How to understand that a baby does not have enough breast milk and is not getting enough: signs

Mother's milk is the main and main source of beneficial elements entering the child's body. They are needed so that the baby develops and grows correctly. However, there are times when the baby does not get enough milk that is produced. If there is not enough breast milk for him, then maternal concern about the health of the growing child is justified.

To identify the real problem, you need a competent approach to assess the volume of milk consumed throughout the day. Now medicine can offer more than one method of restoring lactation.

Symptoms of malnutrition in infants

With proper attachment to the breast and proper latching of the nipple by the baby, postpartum lactation is established immediately.

The main signs by which you can determine that there is not enough milk:

The newborn does not gain weight well or even loses valuable grams. In this case, the pediatrician prescribes frequent weighing of the child. Normally, every month it should add up to 500 g.
When breastfeeding, the baby behaves restlessly and is nervous. He either drops the breast, then greedily begins to suck it again. In between sucking, crying and screaming appear. On the contrary, if there is enough milk, then the child himself stops eating, while he is happy and smiling.
Absence of swallowing movements or their reduction. When the baby receives enough milk, swallowing occurs after about four sucking movements.
After the last feeding, little time passes, and the baby again looks for the breast and asks to eat. Normally, a baby does not need milk for about three hours.
Changes in stool (its color becomes greenish, constipation may occur), the number of urinations decreases (less than 10 times). Urine becomes dark in color.
The child stops being active and asks to be held.
Short, restless sleep.
The baby may suck a finger or a corner of a blanket. At the same time he smacks his lips loudly.
Signs of dehydration may appear. When there is no milk at all, the baby experiences a lack of fluid (breast milk contains a lot of water).
There is no belching after feeding.

How long should the feeding be?

Unfortunately, specific recommendations cannot be given here.
The only thing that can be said is that a newborn and infant should eat until he is satisfied. For some, this time is 10 minutes, while for others, 45 may not be enough. Typically, feeding time decreases as the baby gets older. At the age of several months, most children suckle at the breast for no more than 10 minutes. It is important for the mother to care not about the duration of feeding, but about whether the child swallows or just sucks. If the swallows are long and deep, everything goes fine, and the baby, having had enough, will tear himself away from the breast or fall asleep

How much milk does a newborn eat at one feeding?

Every young mother strives to ensure that her baby develops properly and gets enough nutrition. Therefore, one of the problems that worries all women is whether their child is getting enough to eat and whether he has enough food.

The best option is if the baby is fed breast milk. In this case, he himself regulates the number of meals. If the mother feeds him on demand, then it is not at all necessary to calculate how much milk the newborn eats at one feeding. One time he may eat more, another time less. In addition, the nutritional value of breast milk depends on what foods a woman eats. The amount of food a baby needs at one feeding cannot be strictly regulated. It depends on the developmental characteristics of the child, his age and time of day.

How to understand that a child is not eating enough?

Pay attention to these signs:

He is restless, often cries and asks for the breast, and sucks for a long time.
Poor weight gain - gaining less than 100 grams per week.
Watch how your baby goes to the toilet. Normally, he should pee 6 to 15 times a day and poop 1-3 times. If it’s less, then he doesn’t have enough milk.

If a breastfed baby does not get enough to eat, do not rush to give him complementary foods, try to establish lactation and learn how to properly put your baby to the breast. Experts believe that when breastfeeding, it is not worth measuring exactly how many grams a newborn should eat per feeding. He will determine how long to suck. In this case, it is impossible to overfeed the child, and underfeeding is corrected by more frequent breastfeeding.

How much should a newborn eat at one feeding?

For the first 2-3 days, the baby hardly needs food. The few drops of colostrum that he sucked after birth are enough for him. This type of breast milk is very nutritious and provides everything the baby needs.

On the third day after birth, the mother begins to produce normal milk and the baby can suck up to 40 milliliters at a time. The amount of food that a child needs increases very quickly at first, increasing to 100 milliliters by the month.

