Most mums wonder at some point if their baby is getting enough milk.
Well as long as your baby is awake and alert before a feed, then takes the feed well, settles in between feeds and has plenty of wet and dirty nappies, he probably is getting enough milk. Obviously there are exceptions.
For some reason, most breastfed babies tend to feed more in the evenings and weight gain will vary. Generally, breastfed babies put on weight a bit more slowly than those fed on formula. In fact, it was only fairly recently that the government weight charts changed to reflect the difference in weight gain between breastfed and formula-fed babies. Some weeks your baby might not put much weight on at all, perhaps only a few ounces whereas other weeks baby might put on a pound!
After a feed is finished your boob should feel soft and relaxed. Most babies feed from one side at a time and it's very important to finish one breast before changing over to the second. This is because, a breastfeed is made up of two types of milk. The first part of the feed is usually referred to as foremilk and is watery so it quenches your babies thirst. The second is sometimes referred to as hindmilk and contains most of the calories to satisfy your baby. If you switched over to the second breast too early, your baby could drink too much foremilk ,get full up too quickly yet still seem unsatisfied.
Let your baby feed on demand, for however long he wants and he will eventually settle into a pattern of sorts. Every few weeks, you'll probably find that your baby needs more feeds than usual. This doesn't mean that your milk supply has run out, but it does mean that your baby is probably going through a growth spurt. What you need to do is feed more often, whenever the baby demands and within 24-48 hours everything should settle back down and you will be producing enough milk to cope with your babies growing needs.
Breastfeeding is all about supply and demand and your breasts know how much to produce from the amount the baby suckles!
Dr. Penny Stanway
June 2009
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