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When you have a newborn child , every day is a day of new doubt, especially for first-time mothers. It is very common that you do not know how to deal with the various types of problems that appear, as this is also a learning process for you.
And although there are many books, websites and videos that talk about the most diverse subjects that involve babies, it is always good to have as much information as possible from reliable sources so that your doubts are answered and you feel safe to deal with the situations.
And one of those big doubts that usually comes up is “is my breast milk enough? Well, there are many answers to this type of question and that is exactly why today we are going to help you better understand everything you need to know about your breast milk and your baby’s diet .
How is breast milk produced?
Breast milk begins to be produced in cells called alveoli, stimulated by progesterone and estrogen . After that, the milk passes through the galactophores or ducts, formed by the mammary glands, which increase in size, also stimulated by hormones, until they reach the breasts.
The ducts are about nine small straws that form a kind of “little shower” for the milk to pass through the nipples and reach the baby. Because of this stimulation, a woman’s breasts tend to grow during pregnancy.
However, it is important to note here that the size of the breasts or nipples does not interfere with anything with regard to the production of breast milk or breastfeeding a baby.
A curiosity is that the woman’s body prepares this entire breastfeeding system until the second trimester of pregnancy , which means that she can breastfeed even with a premature baby , great news.
Is My Baby Suckling Enough?
Now that you have understood how breast milk production works, you can better understand if your baby is breastfeeding enough and what are the problems that can be solved if the answer is no.
We will show you the positive signs and the negative signs to better clarify whether this problem is related to your milk production or not.
Positive Signs
If the baby pisses constantly , it is a sign that he is breastfeeding enough to eat well. It is very common for newborns to have to change diapers 5 or even more times a day.
The feces, in turn, are not indicative of breastfeeding, that is, the amount produced does not relate to how much milk the baby drinks directly, since there are also other factors, such as their weight.
And speaking of weight, this is also another factor that indicates whether the baby is breastfeeding him or not. When the baby is gaining weight properly, this is another sign that his feeding is being done correctly.
But pay attention, as it is very common for the baby to lose between 10% and 15% of its weight after birth. This weight is recovered within the first 15 days of life and it is from that period that the weight gain must be taken into account to know if the baby is breastfeeding or not.
Negative Signs
Some of the negative signs are exactly the opposite of what we mentioned above, that is, if the baby pee a little or does not gain enough weight. In addition to these two, another clear sign that the baby is not breastfeeding enough is when he is not satisfied .
When the baby has had enough breastfeeding, he tends to let go of the mother’s breast and fall asleep quickly, but when that doesn’t happen, he usually gets irritated, crying a lot and has trouble sleeping. Pay attention to these signs to make sure your baby is breastfeeding or not.
When to seek help?
A woman should seek professional help when she realizes that she is being affected in some way or that her baby is being affected by the lack of milk production. In such cases, a doctor can indicate which is the best alternative , which may vary for each case.
The most important thing is that you solve this problem and do not interrupt the breastfeeding of your child, as this is an important process not only for your feeding, but for the affectionate relationship that is created between mother and child at that moment.
Main Problems with Breastfeeding
Problems with breastfeeding are not uncommon, but they must be treated seriously so that this does not create problems for the baby’s feeding. So we separate what are the main problems with breastfeeding and show what are the best ways to solve them. Some of the main problems are:
- Incorrect handle
- Stress
- Stoned milk
Incorrect handle
The incorrect handle directly interferes with the production of breast milk and can also cause several discomforts for the mother, such as pain in her breasts and cracked nipples. The baby should place the entire nipple in his mouth , bringing the nipple closer to his throat.
When he takes it only with the tip of his mouth, it causes the milk to come out of the mother’s breasts in the wrong way, since the correct glands are not being stimulated. This changes milk production, baby feeding and also the mother’s health.
Stress
Stress is another factor that directly influences breastfeeding. A woman who is not up to date on her mental health may end up letting this reflect on her breast milk production, which causes other types of problems for her, in addition to obviously causing several problems for the baby.
Stoned Milk
Sore, very red and hard breasts may indicate that the milk is stony. This is also a common problem and can be solved in several ways. It usually happens because your body is producing too much milk and does not necessarily mean that your baby is not breastfeeding enough.
Some of the alternatives to solve this problem can be the storage of your milk in bottles, massages on site, cold water compresses to relieve pain or even a natural milking, where you take your milk to pour it somewhere.
How to Stimulate Milk Production?
There are some tips that can be given to increase your milk production and you do not need to use any alternative method to feed your baby. Some of these tips are:
- Breastfeed right after delivery
- Always be rested
- The more you breastfeed, the more your body is influenced to produce milk
- Change breasts only when the first one is empty
- Drink lots of water
These small attitudes can make a big difference when your baby is eating, gaining weight and growing in a healthy way.
Breastfeeding does not just mean feeding your baby, it is also a time of extreme connection between the mother and her child. A moment of affection and affection that needs to be valued and taken seriously by everyone.
The question “is my breast milk enough? ”It tends to appear in many mothers and, as we mentioned earlier, the answer to that will be in the way you relate to your baby , your health conditions and his health conditions too.
Always keep in mind that you also need to be well in order for your baby to have a good life and a good diet. This is how a new life is being built, with the care of the mother and the necessary affection for him to grow well.
See also: Why is breast milk so important?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