If the baby is bottle-fed. then the mother needs to be more careful about how much the baby eats. The most important thing in this case is not to overfeed. If he does not eat enough, you will see right away: he will cry after feeding, constantly look for the pacifier with his lips, gain little weight and go to the toilet a little. And overfeeding can lead to obesity, metabolic disorders and digestive disorders

Therefore, it is important for mothers to know exactly how many grams are required for each feeding of newborns. In order to calculate this, several factors are taken into account: the child’s age, his weight and developmental characteristics

Most often, milk volume calculations are made depending on age.

How to calculate how many grams a child needs for one meal?

To determine how much food you need in the first 10 days of life, you need to multiply the number of days by 10. It turns out that on the fifth day the baby should eat 50 milliliters at a time, on the sixth day - 60, and so on.

You can calculate the daily feeding volume depending on the baby's weight. Children who weighed less than 3200 grams at birth should eat milk per day according to the formula: the number of days multiplied by 70. For example, on the fifth day such a baby should receive 350 milliliters of milk per day. For children with higher body weight, the number of days should be multiplied by 80.

If a mother knows how much a newborn baby should eat at one feeding, she will not be nervous and worry that the baby is not full. You need to monitor the baby’s condition and mood, and the amount of milk is a very individual concept; you don’t need to strictly follow these rules and force the baby to eat if he doesn’t want to or take the bottle away if he hasn’t had enough yet.

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Be careful: false symptoms

My dear readers, the experience of feeding comes only with time, because each female body is individual, so you should not listen to mothers and girlfriends - they have their own story. Below for you I have collected the following signs that are not criteria for milk deficiency:

There is no feeling of fullness in the chest. This is a very individual sign. Breast size is also not an indicator. Even the smallest size zero breasts are capable of producing milk in the required quantity. The mammary glands can become significantly softer after the first month of lactation and fill only at the time of feeding, and not before. If a newborn does not take the breast, freaks out and cries, then first of all, illness, stress and too active introduction of complementary foods should be excluded.

It is also worth paying attention to whether there are any stagnations or compactions. The milk should splash freely when pressed. Baby cries after feeding

The cause may be an accumulation of gases, causing colic and abdominal pain. (Colic in a newborn: causes, and how to deal with it?) Feeding occurs too quickly or for a long time. Let me remind you that all children are different. If a newborn constantly asks for the breast, this does not always mean that he is hungry - the baby may be seeking tactile contact, which he desperately needs in the first months of life. For the same reason, the baby cries if he is placed in the crib immediately after feeding. The baby willingly takes the bottle after the breast. Milk is expressed in very small quantities. The best breast pump is significantly inferior in efficiency to a hungry baby, so the volume of what is expressed cannot be an evaluation criterion.

Why does a baby not get enough breast milk?

The probable reasons for a baby not receiving breast milk can be divided into 3 groups:

behavioral;
physiological (determined by the condition of the baby and mother);
are common.

Behavioral reasons:

a woman’s psychological unpreparedness for breastfeeding;
violation of feeding techniques and rules (uncomfortable position of the child);
irrational (irregular and poorly balanced) maternal nutrition;
consumption of spices and other products that cause an unusual taste in milk;
insufficient stay of the mother in the fresh air;
physical inactivity (low physical activity).

Some mothers develop postpartum depression, the manifestations of which are decreased lactation and a peculiar rejection of the feeding process itself. In such cases, the help of an experienced psychotherapist is often required.

Physiological factors that complicate the process of sucking and assimilation of milk:

microtrauma of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity;
nasal congestion;
problems with the gastrointestinal tract (including abdominal cramps).

Please note: if a child has a significant body weight at birth (over 4 kg), then due to insufficient breast milk production, malnutrition is quite possible. With excessive pumping, hyperlactation often occurs, i.e.

e. excessive milk production. Its excess can also cause the baby not to get enough

With excessive pumping, hyperlactation often occurs, i.e. excessive milk production. Its excess can also cause the baby not to get enough.

Important: the daily intake of breast milk is a rather arbitrary concept. The optimal volume depends on a number of individual characteristics

On average, a one-month-old baby consumes 500-600 ml per day.

It is known that breast milk consists of fore milk (liquid, replacing the baby’s water) and hind milk (thicker and rich in nutrients). Normally, the glands synthesize as much milk as the baby needs at a certain stage of development. With frequent pumping, its total volume increases, but the baby consumes more foremilk at each feeding. His stomach fills with liquid, and rapid physiological saturation occurs, but the baby receives few nutrients. Thus, the child essentially remains hungry.

