Probably, any newly-made mom is worried about the question of whether the child has enough breast milk... After all, the baby cannot yet say about his needs. How to understand why he is crying - from hunger or for other reasons? It is easier with artificially fed children, since the required volume is easy to calculate and then control the amount eaten. When breastfeeding, you have to focus on other signs.

Weight gain

The main thing to look out for is weight gain. If the child is active and cheerful, the increase corresponds to the norms, then for sure everything is in order and nothing needs to be done. A malnourished baby is unlikely to recover well. After birth, he loses up to 10% of his body weight. Then, in two weeks, he must return these grams, for the entire first month, the increase should be at least 600 g. For the second and third - 800 g, then gradually decrease due to the growing activity of the crumbs.

It is worth remembering that children develop with their own individual characteristics. Some babies in the first month are a little short of the norm, but in the next month they will compensate for everything. Others, in principle, gain little, regardless of the type of feeding. However, they are absolutely healthy and otherwise develop according to age. One thing is certain: babies should not lose weight.

Don't weigh your baby too often. Especially don't do this after every feed. The data obtained will be completely non-indicative. After all, breast milk is not a formula, the entire volume of which is evenly divided over all feedings. The baby is applied to the breast much more often, it is difficult to overfeed him. And he can eat 100 ml at one time, and the next - only 20 ml. And the total volume is not necessarily the same every day. In order not to give the suspicious mother food for thought, whether the little one is full, it is better to carry out the weighing procedure every two weeks, or even a month.

We count diapers

An important criterion by which one can judge how much a child is eating is normal bowel function. Babies can defecate both after each feeding and do it every few days. This may be normal, but only if the baby is not worried about the stomach. The stool should be of a liquid consistency, homogeneous, with a faint odor. But brown or green dense feces are a signal of a lack of milk.

You can find out if the baby is still hungry by counting the number of wet diapers. When there are at least 8 of them, then the baby receives enough nutrients. In this case, the urine should be colorless, with a faint odor. Occasionally, it may have a yellowish coloration, but not permanently.

Today mums prefer to use diapers. So it is more difficult to understand how much urination the baby had. It is considered normal if you need to change 4 diapers in a day due to their fullness. But if there is any doubt about the sufficient amount of milk, then it is worth doing a wet diaper test from time to time.

How does a well-fed baby behave?

You need to pay attention to the behavior of the crumbs. It is unlikely that a baby who does not gorge himself will behave calmly. After feeding, he will cry for more, greedily pounce on the breast or bottle, if offered to him. But if the mother feels that the breast has become soft, and the child is quietly falling asleep, then for sure he received everything he needed.

Sometimes, even with a sufficient amount of milk from the mother, the child becomes restless and does not gain weight well. Perhaps the point is lactose deficiency. It is necessary to consult a pediatrician who will prescribe enzyme intake or recommend special meals.

At the same time, the baby is able to withstand certain intervals between meals. It is unlikely that it will be 3 hours, this time is considered the norm when feeding with a mixture. But if he is satiated, then 1.5-2 hours between applications is quite enough for him. Although when something bothers him, then you can do it more often. At the breast, the toddler feels protected, he is calm and comfortable. That is why modern pediatricians recommend giving the baby breast on demand. Don't be afraid to overfeed him.

What shouldn't you be guided by?

Mothers, worried about their baby, often try to convince themselves that they do not have enough milk. It seems that the child eats well, and is gaining weight, but doubts about the quantity and quality of food remain.

Do not think that he is not eating enough if ...

