Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?

If you are thinking about breastfeeding your baby - or even breastfeeding twins - one common concern you might have is "Will I produce enough milk for my baby?" Many breastfeeding mothers feel concerned because you cannot see how much your baby is eating. I often joke that I wish my breasts came with ounces markers on the sides so that I can see how much is going into my baby. Many of these concerns fade with time because you can see that your baby is growing nice and chubby, but in the beginning it's hard to know if your baby is getting enough. Here are some tips that will help ease your mind.

First, let me dispel a myth. Many women think that they should pump to see how much their baby is eating. While you might have a measure of how much your breasts produce when you pump, most babies are more efficient at getting milk out of you than a pump. Some women don't even have a letdown when they pump because their bodies recognize that it's not a sweet little baby that is sucking, but a loud and hard piece of equipment that is drawing the milk out.

A better way to find out how much your baby is actually getting is to do a before and after feeding weight check. Find a local lactation consultant who has a digital scale. Then, weigh your baby to find her starting weight. Be sure not to change your baby's diaper or clothes because even taking off your baby's socks can skew the results. Next, feed your baby as you normally would. When she is done eating, weigh her again. Subtract the starting weight from the ending weight. The resulting number is the amount of ounces your baby ate. For example, if your baby weighed 10 pounds, 5.5 ounces to start and after eating, she weighed 10 pounds 8.9 ounces, that means she ate 3.4 ounces of breastmilk.

That may not sound like a lot, but if your baby eats six times a day, he is getting enough to thrive on. A baby who is bottle-fed might eat fewer times per day because he eats six or even eight ounces at a time. Many babies who are breastfed eat smaller amounts and are satisfied because their tummies are not stretched out and therefore they are filled by less milk. Try not to compare what your baby is eating to what another baby eats. None of my three children ate more than four ounces at a time when I would weigh them while feeding them. I knew other moms, though, whose babies ate seven ounces in one feeding. Rest assured - even if your body doesn't make seven ounces at a time for your baby to eat, he will get enough if you are willing to feed him as often as he gets hungry.

Many times, a woman who thought she had supply issues will find that her body is making plenty of milk for her baby after she visits with a lactation consultant and sees exactly how much her little one is eating. The weight check is not the "end-all" test to see if your baby is getting enough, however. You should also count the number of wet and dirty diapers she has per day. A brand new baby will have at least four to six wet diapers a day and have several poopy diapers. It is normal for breastfed babies to go several days without a poopy diaper, but they will still have at least four to six wet diapers each day. Also, a new baby will gain four to seven ounces a week. If your baby has a good latch and nurses effectively (check with a lactation consultant to be sure) and you still find that he isn't gaining enough, there are some tricks you can try to increase your supply.

First, once your milk comes in, your body produces milk based on a supply and demand issue. If you want to increase your supply, nurse your baby more often. You could have what some people call a "nurse-in." Set aside two or three days and concentrate on nothing but nursing your baby. Cuddle and nurse him whenever he seems like he might want to - at least every two hours. Drink lots of water and eat plenty of food. Relax and enjoy your baby. The extra nursing should trigger your body to make more milk. If a nurse-in isn't possible, try pumping between feedings. It's the same concept - you are telling your body that what it's producing isn't enough.

Although nursing or pumping more often is generally the best way to increase your supply, there are also some natural supplements you can take that can help. Fenugreek is an herb that has been clinically proven to increase a woman's milk supply. You should take six to eight pills a day. You'll know you're taking enough when your sweat and urine smell like maple syrup. Most women usually notice an increase in milk production in a few days, but it can take a week or more. You can also eat oatmeal to help increase milk production. Eating a bowl a day has been shown to increase milk supply. Another natural remedy is called "Mother's Milk Tea." It is available through the Internet or in some stores that carry natural herbal supplements. You can drink three to four cups a day. These are the most highly recommended natural supplements, but there are other herbs that you can try if those don't work. Just go to www.kellymom.com and do a search on increasing your milk supply.

If after trying everything, you are not having success at increasing your milk production, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for Reglan or another drug that helps boost your milk production. These are not commonly prescribed because some of the drug will pass through your milk into your baby, and though they are probably safe for your baby, it's better to try the natural supplements first.

Most of the time when women feel that they are not producing enough milk for their baby, they will find that everything is actually ok. On the rare occasion that there is an issue with your milk supply, rest assured that there are many things you can do to help. In the end, however, it's important to remember that no matter how your baby is fed - breast or bottle - she will be fine as long as you give her what she needs the most, your love.