Important: if the baby’s body is weakened, the baby may fall asleep while sucking, and this also leads to constant malnutrition. The baby may not be able to get enough breast milk due to improper latching on the breast due to the anatomical features of the structure of the mother’s nipples (flat shape)

A common and very serious problem is often cracked nipples, which make the feeding process painful for a woman, and lactostasis (congestion in the mammary glands)

The baby may not be able to get enough breast milk due to improper latching on the breast due to the anatomical features of the structure of the mother’s nipples (flat shape). A common and very serious problem is often cracked nipples, which make the feeding process painful for a woman, and lactostasis (congestion in the mammary glands).

Lactation is negatively affected by lack of sleep and chronic fatigue. In some cases, a decrease in milk production is due to serious hormonal imbalances.

Common reasons include an unfavorable family environment, i.e. a negative psycho-emotional background. There are often cases when other family members are not ready to change their lifestyle with the arrival of the baby, and do not provide the young mother with proper support. Important negative factors are also the improper organization of the place where the child is fed, and insufficient rest for the mother (against this background, a decrease in lactation is possible).

Causes of malnutrition

Often the baby does not get enough breast milk if feeding is not organized correctly. Common mistakes:

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A sudden switch to feeding by the hour can lead to a decrease in lactation. Milk production increases when your baby eats. During the first weeks, you need to put the newborn to the breast as needed - about once every three hours. Gradually you can get used to the feeding regime;
Limiting feeding time. How can you tell if your baby is full? The child will feel full on a reflex level and will refuse the breast. If the milk runs out and the baby is not full, he throws the nipple, tries again, and shows dissatisfaction. In this case, you need to give him a second breast;
The baby is not latched to the breast correctly. It should completely cover the nipple and areola;
Uncomfortable position of the baby during feeding. The back of the head, neck and back should form a straight line. The baby easily grasps the nipple, he does not have to turn his head or stretch. You need to choose several positions that are comfortable for mother and child, change them, and, if necessary, use a special pillow for feeding;
Refusal of night application. It is necessary to wake the child at night, gradually reducing the number of feedings. This will avoid long breaks in breast release and stimulate milk production;
The child is given pacifiers and bottles with a nipple. They differ in shape, because of the child’s getting used to it, it is difficult to latch on to the breast, he refuses it, is capricious, and demands a pacifier;
Expressing large amounts of milk can cause your milk supply to increase. The baby drinks the usual amount, but does not have time to reach the hindmilk, which is richer in fat. Due to the low nutritional value, food is quickly processed by the body, and the child feels hungry;
Using silicone breastfeeding pads. They prevent the baby from latching onto the nipple correctly, make sucking more difficult, and the amount of milk swallowed decreases. It is allowed to use overlays for cracked nipples until they heal;
Due to the fact that milk is produced 2-3 days after birth, many babies are given formula. It is better to wait and feed the baby with colostrum, which stimulates the rapid appearance of milk;
The child is malnourished due to indigestion and general malaise. A runny nose interferes with normal sucking: due to lack of air, the baby has to give up the nipple. A child may refuse to breastfeed due to diseases of the oral cavity, stomatitis, thrush, which cause discomfort while eating;
Sometimes babies fall asleep during feeding and do not suck enough milk. You need to monitor swallowing and wake the child if necessary. A proven method is to wash the baby before eating; sometimes feeding him naked at a comfortable room temperature helps.

How can you tell if your baby is getting enough breast milk? 9 signs that your baby is full

The question of how to understand that a child is full of breast milk is not difficult and every loving mother will be able to determine this. Next, we will talk about how you can determine whether your baby is full.

A loving mother does everything to breastfeed her baby at least for a moment, because her milk contains everything necessary for the full growth and development of the baby. Breastfeeding mothers wonder if her baby is getting enough to eat, and how to tell if not.

Is your baby getting enough to eat?

Often mothers are faced with a situation where, during the postpartum period, their breasts do not produce enough milk for feeding. If you establish this process, then in a couple of days lactation will return to normal. And it needs to be established immediately after the baby is born, because then it may simply be too late.