• ... there is no feeling of fullness in the breasts. After the establishment of lactation, milk begins to come gradually, in response to the actions of the baby. He sucks at the breast, and the amount of food he needs is produced. The transition to this state can be unexpected. And some women never feel full breast, but babies are successfully fed for a long time.
• ... I don't like the color of the milk. Human milk can be thin and bluish, or yellow and thicker. But in fact, and in another case, most likely, it contains enough useful substances. Its appearance depends on individual characteristics mom.
• … The baby wakes up at night. Breast milk is quickly digested, so the feeling of fullness soon goes away. Therefore, overfeeding him is not so easy. Or maybe the baby is worried about colic, which is often worse at night. So the baby is not sleeping, he needs mother's support. It is worth giving him a tummy massage.
• ... the baby cries after feeding. Perhaps his tummy hurts. Or maybe Mom moved him from one breast to the other too early, he didn't get nutritious hind milk, and he didn't really eat. This should be done only after he completely empties the chest.
• ... the infant is often breastfeed. In fact, there is no single norm for how often and for how long a newborn should breastfeed. One, more active, will cope in 5 minutes. The other will need half an hour, and he will also doze off in the process. To wake him up, you can do this: gently squeeze the breast to increase the flow of milk. Don't try to form the ideal regimen. The main thing is that the baby gets all the nutrients. And most of them are in fat milk, which goes to the baby at the very end of feeding.
• ... very little milk can be expressed. It is unlikely that you can find out by the volume of expressed milk whether the child is eating enough. After all, it continues to be produced even during the feeding process. As a result, the baby gets enough food, and his mother cannot see it. Although if you try to express regularly, then, most likely, lactation will accelerate and you can make supplies.
• ... the little one is crying and bending over his chest. This behavior happens if the baby is worried about the tummy. He is hungry, but the new portion of food gives him discomfort, especially if he is overfed. Another reason is also possible. The milk flow is uneven. At first he is strong, but gradually weakens. To get it, the baby has to work hard. In the first month and a half, the baby can fall asleep at this moment, and after a while take an already full breast. Having become a little older, he no longer wants to fall asleep, but expresses his displeasure in this way.

Why does the baby refuse to breastfeed?

Sometimes the baby is unwilling or unable to breastfeed. Although Mom has enough milk, he does not gorge himself. Why it happens?

• If the toddler was fed from a bottle for some time, then he refuses to work, extracting milk from his breast.
• Mom has flat nipples. The baby is uncomfortable to latch on to the breast, as a result, he remains hungry. Special overlays can help.
• Mom eats foods that change the taste of milk, such as onions or garlic.
• The baby has a short frenulum of the tongue, which makes it difficult to pick up the breast normally. In this case, you need to consult a specialist.

How to increase the amount of milk?

It happens that mom really has little milk. Sometimes this is due to physiological characteristics For example, a woman has had breast surgery, has a thyroid disorder, or is under severe stress.

Whatever the reason, don't be in a rush to switch to mix. You can try to establish lactation.

• Give breast to the baby on demand. Finish feeding only when he had eaten and released her himself.
• Check for correct grip. The kid should take the areola. This will protect your mother's nipple from injury and stimulate milk production.
• The nutrition of a nursing mother should be complete so that the baby receives useful substances. Only strong allergens should be excluded from the menu. You also need to take care of a sufficient amount of fluid.

Until lactation improves, you can switch to mixed feeding. This should be done carefully, calculating the volume of the mixture correctly, so as not to overfeed the crumbs. The child must receive enough nutrition to grow and develop well. And to find out if he has enough milk, it will come out if you pay attention to the peculiarities of his behavior.

Taisiya Lipina

Reading time: 5 minutes

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Mother's milk is unrivaled in terms of the health and development benefits of the baby, protection against allergies and diseases. Replacing breast milk with even the best adapted milk formula is justified only if the mother is absolutely “non-dairy”. In other cases, you can and should fight for lactation. But first, it is worth determining whether there is actually not enough milk.

How can you tell if your baby is not getting enough breast milk?

The worries of a young mother about a lack of milk are most often unfounded: nature perfectly accommodates female body to the needs of the child. First check if your doubts are valid.

Signs of malnutrition in infants can be divided into reliable, clearly indicating a lack of milk, and relative, which may be symptoms of other painful conditions.

Assess the situation comprehensively : 1-2 identified signs - not yet a reason to buy a mixture.

Reliable ways:

• Little weight gain or loss

If there is an electronic scale at home, then you need to determine the difference before and after each feeding, and then calculate the total volume of milk eaten per day. The norms are as follows: from 10 days to 2 months - a fifth of the body weight, from 2 to 4 months - a sixth.

Worth considering

Breastfed babies can eat different amounts of milk on different feedings or even days, so it is more objective to assess the weight gain per week. GV consultants argue that if the baby "ate" at least 125 g in a week, then this is quite enough and there is enough milk for the baby.

However, constant weighing can make the mother even more nervous, so it is better to determine the increase on control weighings when visiting the pediatrician once a month, especially if the child is generally feeling well, he is growing and developing normally.

