"Whether I have breastfed enough or not" is the concern of many mothers. Grasping the following 10 tips will help mothers realize whether their baby is receiving enough milk or not.
You cannot measure the amount of milk when breastfeeding directly. This is also the reason why many mothers wonder if their baby is getting enough breast milk or not. The good news is that most women will make enough milk to keep their baby healthy. Only about 5 - 15% (or even less) of mothers do not have enough milk for their babies. But if you still want to check, pay attention to the following signs, a plus for the signs you see your baby show and a minus for what you find missing. If you get a plus, be comfortable because your baby is getting enough nutrition. If it is a minus point, you will be revealed some simple tips to help mothers have more milk to breastfeed .
There are many signs to help you see if you are breastfeeding your baby enough
Sign 1: Baby is swallowing
When the baby is first exposed to the mother's breasts, the baby will suck quickly, this movement will help release breastmilk. Then the baby will breastfeed more slowly and gently, so that the baby can swallow the milk into the abdomen. Not only can you feel these movements, you can also see the baby's jaws release and hear his swallowing sounds. If your baby is not getting enough milk, you may notice that your baby is feeding very quickly but not slowly swallowing slowly; Your baby may also stop feeding for a long time or fall asleep in the womb.
Sign 2: Baby is satisfied
If your baby looks satisfied and full after breastfeeding, you don't have a problem to worry about. But if a baby seems a bit lethargic - or vice versa, constantly screaming for food - it may be that he is still hungry. If a baby is fed multiple times and lasts more than an hour each time, or wants to be breastfed regularly and feeds less than an hour apart, the baby may not get enough milk.
Sign 3: Baby is going out a lot
Based on your baby's waste output, you will have a reliable guide to whether you are breastfeeding enough or not. Babies should emit at least 6 wet diapers a day and four fecal nappies from day four after birth. The color of the stools is also very important: a baby's poop in the first 2-3 days is usually black and slightly sticky, they should be green by day three or four and yellow on day four or Thursday. Breastfed babies' feces are usually slightly lumpy or slightly loose.
Sign 4: Baby is gaining weight
If your baby's weight fluctuates a little from when the baby is born until the end of the first week, this is perfectly normal. Infants usually lose either 5 - 7% of their body weight by day three or four and they are still completely healthy, but if they lose 10 percent or more, it could be a problem. By day 10, your baby should regain birth weight and gain weight the following days.
If you find yourself falling short of most of these areas, or often feel like you're not getting enough breast milk, review one of the following factors:
- Breastfeeding posture: Breastfeeding your baby properly will help the baby suckle more breast milk and the mother does not have chest pain.
How to breastfeed: It's that instinct but also learn! Everyone has thought for a long time how to breastfeed is very simple. In fact, every mother will instinctively know how to breastfeed her newborn. However, the problem of how to know the right position to breastfeed, how to breastfeed is not choking ..., the mother needs to learn more carefully.
Nutrition: You should not abstain from excess such as eating only dry foods, not eating vegetables, leading to lack of nutrients, making the body not producing enough milk. To get enough milk for breastfeeding, you need to eat a balanced diet, full of nutrients, have enough carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, and don't forget to drink enough water. Also, don't focus on foods that are supposed to stimulate milk, such as papaya, melon, or glutinous rice, as they can make you lose appetite and feel more pressure.
Rest: Do you get 8 hours of sleep a day? Have you felt your body lately has been light, well, or otherwise, exhausted? Do you have time for yourself to listen to music, put on a mask or simply lie down and play with your baby? If the answer is "no" then it is time to find someone to help you get more rest. This not only helps the body recover, but also helps the milk glands produce more milk.
Health: Some problems such as ovarian polycysts, oral contraceptives, use of resistance or specific mammary gland structure can prevent a mother from producing enough milk for her baby. For these cases, you need to be examined by a doctor to come up with appropriate solutions.