Is Breast Milk Enough For The Baby?

The amount of breast milk is considered low and insufficient when it does not meet the growth needs of the baby.

However, to find out how you can help the process of its production, it is good to learn exactly how it is formed!

Milk production can begin during pregnancy or in the first hours after birth, but because during this period the levels of the hormone progesterone are higher, the colostrum that is produced is in small quantities. After birth and placental abruption, progesterone levels fall, prolactin levels rise, and large amounts of milk begin to form. Another important point is "supply and demand", ie the more the baby sucks, the more milk is produced.

Since mothers cannot figure out exactly how much milk their baby has taken while breastfeeding, they begin to ask themselves: Do I have enough milk?

Many of them worry about the amount of their milk, especially in the early stages of breastfeeding.

Unfortunately, there are a number of myths and misconceptions about breastfeeding that lead to unnecessary anxiety and stress. One such misconception about milk production is that breast size determines the amount a woman can produce.

You should be aware that even a woman with small breasts can produce more than enough milk for her baby, even in the case of twins or triplets.

Women who have stopped breastfeeding most often say they did so because they did not have enough breast milk. In fact, most mothers have enough milk for their babies, and if breastfeeding is really low, this may be a temporary situation and can be improved with appropriate measures.

How do you know if you have enough breast milk?

There are several ways to find out if you have enough breast milk, although they are considered unreliable. These are:

• the way you feel your breasts - full or empty;
• sensation of leakage of milk or lack thereof;
• the frequency and duration of meals;
• no leakage of milk during pumping.

And while none of these signs are a sure indicator of the amount of milk produced, there are some definite ones:

• the baby's bowel movements - if the baby defecates about five times a day, it means that he is getting enough milk. After about two or three months, expect the number of full diapers to decrease to one per day or even to defecate every other day, but this still means that the infant receives enough milk;
• the baby's pee - if every time you change the diaper it is wet (eight to ten times a day in the beginning), then you have plenty of milk. A well-fed child excretes light, pale yellow urine, and what is malnourished has concentrated, orange, or dark yellow urine with a sharper odor.
• weight gain - if the baby eats well for about 15-20 minutes, falls asleep and lasts calmly for about 2-3 hours until the next feeding, it means that he is getting enough milk. Even more reliable evidence is weight gain of about 150-200 grams per week in the first months after birth. Keep in mind that if you have a health problem (runny nose, red throat), it can affect weight gain. To be sure what is the problem leading to weight gain disorders, consult a doctor.

Trial breastfeeding is not a sufficient indicator, because the amount of milk expressed is different at different meals. The measurement of the received milk is reliable if the measurement is made at all meals for one day. The baby is weighed before and after breastfeeding. The difference between the two measured values ​​is the amount of milk expressed.

There is a formula for determining the amount of breast milk to be taken in 24 hours in the first week:

n - 1 (x 70) (80) = ml breast milk; as n is the number of days, 70 is the coefficient for children of average normal weight, and for the larger ones it is multiplied by 80.

An eight-week-old baby should express 800 ml of breast milk in 24 hours. If it is less, 50 ml is reduced for each week, and if it is higher, 50 ml is added for each month.

The amount of milk needed can be determined by the amount of energy introduced into the diet at 1kg / t / 24h. During the individual quarters the energy required is as follows (It is known that 1 liter of breast milk has 2928 kJ or 700 kcal):

• I quarter - 502 - 544 kJ / kg or 120 - 130 kcal for 24 hours
• II quarter - 460 - 502 kJ / kg or 110 - 120 kcal for 24 hours
• Third quarter - 418 - 486 kJ / kg or 100 - 110 kcal in 24 hours
• IV quarter - 397 - 418 kJ / kg or 95 - 100 kcal for 24 hours

The specified formulas should be indicative only and in no case should the child be forced to accept the amount calculated according to the formula in order not to cause anorexia. Also keep in mind that the formulas do not reflect the baby's individual needs in terms of the amount of food, and in addition, he never takes the same amount at all hours of the day, even when breastfeeding. The most accurate guide will be the child's appetite and weight.

What can reduce milk production?

Milk production is directly related to its demand, and a number of factors can reduce its quantity.

The introduction of a new food in the child's menu will lead to a reduction in the amount of milk that he expresses and will affect its production.

Dilution of meals over time is another potential cause. For example, breastfeeding every 4 hours will reduce frequent breast stimulation.

Short feedings - if you breastfeed for 5 minutes, not only will the baby not get enough milk, but the breasts will not be empty enough. This means that they will not be stimulated enough to produce more milk.

The use of a pacifier can also affect the amount of milk produced. For some (not all) infants, the time spent breastfeeding means less time breastfeeding. Again, less sucking means less milk production.

In some rare cases, the amount of breast milk produced by a mother may not be enough for the baby's needs. This could happen if the mother has a health problem or a condition in the baby that interferes with effective sucking. Possible reasons for the lack of breast milk can be:

• recent mastitis;
• use of oral contraceptives containing estrogen;
• use of herbal preparations and other medicines;
• smoking.

A common cause of unexpected milk shortages is when the mother engages in a strict weight loss program while breastfeeding. This happens because not enough calories are taken in and milk production decreases. Few mothers are able to produce enough milk no matter what they do. However, most causes of breast milk deficiency are reversible.

How to increase the amount of milk secretion?

If your pediatrician or breastfeeding specialist has found that your breast milk is really small, there are ways to increase it. The key to this is frequent breast stimulation and emptying!

Make sure the baby is well positioned. Keep it skin to skin on the breast (let the baby wear only diapers and a diaper cover so that he will have direct contact with your skin). This will help the baby not to fall asleep and also increase the release of hormones involved in milk production.

If the baby is drowsy and falls asleep while breastfeeding, change the breasts more often (alternating two or three times each) to make sure he is getting enough milk from both breasts.

Feed the baby on demand or every two to three hours during the first months. Do not follow a schedule with long intervals between meals. Ask the infant to feed from both breasts at each feeding.

Avoid supplementation with formula and pacifier!

After breastfeeding, express the remaining milk with the breast pump.

Night breastfeeding!

At night, the amount of the hormone prolactin is higher. In addition, breastfeeding at night further stimulates its secretion. All this has a positive effect on the amount of milk released. Portions of milk at night are richer in vitamins and protective factors for the child. For babies on exclusive breastfeeding, a 4-hour night break is sufficient. After this period, they starve and suck actively, which also has a stimulating effect on milk secretion.

Eat well and rest! Exhausted and malnourished mothers do not produce enough milk. It is believed that some foods have the ability to increase milk secretion.

More information can be found in the topic "What to eat to increase breast milk".

If necessary, your doctor may prescribe special herbal teas or hormonal preparations.

Milk secretion can be restored even after the mother has stopped breastfeeding her baby for weeks and months. It is important that he is not used to breastfeeding, and it takes about six weeks to achieve normal milk secretion. If for some reason the mother's milk secretion stops, then it is necessary to put the child to the breast every two hours during the day and at night.

Other good advice can be obtained from a breastfeeding consultant, medical professional or a woman with long experience in breastfeeding.