Women who are breastfeeding are familiar with having to wake up several times during the night to feed their baby. Some people think that their baby is always hungry, however, this is not the case. After all, the milk that the baby sucks takes several hours to process.

9 signs by which you can judge that your child is full:

Soft breasts; The baby's skin is elastic and has a normal color; Emptying the breast; The baby looks happy; If you pinch the skin, it will pull back; The baby urinates at least six times; Baby's stool is dark or yellow; During the feeding period, you can hear the baby eating; The baby is gaining weight. The pediatrician should tell you about this.

It must be remembered that each child develops individually and grows differently; it makes no sense to compare them. For your information, small children can poop up to twelve times a day. But the norm is for the baby to poop once a day.

Periodically you need to monitor the baby’s weight curve and behavior. If your baby is alert, wets his diapers, or has loose stools when he's awake, you have no reason to worry.

How to tell if your baby is not getting enough to eat

It’s not difficult to identify that your baby is hungry, here are the obvious signs

Restless sleep;
Low activity;
Thumb sucking, chewing your things;
A cry that speaks of hunger;
Smacking;
Slight weight gain;
Braking;
Dry skin;
Strong reaction to mom's approach;

To prevent your child from going hungry, you need to follow the recommendations.

Mom needs proper sleep and rest;
You need to adjust your diet;
Walk in clean air, avoiding roads;
Knead your chest;
Use a feeding pillow;
Drink plenty of fluids;
Feed the baby at night unless he asks;
Use a nursing bra;
Avoid foods that change the taste of milk;
Ask loved ones for help;
Do not refuse the baby;
Learn how to attach your baby correctly;
Wash your breasts;
Drink teas that increase lactation;
Supplement the baby with expressed milk;
Develop a feeding regimen;
Do not use pacifiers; it is better to replace them with a spoon or pipette;
Lubricate cracks on the chest with creams.

Causes of milk shortage

There may be several reasons why a child remains hungry:

A poorly chosen place for feeding, for example, if the baby has to be distracted while eating;
Excess milk;
Family situation, frequent scandals and screams;
Oral diseases;
Unbalanced diet of the mother;
Colic. distracting the child;
Taste of milk;
Cracked nipples;
Insufficient nutrition of the mother;
Medical conditions, such as a flat nipple that is difficult for the baby to latch on to;
Uncomfortable position;
Mother's unpreparedness.

Breast milk is divided into two types: fore and hind. If we talk about the second type, then it is more satisfying and fattier. Foremilk acts as water. The breast provides as much fluid as the baby needs, according to age. If your baby eats foremilk, he may remain hungry.

How much to feed the baby

But every child is unique and there is no standard children's axiom indicating how much to feed a newborn.

Very often, when breastfeeding, children regain their weight, which, as a rule, they lost in the first days after birth (and this is normal), during the first two weeks after the hospital.

For other children, which is less common, it may take three to four weeks. If this happens to your child, ask your doctor to check that there is no abnormality, just a slow recovery.

But don’t rush to switch to bottle feeding, it’s better to be patient a little, because no bottles can replace mother’s milk for a baby.

How can you understand that a child is full? If your milk flows well, the baby sucks intensely at the beginning of feeding and becomes a little lethargic towards the end, and then falls asleep altogether, you have no reason to worry.

How can you tell if you have enough milk?

How can you tell if your baby is full of breast milk? Some signs will help here. There are 5 of them in total:

The number of feedings per day is 8-12. There may be more of them, this will also be the norm. Frequent latching is explained by three factors:
his small stomach is simply not able to accommodate a lot of food;
rapid digestion of breast milk.
The duration of one feeding is at least 20 minutes. You should not determine the duration of food intake - the baby should suckle until he is full. If he stops eating and behaves calmly, babbles cheerfully or sleeps peacefully, it means he has had enough milk. Make sure that the feeding position (both yours and the baby’s) does not cause discomfort.
A clearly visible swallowing reflex. Make sure your baby doesn't just smack, but swallows. At first he will do this often because he is hungry, and the so-called near milk is thin and not very nutritious. After a few minutes, swallowing will become less frequent, as hunger will dull, and distant milk is thicker, you need to make an effort to swallow it.
The child gains weight according to the norms (we recommend reading: what to do if the child gains little weight while breastfeeding?). In the first days, the baby's weight will become less than what it was at birth. This is normal, since the body gets rid of meconium (original feces formed in the womb) and tissue swelling. Weight gain begins to be monitored from the fourth day of life - the increase should be 125-215 g per week.
The child looks healthy. He is calm, but at the same time he is active and curious; animated, but not overexcited. When he wants to eat, his chest demands loudly; when he is full, he sleeps peacefully or is awake. The pink color of the skin and its elasticity will also indicate that the baby is receiving adequate nutrition in sufficient quantities.

