When breast feeding how do I know if my baby is getting any milk?
Query by qpr26: When breast feeding how do I know if my baby is gaining any milk?
This is my very first baby and breast feeding is all new to me. My son is 3 days old but I’m not positive if my milk is gaining to him. Can any person give me some suggestions?
Best solution:
Solution by chickenfarmer
The male avatar threw me for minute……if you have let down and your child is possessing various wet/poopy diapers a day, he is finding milk.
Know far better? Leave your own solution in the comments!
August 23rd, 2011 at 7:45 am
Is he having plenty of wet and dirty nappies? If so, he’s eating enough
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:06 am
It takes a few days for your milk to ‘come in’ so he’s probably only getting a clear liquid (which is good for him). If you aren’t sure about your milk – pull away from the baby and check to see if there’s any milk on your nipple or check to see if there’s any milk in his mouth. If there is, fine – if not, then you may have to use a pump and then go back to nursing again.
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:07 am
your milk probably hasn’t even come in yet. you’ll know when that happens! it will be quite painful.
but when your baby gets full, he’ll release himself from the breast. thats how you know he is getting enough to eat.
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:24 am
It is very common to worry about having too little milk. And in a sense all moms do from time to time. As your baby grows, he will require more food.
My midwife’s advice is to pick two days and feed your baby every second hour around the clock. This will help the milk supply to adjust to the baby’s increased need.
But the truth is, if your baby gains weight as he should, you have enough milk. Check with your child’s doctor if you’re the least worried!
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:42 am
When I had my daughter, they had me count how many diapers she went through the first two weeks or so. The first few days, they don’t go through too many because they’re just starting to eat and poop. Where you are, at 3 days, it’s still going through your son’s system and you might not have seen too much of it yet. But if he’s wetting a few diapers a day and pooping every day, you’re good. Within a few days, it should seem almost endless – at least 8 a day, and 12 is not unreasonable.
August 23rd, 2011 at 9:22 am
I agree with chicken. The male avatar threw me off too. lol
I breastfed all 3 of my children and believe me your baby will know when it has had enough. Breast feeding for the first time will make a new mother worry if the baby is getting enough. Trust me. He is. If he seems content and quiet then that will let you know he has had enough. He will not want to suckle anymore if he is full. As long as you know your milk is coming down rest assured he is getting enough.
It usually takes a few days for the actual milk to come through right now he is getting colustrum.
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:16 am
my wife did the same thing with our son, we felt that he was getting enough milk and after noticing that his diapers were not wet we took him into the ER they hospitalized him for the night and got my wife a pump to use, so they could see if she was producing enough milk, turns our she was but our son having his dads weak jaw, and being tongue tied couldn’t get a good suck on the nipple.
My wife proceeded to pump for 8 months and has recently got him back over to the breast, using a nipple shield.
I wouldn’t get to worried unless
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:24 am
I breastfed exclussively for the first five months… then I stopped because it was too hard working full time and all…. but I found that when your breasts are softer after feedings… he’s getting it… if you hear him gluping…it’s a soft sound… but my son did ‘gulp’. they also do alot of fast sucks first… then a serious or longer sucks…. He was gulping during the longer sucks.
Dont be afraid to call the lactation nurse at the hospital you delievered your child at! She was my best friend and alot of support during the first few weeks. If you can’t seem to get ahold of someone let me know. I’ll give you my doctors number…. they don’t ask personal info… it’s a first name basis….. GOOD LUCK!
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:32 am
lots of poopy diapers along with lots of wet diapers is a sign they are eating. If you are BF I would reccomend getting a scale that reads ounces weight the baby before then after and you will know how much they are taking in. this is I feel a must for all bf moms because i did not know there was soemthing wrong till my son was looking thin and white. he was sucking but not getting what he needed. also that way you monitor their weigh gain so you know how they are doing and if they are getting what they need.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:19 am
If he is having wet dirty diapers i suppose.
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:17 pm
lot of wet and dirty nappies also breastfed babies can go on a weeks wiyhout doing a dirty nappy
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:39 pm
my midwife said to me to give my nipple a bit of a squeeze so i know milk is coming out before latching the baby on. maybe try this? but like everyone else says, if there’s dirty nappies i’d say its safe to assume he’s getting some milk.