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With this changing need, here are a few signs that can help you figure out if your baby is getting enough milk:
- For starters, visible rhythmic sucking (round cheeks, not hollow) followed by swallowing motions (chin goes up and down) can be noted.
- In a quiet room, you might also hear audible swallowing sounds.
- Feeding soothes them, and they appear calm.
- They come off the breast on their own once they are done.
- Post-feeding, their mouths appear moist and not dry.
- After most feeds, they appear content and not fussy.
- Breastfeeding mothers feel relaxed and sometimes sleepy post-feeding.
- Mother's breasts feel softer, and nipples appear the same post-normal, not pinched or flattened.
- At least 6 wet diapers and 2-4 yellow, soft, grainy stools from the 4th day since birth are a good indicator for adequate milk intake.
- Steady weight gain after the first two weeks of birth.
Signs That Baby is Not Getting Enough Breastmilk
Sometimes the baby might not be feeding well due to factors like poor latch, low milk supply, wrong positioning or some underlying medical condition like tongue-tie. Due to this, the child may exhibit the following signs that indicate they are underfed:
- Weight: Failure to regain birth weight after the initial loss in the first few days or loss of more than 10 per cent of birth weight in the following weeks is a sign of being underweight.
- Failure to gain weight or loss of more than 10 per cent of birth weight in the subsequent weeks.
- Urine and stool output: Less than 6 wet diapers and 2-4 stools from the 4th day onwards.
- Urine and stool colour: Dark yellow coloured urine and black stools (meconium) are common for the first few days post birth. By day 4-5, this should change to lighter-coloured urine and yellowish, grainy stools if the baby is getting enough milk. Failure of these points indicates insufficient milk intake.
- Mood and behaviour: The baby seems fussy, lethargic and is either usually sleepy or unable to sleep at all.
Myths Around Breastfeeding
There are a lot of misconceptions with respect to breastfeeding and milk intake that need to be addressed:
- Breastmilk alone isn't enough: Up until 6 months of age, babies don't require anything except breastmilk to meet all their nutritional requirements. Even water isn't needed, and if given, can actually be harmful for the baby since their kidneys aren't mature enough to filter water yet.
- Babies stop feeding if they fall asleep at the breast: It's common for babies to fall asleep at the breast while feeding and still continue, as the sucking and swallowing reflexes are involuntary. Once they go into a deeper sleep state, they unlatch and stop feeding on their own.
- If babies take a bottle immediately after breastfeeding, this means they didn't get enough milk while breastfeeding: Parents often worry that the baby isn't getting enough milk at the breast if the baby gulps down milk from the bottle just after breastfeeding. This is not true, as in the initial months, babies have a strong sucking reflex and will literally suck anything you put in their mouths. In addition to this, milk flows more easily through a bottle than through the breast, which makes it easy for them to gulp down bottles faster.
Tips to Ensure Proper Feeding
Here are a few tips that can help you support your breastfeeding baby:
- Position: The mother should pick a comfortable position, either sitting or reclining. Bring the baby close to your abdomen with their mouth facing the breast and nose in front of the nipple. The baby's body should be in a straight line, supported by your hands.
- Latch: The baby's mouth should be wide open, covering the areola, with the lower lip turned outward and chin touching the breast. This ensures a good latch for feeding.
- Feeding: Feed on demand and take turns on each breast to ensure proper milk production in both breasts.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Caring for a newborn is oftentimes overwhelming, and the right guidance goes a long way. Here are a few cases in which seeking medical advice is recommended:
- If the baby is unable to latch or breastfeed even after repeated attempts.
- The baby loses weight or fails to gain weight after the first few days.
- The frequency and colour of urine and stool are not in line with the healthy patterns we discussed above.
Worrying if your baby is feeding well or not is a common concern for most parents, especially in the initial days, when everything feels new and uncertain. But a few signs like steady weight gain, a healthy number of wet and dirty diapers and a content, happy baby are all indicators of sufficient milk intake. If you notice any irregularities in any of these, seeking timely medical attention can greatly benefit your baby's well-being and growth.
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FAQs on Signs Your Baby is Getting Enough Breastmilk
- How many times in a day should I feed my baby?
There is no fixed number for feeding, as the baby's needs might vary day to day. You should ideally feed the baby as many times as the baby demands. - If my baby is suddenly feeding too often, does that mean I have a low milk supply?
When babies feed several times in a short span of time, this is known as cluster feeding. It usually helps boost milk supply and happens when the baby is growing through a growth spurt. It does not indicate low milk supply, and you don't need to worry about it. - How long should I feed my baby?
There is no ideal fixed time duration for each feed. Some babies get all the milk they need in a few minutes, and some might need more time. A good tip is to feed as and when the baby demands and let them come off the breast on their own. If they show all healthy signs of growth like weight gain, wet and dirty diapers, then there is nothing to worry about.