How can we assure we have sufficient milk for breastfeeing?
Most mothers are concern if their milk supply is adequate, especially when they begin breastfeeding. In some cases a mother isn't able to produce enough milk to meet the needs of her baby. But according to many experts, true milk insufficiencies are rare.
Many women think their milk supply is low when it isn't. This can happen if you lose the feeling of fullness in your breasts, or if milk stops leaking from your nipples —but these are actually natural, common signs that your body has adjusted to your baby's feeding requirements. A baby going through a growth spurt may also want more milk than usual, and his more frequent feedings may leave your breasts less full than usual.
However, DO NOT IGNORE the low supply as it may put babies at risk for malnutrition.
What causes low milk supply?
A mother's milk supply may diminish temporarily if she's not feeding her baby often enough because of nipple pain, a lethargic nurser, or a poor latch-on technique; an incorrect latch-on technique will lead to our baby not getting enough supply.
How to tell whether our baby is getting enough milk supply?
First, we rule out false alarms about our milk supply:
• Our baby gains an ounce a day in the first three months of life and half an ounce a day from age 3 to 6 months. (Newborns will typically lose between 5 and 10 percent of their birth weight in the first few days before gaining it back.) Our baby should be back to his birth weight by ten to 14 days after birth. Weight gain is the best way to make sure your baby's getting enough milk.
• In the first month, our baby has at least three stools a day and they lighten to a yellowy-mustard color by the fifth day after birth. After the first month, the stools become less frequent. Some babies will even go a day or two between stools.
• He nurses frequently — every two to three hours, for a total of at least eight to 12 feedings a day.
• We hear him swallow and notice milk in the corners of his mouth.• He appears healthy and active.
• He wets seven or eight cloth diapers a day, or five to six disposables. (Note: Wet diapers alone are not enough to determine whether your baby's getting enough milk: A dehydrated baby can still wet a diaper. Stools and weight gain are the best ways to tell how your baby's doing.)
What to do if we are not producing as much milk as we (and our baby) would like?
•Feed our baby often as frequent nursing sessions stimulate our body to produce more milk.
•Make sure our latch-on technique is correct.
•When our baby's sucking and swallowing pattern slows down, use our fingers to compress our breast to increase milk flow to our baby and to completely drain the breast.
•When milk flow with compression seems to be slowing, switch sides and repeat. An effective feed will be to nurse our baby for ten to 15 minutes per breast, then use a breast pump to completely drain your breasts; this will increase milk production. When baby is sleepy, try waking him by switching sides (thus stimulating your glands to produce more milk).
• Mothers who determine that their milk output is actually low may want to have their thyroid level checked. A low thyroid level is known to reduce milk supply.
• If you're not sure your baby is sucking well, or are still concerned about your milk supply, don't hesitate to call on a lactation consultant for help.
*Try drinking condensed milk or taking papaya - heard it helps. No Harm trying though :)
Will low supply affect my baby?
Yes, if our baby regularly needs more milk than he gets, he could fail to thrive, a condition that can inhibit physical and mental development. Call your doctor and schedule a checkup right away if he's not gaining weight, or is losing weight.
Can we still nurse?
Yes, especially if you're suffering from a temporary decrease in milk supply, nursing frequently is the key to boosting milk production.
**HAPPY BREASTFEEDING** =)
Most mothers are concern if their milk supply is adequate, especially when they begin breastfeeding. In some cases a mother isn't able to produce enough milk to meet the needs of her baby. But according to many experts, true milk insufficiencies are rare.
Many women think their milk supply is low when it isn't. This can happen if you lose the feeling of fullness in your breasts, or if milk stops leaking from your nipples —but these are actually natural, common signs that your body has adjusted to your baby's feeding requirements. A baby going through a growth spurt may also want more milk than usual, and his more frequent feedings may leave your breasts less full than usual.
However, DO NOT IGNORE the low supply as it may put babies at risk for malnutrition.
What causes low milk supply?
A mother's milk supply may diminish temporarily if she's not feeding her baby often enough because of nipple pain, a lethargic nurser, or a poor latch-on technique; an incorrect latch-on technique will lead to our baby not getting enough supply.
How to tell whether our baby is getting enough milk supply?
First, we rule out false alarms about our milk supply:
• Our baby gains an ounce a day in the first three months of life and half an ounce a day from age 3 to 6 months. (Newborns will typically lose between 5 and 10 percent of their birth weight in the first few days before gaining it back.) Our baby should be back to his birth weight by ten to 14 days after birth. Weight gain is the best way to make sure your baby's getting enough milk.
• In the first month, our baby has at least three stools a day and they lighten to a yellowy-mustard color by the fifth day after birth. After the first month, the stools become less frequent. Some babies will even go a day or two between stools.
• He nurses frequently — every two to three hours, for a total of at least eight to 12 feedings a day.
• We hear him swallow and notice milk in the corners of his mouth.• He appears healthy and active.
• He wets seven or eight cloth diapers a day, or five to six disposables. (Note: Wet diapers alone are not enough to determine whether your baby's getting enough milk: A dehydrated baby can still wet a diaper. Stools and weight gain are the best ways to tell how your baby's doing.)
What to do if we are not producing as much milk as we (and our baby) would like?
•Feed our baby often as frequent nursing sessions stimulate our body to produce more milk.
•Make sure our latch-on technique is correct.
•When our baby's sucking and swallowing pattern slows down, use our fingers to compress our breast to increase milk flow to our baby and to completely drain the breast.
•When milk flow with compression seems to be slowing, switch sides and repeat. An effective feed will be to nurse our baby for ten to 15 minutes per breast, then use a breast pump to completely drain your breasts; this will increase milk production. When baby is sleepy, try waking him by switching sides (thus stimulating your glands to produce more milk).
• Mothers who determine that their milk output is actually low may want to have their thyroid level checked. A low thyroid level is known to reduce milk supply.
• If you're not sure your baby is sucking well, or are still concerned about your milk supply, don't hesitate to call on a lactation consultant for help.
*Try drinking condensed milk or taking papaya - heard it helps. No Harm trying though :)
Will low supply affect my baby?
Yes, if our baby regularly needs more milk than he gets, he could fail to thrive, a condition that can inhibit physical and mental development. Call your doctor and schedule a checkup right away if he's not gaining weight, or is losing weight.
Can we still nurse?
Yes, especially if you're suffering from a temporary decrease in milk supply, nursing frequently is the key to boosting milk production.
**HAPPY BREASTFEEDING** =)
No comments:
Post a Comment