethargic and listless
Causes of low milk supply:
- If you are offering formula milk to the baby, it’s more likely that your supply will drop
- Pacifiers often reduce your supply as baby doesn’t spend enough time to latch on
- Nipple shields reduce the stimulation to your nipple and interfere with the milk supply
- Scheduled feeding can also reduce supply, don’t set a particular time for feed, just feed your baby whenever baby is hungry
- If baby is not nursing after every two hours and nursing for very shorter periods
- Health problems with baby(including jaundice)
Most important you should feel confident that you are providing enough milk to the baby.
And don’t hesitate to ask for help from your midwife, maternity support worker, health visitor, breastfeeding counselor or baby feeding specialist at any time.
Still if you feel you are having a low milk supply, you can try these food items to boost your breast milk supply.
Image Source: TheAsianParent