It will take very little time to track the listed signs. If you have doubts, you can use measuring the amount of urine and feces.

How to deal with the problem?

Measures to eliminate the resulting lack of nutrients in the baby are divided into three large groups: creating the right conditions, recommendations for the mother, manipulations with the baby. By combining all types of prescriptions and doctor’s advice, the mother will be able to achieve the most natural return of milk volume. In case of severe pathologies, targeted treatment is carried out.

Creating conditions for feeding

When there are signs that the baby is not getting enough breast milk, all the minor nuances of the feeding procedure become of great importance. In the first place is the correct attachment to the breast, thanks to which the baby will be able to receive a large amount of milk with the least effort. During feeding, it is recommended to practice a variety of positions, which will allow you to suck milk from different parts of the gland and empty it completely.

Two important aspects in natural feeding are the mode and duration. Now doctors adhere to the only tactic, strongly recommending that mothers feed their infants on demand, without interrupting the act until the baby releases the breast.

Recommendations for mom

Depending on the reason that led to the child not eating enough, the following measures are taken to combat the problem:

normalization of work and rest regimes;
long walks in the fresh air;
conducting periodic massage of the mammary glands;
the use of special structures to correct the shape of the nipple;
normalization of nutrition in compliance with all medical recommendations;
plenty of warm drinks a quarter of an hour before feeding;
drinking teas to enhance lactation.

Most often, the reason why a child does not eat enough is a decrease in the amount of milk. Women tend to panic, fearing that it will disappear completely. Being in a stressful state will only aggravate the problem, so the young mother should be calm and follow the doctor’s instructions to normalize lactation.

Eliminating the problem from the baby's side

If the baby does not eat enough due to problems with his own body, then he should immediately be shown to the local pediatrician to identify the reliable cause of this condition. To do this, consultations are held with an ENT specialist and an endocrinologist, ultrasound diagnostics of the gastrointestinal tract and other examinations are performed. Once the disease is identified, targeted treatment is carried out. A prerequisite for normalizing nutrition in an infant is the refusal of a pacifier.

If the baby falls asleep during the act of feeding, then he should be carefully woken up. To quickly restore weight, it is recommended to supplement with expressed milk or an adapted formula. If the child does not eat enough of the formula, then we can confidently say that there is insufficient absorption of nutrients, which is why weight loss occurs.

Solving the problem of increasing lactation

First of all, don't panic. If you understand that you cannot solve the problem on your own, then you should contact a specialist mammologist or neonatologist.

It is necessary to take care of the proper nutrition of the nursing mother and an adequate daily routine. Only if a nursing woman receives all the necessary substances with food will the baby be able to receive full-fledged milk. Meals should be at least four times a day, and you should try to vary the dishes. Your daily diet should include lean meats, fish, fresh vegetables and fruits. Kefir, fermented baked milk, and cottage cheese will help increase the amount of milk. You need to avoid unhealthy sweets and fried foods.

Often, the amount of milk secreted by the mammary glands is directly proportional to the amount of fluid consumed. To increase the volume of lactation, it is enough to drink more tea, fruit drink, and mineral water. You should not overuse juices. They contain a very high concentration of active substances and vitamins, which can cause an allergic reaction in a child.

If the baby does not finish eating, then you can supplement him with expressed breast milk. This should be done using a pipette or spoon, avoiding pacifiers. Since after the baby begins to suck the nipples, he very quickly refuses to take his mother’s breast.

Don't neglect walks in the fresh air. They have a very beneficial effect on the emotional state of both mother and child. In addition, the baby receives the sunbathing he needs and an additional portion of oxygen.