• Insufficient urination

Give up disposable diapers for a day and carry out a "test of wet diapers" for 24 hours - there should be ten or more of them up to 2 months, then six or more, the size of wet spots should not be less than a regular plate, urination should not cause anxiety or painful sensations, and the color of urine should be pale yellow.

If there is no desire or opportunity to mess around with swaddling

Relative:

1. Frequent and demanding crying (it is also called hungry) - this cry can be easily distinguished from a whimper when the child is simply bored and asks for attention. Mom will need to become a real virtuoso in assessing the various intonations of crying.
2. Long feedings ... All babies have a different rate of milk absorption.
3. Lethargy or anxiety, sleep disturbances ... May indicate insufficient rest, overexcitation from active games or the onset of the disease.
4. Sharp excitement when approaching or smelling the mother ... The kid can just ask for communication.
5. Thumb sucking, diaper or blanket edge ... The crumbs may also be teething or feedings are not frequent enough, and he does not have time to satisfy the sucking reflex.
6. Excessive dryness of the skin ... Milk for crumbs is not only delicious food, but also a life-giving source of quenching thirst. However, dryness is possible with a lack of certain vitamins or excessively dry and hot air in the nursery.
7. "Empty" soft breast between feedings, small volume of milk being expressed ... With a stable established lactation and frequent attachments of the baby, soreness and engorgement of the mammary glands should not be - milk rushes to the breast during feeding.

Causes of milk shortage

Even if some of the symptoms of malnutrition in infants are observed, there is no need to rush with supplementary feeding, and even more so transfer to artificial feeding.

Most often this is a temporary problem that may be related to:

Don't be overly anxious : knowing the symptoms and reasons why milk becomes less during lactation will help all difficulties quickly, and a calm mother will always have a baby, happy and active.

Anxiety about whether her baby has enough milk happens at least once with every young mother, especially in the first months after giving birth. Unfortunately, for many mothers, doubts about the sufficiency of milk end with the transfer of the baby to artificial feeding. Often, faced with the first difficulties, a woman makes a hasty conclusion about her hopeless "non-milk" (although the amount of breast milk in this case may be quite sufficient) and with the "support" of grandmothers or girlfriends, who often have no experience of successful breastfeeding, begins to feed the baby with a formula or completely refuses to breastfeed. Most often this happens due to a lack of knowledge about the mechanism of lactation and those criteria by which a mother can independently make sure that her baby has enough milk.

What you need to know about lactation

The main role in the mechanism of lactation is played by two hormones - prolactin and oxytocin. They begin to be produced by the pituitary gland immediately after childbirth.

Prolactin is a hormone responsible for the secretion of breast milk. The amount of milk in the mother depends on it: the more prolactin the pituitary gland produces, the more milk is in the mother's breast. The active production of prolactin is facilitated by the regular and complete emptying of the mammary gland and vigorous sucking of the breast by a hungry baby. The more often and more actively the baby sucks the breast and empties it well, the more prolactin will be released and, accordingly, the more milk will be formed. This is how the supply-demand principle works, with the baby getting as much milk as he needs.

Most prolactin is produced during the night and early morning hours, so it is very important to maintain night feedings to provide your baby with milk for the next day.

The second hormone actively involved in the lactation process is oxytocin. This hormone promotes the release of milk from the breast. Under the influence of oxytocin, muscle fibers located around the lobules of the breast contract and squeeze milk into the ducts towards the nipple. Decreased oxytocin production makes it difficult for the breast to empty, even if there is milk in it. In this case, the baby has to make significant efforts to extract, therefore, during feeding, he may become restless and even angry. When trying to express milk, in this case, the mother will be able to squeeze out only a few drops from the breast, remaining fully confident that she does not have enough milk. The amount of oxytocin produced depends on the emotional state of the mother. The more positive emotions and pleasure a woman receives, the more this hormone is produced. While stress, excitement and other negative emotions reduce the production of oxytocin, as this releases a large amount of the "anxiety hormone" adrenaline, the worst "enemy" of oxytocin, which blocks its production. That is why a comfortable and calm environment around her and her baby is so important for a nursing woman.

Why did breast milk "run away"

Lactation is a very fluid process influenced by many various factors(the state of health of the mother, the frequency of feedings, the severity of the sucking reflex in the child, etc.). cannot be produced "on schedule", and for certain reasons, its amount may decrease. Insufficient milk production in a mother is called hypogalactia. Depending on the causes of its causing, primary and secondary hypogalactia are distinguished.

