How do I know if my baby is getting enough breast milk?
As a first time mum, I've read books on breast feeding and I am finding I am not experiencing some of the things they talk about. I haven't had any troubles getting baby onto breast and I know that she is getting some milk from my breasts. I just don't know if she's getting enough and I don't know how to tell.
Some facts:
1) My breasts are not and never have been engorged, which I expected to happen. I feel comfortable all the time.
2) I don't feel any let down reflex
3) My current routine is to begin feeding from one side (which can last anywhere between 10 to 25 mins). Sometimes I notice I still have milk easily flowing when she's finished, whereas other times milk doesn't flow. Then I change her nappy and put her on the other breast (where again she can feed anywhere between 10 to 25 mins despite how long she took on the first breast). So at some feeds she spends a total of 10 + 10 feeding. Whereas another time it might be 25 + 15
4) I seem to do 6 feeds a day and at each nappy change she has pooed and most changes there is wee as well.
Any ideas on whether I should change my routine or how to tell if I am draining the breast/s or if she's getting enough would be great!
Sounds like Maya's doing great!
It is so hard to tell, isn't it? I used to wonder if Natty was getting enough too, but after I while I just stopped worrying. As Feeb said, if she is gaining weight (even slowly) and weeing then she's getting enough.
IRT the letdown, I didn't feel mine until Natty was a couple of months old. And I didn't feel it every time either.
You're doing awesomely.
Congrats on your new baby! What a beautiful name she has.
I didn't feel letdown until my DS was 11 weeks old. And I was only engorged when he started to sleep through the night. What have her weight gains been like?
Everything sounds perfect to me.
Not everyone feels let down, or gets engorged.
As long as she's settled after each feed & has wet & dirty nappies all sounds good.
Congrats!!
A couple of things hun. Firstly, what do you mean by 6 feeds in a day? Is that in 24 hours, or do you do night feeds as well as 6 during the day? Because 6 feeds in 24 hours is not a lot. Newborns usually need 8 - 12 feeds in 24 hours. Some do manage on 6, but it is not common. Also, you are best off feeding from the same side until it seems empty. Often babies only take one side per feed. It is fine to offer the second side, in fact you should offer the second side, but make sure she's finished the first side first.
Otherwise the things you are talking about sound normal. Wet nappies are the best sign of enough milk. How many wet nappies would she have in 24 hours - and are they cloth or disposable? IF there are plenty of wet and dirty nappies then I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Maya hasn't been weighed since I left hospital last Tuesday so I have no idea if she is putting on weight or not. I'm still waiting to be contacted by the child health nurse! Knowing she's putting on weight would probably help me to relax about feeds.
MantaRay - I have been doing a total of 6 feeds in 24 hours.. but yesterday she had 7 feeds, so maybe it is ramping up now? I don't know how to tell if my breast feels empty. Is there a way to tell? At the moment I feed her on one side until she won't take it any more and then swap to the other side after a nappy change. I'm not sure how many wet nappies in total because she tends to wee when I have her nappy off! At least 6 wees and poos a day though.
hi there my breasts were never/are never engorged, however I do feel let down in one breast, strange I know and notthe other! You can express to see how much you produce per feed but its not really necessary or accurate, I have more than one let down per fed so if I only expressed for one let down I wouldnt get much at all, like Feeb says. Newborns should be feeding at least 8 feeds a day if possible, 6 feeds is not enough really for newborn, although when newborn they do mostly sleep, if you find her sleeping more than feeding she maybe conserving her energies cause she needs more food? its so hard to tell though if the baby is happy with the amount of feeds per day or sleeping due to not enough food, are you demand feeding? Like the girls say if your bubs is weeing and pooing each feed she sounds like shes doing great, I would just try and get an extra 2 feeds in per day it would also benefit your supply too. The best way to describe if the breast feels empty it feels light and floppy hope that helps!
Itsme, if she is feeding until she doesn't want anymore, that's fine. She's probably emptying it. I would say it all sounds good. But as I say, 6 feeds in 24 hours is on the low side, so if she starts to feed more often, go with it and don't worry. Also, if there is any problem with weight gain, feeding more often should be all you need to do. It is quite possible the MCHN might tell you to give formula, but definitely try and bf more often before you do that.
I am not sure how it works in Melbourne, but here we have to contact the MCHN. You can also get her weighed at any Child Health Centre without an appointment, just drop in, and at most pharmacies. THe pharmacies have a child health nurse there once a week who'll do a check and weigh for you, but they usually have scales set up so you can weigh bub yourself at any time.
In Melbourne the hospital passes your details to the MCHN, who then contacts you to arrange a home visit.
It might be worth calling the MCHN yourself in case the info didn't get passed on.
You can always take her back to hospital for a weigh if you are concerned - though it sounds like all is well.
Thanks for all the advice. I finally had a MCHN come today and they weighed Maya and she's not put on much weight at all. So they've advised the same thing as you guys, that I need to up the feeds during the day. I've found that she's naturally started wanting more feeds anyway, whereas she seemed to just want to sleep a lot more before. Yesterday she had 8 feeds in 24 hours. So I'll continue with at least 8 feeds in a 24 hour period and hopefully at her next weigh (next Tuesday) she'll have gained more weight!
I just wanted to say thanks again for all the advice! And also to let you know that DD was weighed today and had a healthy weight gain! So the extra feeds are definitely working.
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How do I know if my baby is getting enough breast milk?
So they've advised the same thing as you guys, that I need to up the feeds during the day. I've found that she's naturally started wanting more feeds anyway, whereas she seemed to just want to sleep a lot more before. Yesterday she had 8 feeds in 24 hours. So I'll continue with at least 8 feeds in a 24 hour period and hopefully at her next weigh (next Tuesday) she'll have gained more weight!
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