It is very important to take nap breaks. When the baby falls asleep after a lunch walk, the mother is recommended to lie down next to him

This will help restore strength to both. For the same purpose, you should not be embarrassed to ask your family and friends for help. In most cases, they will be happy to babysit.

It is important to maintain hygiene. Before and after each feeding, the breasts should be thoroughly washed with warm soapy water to prevent the proliferation of pathogenic microflora

You can add chamomile or sage there. Constantly monitor the condition of the nipples, prevent the formation of cracks, as they cause pain to the mother during feeding, and do not allow the newborn to grasp the nipple correctly. You need to massage the mammary glands every day. This is a simple but very useful practice that allows you to increase lactation. The procedure is carried out only with warm hands, lubricated with a small amount of any moisturizer. One palm is placed under the chest, the other on top. Circular movements are performed for 7 - 10 minutes. This should be done calmly, without rushing anywhere.

Under no circumstances should milk stagnate. To do this, you need to express the remains after each feeding. It is better to use a special breast pump for these purposes, since when manually expressing it is very difficult to correctly calculate the force and you can damage the fragile milk ducts. If lactostasis does occur, then the very first remedy is to put the baby on the sore breast. This helps restore normal milk circulation.

You need to feed your newborn in a comfortable position, periodically changing not only the breast (right - left), but also the feeding position. This will help stimulate different areas of the breast.

You can increase lactation using special means. However, you should not do this without consulting a doctor. You can overdo it and cause hyperlactation, which in most cases leads to lactostasis.

If none of the proposed measures help, and the baby does not get enough breast milk, then it is necessary to consult a pediatrician and transfer the baby to supplementary formula feeding or to completely artificial feeding.

Read further:

Is the baby getting enough breast milk?

How much breast milk should a newborn baby consume?

How to breastfeed your baby correctly

Signs that your baby is not getting enough breast milk

There are a number of objective signs that a baby is receiving less breast milk than he needs. The vast majority of mothers are able to determine that the baby is hungry just by the nature of his cry.

In addition to crying when hungry, signs of malnutrition include:

decreased activity (mobility) of the baby;
somewhat inhibited reactions;
thumb and/or diaper edge sucking;
lip smacking movements;
problems falling asleep and restless sleep;
pronounced reaction to the mother’s approach (including her smell);
rare bowel and bladder emptying;
slow weight gain (or weight loss).

Defecation after each feeding is one of the main signs that the baby is getting enough food and it is being well absorbed by the body.

The most objective indicators can be considered weight gain and the “wet diaper test”.

Since breast milk is the main source of fluid for the baby, a lack of it can lead to some dehydration and reduced urine output. In order to determine how often urination occurs, you need to stop wearing diapers for a day. Normally, a baby can wet up to 20 or more diapers per day. If this happens less than 10-12 times a day, he may be malnourished.

Signs of baby dehydration:

constant drowsiness;
sunken eyes;
lack of shine in the eyes;
dryness of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity;
high viscosity (stringency) of saliva;
lack of tears when crying;
decreased skin turgor (i.e. sagging);
dry skin;
the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the child’s mouth;
urinating less than 6 times a day;
dark color and strong odor of urine.

Important: if 2 or more of the listed symptoms are combined, you must call an ambulance. If dehydration develops, qualified medical attention is required to avoid serious and life-threatening complications, including

including intravenous fluid administration.

Violation of diuresis (the process of passing urine), even in the absence of other symptoms, is a reason to contact a pediatrician. It is possible that there is low functional activity of the kidneys.

The minimum weight gain averages 125 g per week (0.5 kg per month). It must be taken into account that natural weight loss often occurs in the first 3-5 days. It can be up to 10%, and is not a sign of underfeeding. During 6-7 months of life, the baby can gain only 300 g per month, and then “spasmodic” i.e. uneven weight gain is possible.

Weight gain is determined during routine visits to the pediatrician. It is advisable to carry out control weighings at home from time to time for several days in a row.

How to Address the Root Causes of Malnutrition

It is possible to eliminate the problem of lack of milk and provide the child with the necessary amount of nutrition; for this you need to adhere to the following rules:

Do not let your baby suck on a pacifier;
Put the baby to the breast more often, and do not skip night and morning feedings.
During feedings, use skin-to-skin contact. This has a good effect on the baby’s nervous system and promotes the production of oxytocin (the hormone responsible for milk production) in the mother.
Do not supplement with formula or cow's milk.