Primary hypogalactia is a true failure to lactate, which occurs in only 3–8% of women. It usually develops in mothers with endocrine diseases ( diabetes mellitus, diffuse toxic goiter, infantilism and others). With these diseases, underdevelopment of the mammary glands is often observed in the mother's body, as well as a violation of the processes of hormonal stimulation of lactation, as a result of which her mammary glands are simply not able to produce a sufficient amount of milk. It is rather difficult to treat this form of hypogalactia; in such cases, hormonal drugs are prescribed.

Secondary hypogalactia is much more common. The decrease in milk production is mainly associated with improperly organized breastfeeding(irregular attachment to the breast, long breaks between feedings, improper latching of the breast), as well as physical and mental fatigue, lack of sleep, a violation of the diet, diseases of a nursing mother. The causes of hypogalactia can also be complications of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period, prematurity of the baby, taking some drugs and much more. A decrease in lactation can be triggered by the mother's unwillingness to breastfeed her baby or her lack of confidence in her own abilities and her attitude to artificial feeding. In most cases, secondary hypogalactia is a temporary condition. If the cause that caused the decrease in milk production is correctly identified and eliminated, lactation will return to normal within 3-10 days.

All of the above situations are true forms of hypogalactia, which are still not as common as false, or imaginary, hypogalactia, when a nursing mother produces enough milk, but at the same time she is convinced that she does not have enough milk. Before sounding the alarm and running to the store for a pack of formula, mom needs to figure out if she really has little milk.

Does the baby have enough milk?

You can quickly and reliably make sure that the baby has enough milk by counting the number of his urinations. Take a wet diaper test by counting the number of times the baby urinates in 24 hours without using disposable diapers and every time changing the diaper when the baby pee. The test is considered objective if the child is exclusively breastfed and is not supplemented with water, baby teas and other liquids. If the baby has stained 6 or more diapers, and the urine is light, transparent and odorless, then the amount of milk that he receives is quite enough for him normal development, and supplementary feeding is not required in this situation. If urination is rare (less than 6 times a day), and the urine is concentrated, with a pungent odor, this is a sign that the baby is starving and it is necessary to take active measures to restore lactation.

Another reliable criterion for assessing the adequacy of nutrition and the normal development of a child is the dynamics of weight gain. Although the growth of the child is uneven, in the first six months of life, the baby should add at least 500-600 g of weight every month. it is necessary in the morning before eating a completely undressed baby without a diaper). According to the WHO, a weekly weight gain of 125 g or more is an indication that the baby is getting enough nutrition. From the age of 5-6 months, the growth rate of the child decreases, and he can add 200-300 grams per month.

How to get breast milk back?

Only after the mother, relying on reliable criteria, is convinced that her baby really needs more milk, she needs to take measures to stimulate lactation. In most cases, the escaped milk can be returned. The most important criterion for success in this case is the mother's confidence in her own abilities and the desire to breastfeed. Only the confidence in the correctness of her actions and the attitude to long-term breastfeeding will help her to show the necessary perseverance and patience and resist the "benevolent" advice of relatives and friends to feed the "hungry" baby with a mixture.

In order to increase lactation, it is necessary to solve two main tasks: firstly, to find and, if possible, eliminate the cause of the problem (for example, fatigue, lack of sleep, improper attachment of the baby to the breast, etc.) and, secondly, to establish hormonal the mechanism "demand - supply", increasing the number of feedings ("requests") of the baby, in response to which the mother's body will respond by increasing the "supply" of milk.

∗ Breast stimulation. Given the decisive role of hormones in the mechanism of lactation, the most important and effective way to increase milk production is to stimulate the breast by sucking the baby and empty it completely. With a decrease in milk production, the mother must first take the following measures:

• increase the frequency of latching the baby to the breast: the more often the baby suckles at the breast, the more often the signals for the production of prolactin will be sent to the brain and, accordingly, more milk will be produced. It is necessary to give the baby the opportunity to breastfeed for as long as he wishes, artificial limitation of sucking can lead to the fact that the baby does not get to the most nutritious "hind" milk and does not get enough fat and protein (hence poor weight gain). If there is not enough milk in one breast, the second breast should be offered to the baby, but only after he has completely emptied the first. In this case, you need to start the next feeding from the breast that the baby sucked last;
• make sure that the baby is latching on correctly to the breast: effective stimulation of the nipple and emptying of the breast occurs only when the baby completely captures the areola. In addition, with improper latching of the breast, the child can swallow a large amount of air, which can fill most of the stomach volume, while the amount of milk sucked out will decrease;
• maintain night feeds: the maximum amount of prolactin is produced between 3 and 7 in the morning. To ensure the production of a sufficient amount of milk the next day, there should be at least two feedings during the night and pre-morning period;
• to increase the time spent together with the baby: to stimulate milk production, it is very useful for a nursing mother to spend as much time as possible with her baby, to carry it in her arms, to hold it close to her, it is very useful for lactation to sleep with the baby together and direct skin-to-skin contact.

∗ Psychological comfort. Anxiety and excitement are inevitably present in the life of any mother. The main thing is that her short-term momentary worries do not develop into constant anxiety. Nervousness, the burden of responsibility, the fear of doing something wrong can cause chronic stress. In this state, the blood of the nursing mother is constantly maintained high level the hormone adrenaline, which, as already noted, has a blocking effect on the production of oxytocin and thereby interferes with the release of milk. In fact, enough milk can be produced in the breast, but if the mother is nervous or irritated, she cannot "give" it to the baby. To avoid such situations, a nursing mother needs to learn how to relax. A massage, a warm shower, or a bath with aromatic oils(lavender, bergamot, roses), pleasant music and other ways to create a calm and comfortable environment around you, and, of course, the most important antidepressant is the infinitely beloved little man who needs mother's love and warmth.

* Adequate rest and sleep. As a rule, a woman sitting at home with a baby is charged with the entire burden of household chores, which is to say that a full 8-hour sleep for a nursing mother is “only dreaming”. However, sleep deprivation and physical overload are one of the most frequent reasons reducing the amount of milk in the breast. In order to establish lactation, the mother needs to reconsider her daily routine and be sure to find a place in her busy schedule for daytime sleep and daily walks in the fresh air.

∗ Food and drinking regime. Of course, for a full-fledged milk production, a nursing mother needs additional energy, nutrients and fluids, while it is important that nutrition and drinking regime are complete, but not excessive. The calorie content of the diet of a nursing mother should be about 3200-3500 kcal / day. The optimal frequency of meals is 5-6 times a day, it is better to have a snack 30-40 minutes before feeding. With a decrease in milk production, it is advisable for a nursing mother to include in her menu products that contribute to milk production: carrots, leaf lettuce, parsley, dill, fennel, seeds, Adyghe cheese, feta cheese, sour cream, - as well as lactogenic drinks: carrot juice, black currant juice ( in the absence of allergies in the baby).

Much greater importance to maintain lactation at the proper level and stimulate milk production when it decreases, has a drinking regimen. A nursing woman needs to drink at least 2 liters of liquid per day (this volume includes purified and mineral water without gases, compotes and fruit drinks from seasonal berries and fruits, tea, dairy products, soups, broths). A warm drink 20-30 minutes before breastfeeding helps to empty the breast (it may be weak green tea or just warm boiled water).

∗ Shower and massage. Enough effective ways increasing lactation are hot or cold and hot shower and breast massage. These treatments increase blood flow to the breast and improve milk flow.

It is better to take a shower in the morning and in the evening after feedings, while directing jets of water to the chest, do a gentle hand massage clockwise and from the periphery to the nipple, for 5-7 minutes on each breast.

You can massage your breasts to increase milk flow. To do this, grease your hands with olive or castor oil(it is believed that these oils have a stimulating effect on lactation), place one palm under the breast, the other on the breast. Massage the mammary gland with light circular movements clockwise (2-3 minutes each), without squeezing the breast with your fingers and trying to prevent oil from getting on the areola of the nipple, so as not to upset the stool in the child. Then the same light stroking with palms is carried out from the periphery to the center. This massage can be performed several times a day.

Most often, an increase in the number of feedings, an adjustment of the daily regimen and nutrition of the mother give positive results in a few days, and lactation is getting better. If the above measures do not bring tangible results within 7-10 days, the nursing mother should discuss with the doctor medication and physiotherapy methods to increase lactation.

What is a lactation crisis?

