Most mothers are able to make plenty of milk for their baby or babies.
But one of the most common reasons for ceasing breastfeeding during the first 6 months is a concern about breastmilk supply.
This concern may be one reason why the practice of providing expressed breastmilk (EBM) to babies instead of breastfeeding directly has increased.
It’s important to know the right signs that indicate your baby is getting enough breastmilk.
You can read BellyBelly’s 3 Reliable Signs That Your Baby Is Getting Enough Milk and 5 Unreliable Signs That Your Baby Is Getting Enough Milk to find out more.
From time to time, various devices hit the market which play on breastfeeding mothers’ emotions and claim to have a solution for their concerns about how much breastmilk their babies are getting.
The latest gimmick is Momsense. This device claims to measure how much breastmilk a baby drinks at a breastfeed by using sensors attached to the baby and an app to record each feeding session.
Concerns About New Breastfeeding Device
Despite being advertised as a ‘must have’ for all breastfeeding mothers, this device has the potential to cause more problems than it solves. Here are 3 concerns about this device:
#1: Reduces A Mother’s Confidence
Advertising messages which create feelings of fear and inadequacy need to be handled cautiously.
Use of this device may make some breastfeeding mothers feel like they need to rely on it to ensure their baby is drinking enough at each breastfeed.
Some mothers may feel confused, stressed and anxious if their baby doesn’t drink as much as they think should be taken.
All this compromises a mother’s confidence in her ability to make enough milk for her baby.
#2: Reduces Interaction Between A Mother And Her Baby
Breastfeeding is so much more than just about the milk and nutrition. It’s also a time of loving interaction between a mother and her baby.
This closeness provides the opportunity for loving gazes, touch and bonding.
Such loving interaction may be reduced in favour of focusing on a device and making sure it is working correctly.
#3: Babies Drink Varying Volumes At Each Breastfeed
Babies drink different volumes at each breastfeed, depending on many factors. A device that sets a standard for each feed can’t take these factors into consideration.
A mother using this device might become concerned about her milk supply if her baby drinks a smaller volume of breastmilk.
It may be a completely normal feed volume for her baby at that particular time but her confidence is lowered.
Breastfeeding is a learned skill and can take some time to get the hang of. If you have concerns about breastfeeding, you can seek help from the Australian Breastfeeding Association, La Leche League or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