If the child is very weak, or has chronic underweight, then it is necessary to consult a doctor so that he can select an appropriate diet, monitor weight gain and the condition of the baby as a whole.

Incorrect attachment of the baby to the breast

If breastfeeding is incorrect, the mother will develop cracks in her nipples and severe pain; the baby will feel very uncomfortable and become dissatisfied. The baby cannot fully latch onto the nipple and suckle at the breast, so he does not eat enough.

When putting your baby to your breast, you should adhere to the following rules:

The little one should touch his mother's belly with his tummy, his face should be turned towards the chest. Feeding in a sitting or lying position is not important.
The baby's head and torso should be positioned on the same line. The chin should touch the mother's breast.
Make sure that the baby himself grasps the nipple along with the areola.
The baby's lower lip should be slightly turned upward.
During feeding, the mother needs to be relaxed and fully concentrate on the baby.

Proper latching of the baby to the breast

Short frenulum of the tongue

If the doctor reveals that the child has a short frenulum of the tongue, then it will not be possible to solve this problem on your own, since this defect can only be corrected by specialists. As a rule, this can be determined immediately after birth. Everything is done surgically, when the frenulum is slightly trimmed. In the future, this procedure will allow the baby to eat food without problems.

How to increase lactation

In order for a mother to have a lot of milk, she needs to carefully monitor her diet and develop a certain regimen. Nursing menus should include:

Buckwheat and oatmeal porridge;
Fish, eggs, red meat;
Dairy products;
Vegetables (raw or cooked);
Nuts;
Honey;
Blackcurrant.

It is important that your food does not include mayonnaise, smoked meats, or dishes with a lot of spices. There are other ways to increase lactation

First, you should start with your drinking regime. A nursing mother needs to drink at least 2.5 liters of clean water per day. You can also drink green tea, compote, various juices, oatmeal, nut milk, fruit drinks

There are other ways to increase lactation. First, you should start with your drinking regime. A nursing mother needs to drink at least 2.5 liters of clean water per day. You can also drink green tea, compote, various juices, oatmeal broth, nut milk, and fruit drinks.

Among the folk methods, dill water is considered very useful. It will help increase lactation, and also relieve the baby from constipation and eliminate colic.

It happens that with the help of proper and balanced nutrition it is not possible to increase lactation, then it is worth trying pharmaceutical teas to increase lactation and vitamin complexes for nursing mothers. To increase lactation, you can also perform a special massage of the mammary glands and a contrast shower in the chest area.

Additional Information. If you cannot increase lactation using any of the methods described above, you should seek help from a lactation consultant.

Tea to stimulate lactation

What can you do to make sure your baby gets enough food?

To prevent your baby from going hungry, you need to strictly follow the recommendations developed by experienced pediatricians.

The mother needs to strictly balance her diet and eat foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins at least 3-5 times a day. You should exclude foods that can change the taste of milk (seasonings and spices), and also minimize the amount of fried and fatty foods

It is important to maintain a drinking regime, i.e.

consume at least 2 liters of liquid per day (it is advisable that half of this volume be pure water).

Important: smoking and drinking even small doses of alcohol during lactation are excluded!

A nursing woman needs to get enough sleep and rest; this will allow the body (in particular the nervous system) to fully recover. It is necessary to take walks in the fresh air more often, and you need to walk in green areas at a considerable distance from highways (to avoid inhaling exhaust gases).

Natural remedies that can stimulate the process of milk production (for example, decoctions of dill, cumin and fennel) can only be taken after consulting a doctor, since herbal remedies sometimes cause allergies in young children.

We recommend reading: How to increase lactation: foods and folk remedies to increase lactation

It is important to strictly adhere to the infant’s feeding regimen, but if he requires the breast more often, there is no need to refuse

Please note: until recently, it was believed that a baby should be latched to the breast strictly “clockwise” with a mandatory 6-hour break for nighttime sleep. Experts now say there is never “too much” breast milk.