Already in the process of well-established breastfeeding, a nursing mother may face such a physiological phenomenon as a lactation crisis, when she suddenly, for no apparent reason, has a decrease in the amount of milk. This is usually due to the inadequacy of the amount of milk to the needs of the baby. The fact is that the growth of a baby may not occur evenly, but in jumps, the most typical growth spikes at 3, 6 weeks, at 3, 4, 7 and 8 months. As the baby grows, his appetite also increases; in such a situation, the mammary gland simply does not have time to produce the required amount of milk. At the same time, the baby can receive as much milk as before, but this amount is no longer enough for him. This situation is reversible. With an increase in the number of feedings and the absence of supplementary feeding with a mixture, after a few days, the mother's breast will "adjust" and provide the baby with sufficient nutrition.

Lyudmila Sergeevna Sokolova

Reading time: 4 minutes

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Last updated article: 23.01.2017

How to understand if a newborn has enough breast milk

You can find out that the baby is short of milk by a number of characteristic signs. Timely measures will help to solve problems with lactation and ensure adequate nutrition.

At the start breastfeeding Many mothers are concerned about whether their baby has enough breast milk. The concern is natural, because it is not possible to determine the exact amount. And if the baby is alarmed and capricious, then suspicion develops into confidence, and the mothers decide to supplement with the formula.

One should not rush to accept such a conclusion; first, it is necessary to observe the baby and carry out a number of simple manipulations.

How much milk does a baby need under one year old?

In their desire to supplement the baby, many forget that the child eats exactly as much as he needs. Breastfeeding on demand will provide it the required amount food. For a full feeding, do not give the second breast until the first is empty. This will ensure that you get the fatty hind milk you need to satisfy your hunger.

You should not give the formula to a baby unless it is clearly established that his anxiety is caused by hunger. The constant overeating of a newborn can become a habit, which subsequently leads to obesity and health problems due to being overweight.

Signs indicating a lack of milk

Crying, refusal to sleep and whims are often not associated with hunger, but have completely different reasons. He may be disturbed by loud sounds, harsh light, colic, and teething. You can understand that the baby does not have enough breast milk by the following signs:

1. Within two weeks of birth, the baby's weight has increased by less than 500 grams.
2. The milk in the breast runs out before the baby has time to release it. He begins to show excitement, not letting the nipple out of his mouth.
3. The number of urinations becomes less than 10 times in one day.
4. The feces become dense and thick.
5. At the end of the feeding, the baby does not calm down, but continues to search for the breast.

To know for sure if your baby has enough breastmilk, you can use several tricks.

1. Count wet diapers. The method is not effective if the baby is in a diaper all day, so one day should be allocated and saved from being in it. More than 10 urinations should occur during the control time. If there are fewer of them, it is worth thinking about the insufficient nutritional value of breast milk.
2. Weigh the child. Experts have calculated that with a normal feeding regimen, weight gain should occur in the range of 0.5 to 2 kg per month. By six months, the weight of the child should double from the original, and by the year it should triple.
3. Count the number of bowel movements. If the baby eats willingly and satisfyingly, then his number of emptyings should reach 4-5 times a day.

This rule is not supported by all doctors. Many experts believe that breast milk is completely absorbed with well-functioning feeding. If the child is cheerful, active and calm, the absence of feces for up to 5 days is considered the norm.

Carefully observe and listen to the baby during the feeding process. With proper latching of the breast and active feeding, the child makes characteristic swallowing movements with a certain frequency. If the pharynx is not audible or is extremely short, you should change the grip of the chest, achieving the correct position.
If, after analyzing the information received, it turns out that the child is not getting enough food, several simple steps should be taken to increase it.

Do not rely on the method of weighing the infant before and after feeding. The duration and amount of breastmilk intake is influenced by many factors, the indicators may differ with each feeding, and it is impossible to determine the exact value.

How to increase your breast milk production?

