Breastfeeding: Are you worried that your baby isn ’ t getting enough breast milk?

Nearly all nursing mothers worry at one time or another about whether their babies are getting enough milk. Since we can’t measure breast milk intake the way we can formula, it is easy to be insecure about your milk supply. The first thing to determine is whether your supply is really low or not. Know that it’s normal for your baby to lose some weight in the first couple of days after birth. Babies normally lose 5-7 % of their weight in the first couple of days as their bodies excrete the extra fluid (for the average baby, this is close to a half a pound weight loss). Some common concerns mothers have are if: The baby nurses often, or seems hungry soon after being fed. Remember it is normal for babies to feed often. They love being held close and have a strong need to suck. Also, breast milk is digested faster than formula, so nursing babies tend to eat more often. Nursing 10-12 times or more in 24 hours is not unusual. They compare their baby’s nursing patterns, weight gain, or sleep habits to another’s baby. Know that each baby is different; therefore their nursing patterns will be different. They worry about their baby’s growth spurts. Growth Spurts normally occur at around 10 days to 2 weeks, at 3 weeks, at 6 weeks, at 3 months, and again at 6 months. Your baby will nurse more frequently during this time. After nursing for a few days, your supply will increase to meet your baby’s demand. The baby spends less time at the breast  In the early weeks of nu...
Source: Cord Blood News - Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Tags: pregnancy breastfeeding Source Type: blogs