If mom decides to postpone artificial nutrition and try to improve breastfeeding, then the following measures will help her in this:

1. Increasing the frequency of applications. Everyone knows the axiom: the more milk a baby eats, the more its production will increase. Lactation directly depends on the number of attachments, so the exclusion of nipples and pacifiers would be a reasonable solution.
2. Feeding from one breast to the end. Many mothers are faced with a situation when the baby, actively eating for the first 5-10 minutes, suddenly begins to be capricious, and calms down if you offer him another breast. This is due to the fact that the "back" milk is more fatty, and more effort is required to suck it out. Babies, being lazy, prefer to get lighter, but energetically less valuable "front" milk, which negatively affects their saturation.
3. Increased nighttime feedings. It is night attachments that play the main role to ensure an adequate supply of breast milk. There is no need to worry that this can be harmful, the food does not stay for a long time in the baby's stomach, moving into the digestive tract. Feeding from 3 to 8 in the morning provides the strongest release of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the formation of breast milk.
4. Increased fluid intake by the mother herself. For the female body to function properly and produce the required volume of breast milk, it must be provided with sufficient fluid. A nursing mother should drink at least two liters of water daily.
5. Expressing milk after feeding. The same principle applies as for increasing the frequency of applications.
6. Calm and relaxed. Lactation disorders are often associated with psychological problems, therefore, it is recommended to discard all negativity, focusing only on positive emotions and images. Tea with mint or chamomile flowers will help to relax only if the baby is not allergic to these components. Drinking warm liquids also stimulates milk flow.

If you have problems with attachment or doubt creeps in about insufficient saturation, you should contact a breastfeeding specialist. At the maternity hospital, the answer to this question can be obtained from a neonatologist, who will help determine the degree of saturation and resolve the concerns that have arisen.

Conclusion

To find out if a newborn has enough breast milk, you should observe him for a while and make sure that the moods and irritations have other reasons. After counting wet diapers and the number of bowel movements, you need to make sure that they are not lower than those that neonatologists and pediatricians adhere to.

When in doubt, the best solution is to contact a breastfeeding specialist to help resolve these issues. If, in the process of observation, there is an opinion that the baby does not have enough breast milk, you should postpone feeding with artificial formula, and try to establish good breastfeeding.

All parents want their baby to grow up healthy and gain weight well. But when breastfeeding, it is difficult to see the amount of milk that the baby is drinking. It is not always possible to understand that the baby is not eating enough. How do you know if your baby has enough breast milk? The pediatrician will tell you about this. Employees of the Dochki-Sinochki online store will recommend special blends and teas that activate the lactation process.

How can you tell if your baby is getting enough breast milk?

The newborn cries at the slightest discomfort: wet, cold, tired, overheated, hungry. Young mothers are worried about whether the baby is full, whether she is getting enough food for normal growth and development, since they are not always able to understand the causes of the baby's cry.

• wakes up before an hour after feeding;
• sucks long and superficially;
• often comes off the chest and cries;
• does not fall asleep when feeding;
• poorly gaining weight.

These signs can be indirect and signal other problems. Poor sleep, frequent crying, and an infant's nervous state can be caused by pain. The baby may suck poorly due to a short bridle, and often wake up due to fear, cold, the need to feel motherly warmth. Neonatologists claim that sucking not only nourishes but also provides psychological comfort little man.

Important!

Whether the newborn is gaining weight will tell the control weighing. It is carried out before and after feeding. However, on-demand babies may breastfeed in different ways throughout the day. Sucking not only satiates them, but also soothes them.

How to understand that the child is full?

Is your baby eating breast milk? This question worries every nursing mother. There are some overwhelming signs that breastfeeding is okay:

• the breast swells before feeding, after application it becomes soft;
• milk oozes from the second breast;
• you can hear the baby swallowing loudly, sucking rhythmically and falling asleep at the breast;
• manages to wet about 10 diapers or 6 diapers per day (light-colored urine);
• stains diapers 1-8 times a day (stools are plentiful, without an unpleasant odor).

In order to produce enough milk, feed often, on demand, do not wean the baby earlier than he wants, drink a lot. Bebivita tea for nursing mothers with natural extracts of fennel, cumin, anise will help to establish lactation. A good lactogonic effect is provided by the Lactamil mixture. It makes breast milk optimal for breastfeeding and prevents the mother from gaining excess weight.

Important!

According to WHO standards, a baby who feeds exclusively on mother's milk should gain from 125 to 500 g per week. The baby's weight should be checked every two weeks.

conclusions

To gain strength, a newborn needs breast milk. It is nature's most valuable nutrient. If the baby does not finish eating, the mother should contact the specialists, find the causes of the problem and try to establish lactation. Special mixtures and teas, which can be bought in our online store, will help to improve the lactation process.