If necessary, you can practice supplementing with pre-expressed milk from a bottle. The baby must be fed not only during the day, but also at night. Application at night (especially in the morning) stimulates the mammary glands to be highly active during the day. If a weak child sleeps a lot, then for the next feeding he needs to be woken up every 3 hours during the day and after 5 hours at night.

It is extremely important for a new mother to learn the correct feeding technique; even before giving birth, she needs to get an idea of exactly how to put the baby to the breast so that he eats normally and spits up less. There can be several comfortable positions when feeding, and it is advisable to alternate them

It is important to remember that the baby’s back, neck and back of the head should always form one straight line. The baby's mouth normally covers not only the nipple, but also the areola - in this case, air will not enter the digestive tract. With proper feeding, only quiet gulps are heard.

Please note: an accessory such as a special pillow will help make the feeding process easier. It allows you to give the baby’s body an optimal position and minimize the load on the woman’s back muscles and spine

Relatives and friends should be involved in child care whenever possible; otherwise, mom will not have time for proper rest. Active assistance from family members will also help create a prosperous psycho-emotional environment.

Regular self-massage of the mammary glands helps improve lactation (it is advisable to make circular movements clockwise). It prevents milk stagnation and the development of mastitis. The breasts should be washed regularly with warm water, and if cracked nipples appear, lubricate them with special softening and healing creams. For antiseptic treatment, it is recommended to use a solution of furatsilin or a decoction of chamomile flowers (2 tsp per 200 ml of water).

Much attention should be paid to organizing the place and other conditions for feeding. A quiet room with dim lighting and a comfortable chair will help create the optimal atmosphere.

It is very important that during meals the baby is not distracted by noise and light stimuli (including

working TV, etc.).

Naturally based sedatives - motherwort and valerian preparations - will help cope with postpartum depression. It is allowed to take only tablet forms, but not alcohol tinctures. Glycine is useful for stabilizing the nervous system.

What should a mother do?

If a child does not get enough breast milk, he begins to be capricious, irritable, and also grows poorly and lags behind in development. If you discover that your baby does not have enough food in the first month, do not be nervous, as nervousness will only worsen the situation.

By listening to the following advice from breastfeeding experts, you can improve lactation and properly organize your baby’s feeding:

Try to feed your baby on demand. With natural feeding, the mammary glands secrete the optimal amount of milk in response to the baby's stimulation of the nipples. That is, the child should eat whenever he wants.
How to understand that a child is full? A well-fed newborn will release the nipple on its own, which is why it is not recommended to interrupt food intake at your request.
Make sure you are applying the crumb correctly. Correct position: the mouth is open, the child should grasp both the papilla and the areola, only swallowing can be heard, there are no other sounds.
Set up a couple of comfortable feeding positions so you can alternate between them. The correct position is that the back of the child’s head, neck and back are located on a straight line. To prevent the baby from turning his head and reaching for the breast, the nipple should be close to his mouth.
Try feeding from one breast at a time so that your baby can get both the foremilk and the hind milk.
Don't be afraid to wake your baby to feed. During the day he should not sleep more than three hours in a row, at night - more than 5-6. Before eating, the baby can be washed with cool water or undressed to activate all processes.
Avoid bottles for at least the first month of your child’s life. It is better to give expressed milk using a spoon or pipette. This is necessary so that the baby does not get used to pacifiers.
Take a break while you have the opportunity - the child is sleeping, or relatives are babysitting him.
Review your diet to include more carbohydrates and protein foods. Avoid foods that may affect the flavor of the milk. It is also necessary to drink the required amount of warm liquid.
If there are any signs of trouble, be sure to show the baby to a specialist.

To make the feeding process easier, you can purchase a special pillow. This device helps to properly attach the baby to the breast and reduce the load on the mother’s back.

A cozy feeding procedure, a comfortable pillow, and pleasant music will create a comfortable atmosphere for eating and enjoy the procedure itself.

The number of urinations depending on the age of the child

Child's age	Number of urinations	Explanation
1-7 days	1-7 (corresponds to the child’s age in days)	Not a sign of nutritional sufficiency
8-14 days	8-12	About 10 on average
after two weeks	12-22	Approximate number of urinations per day = 15 (girls 14-15, boys 15-16)

The number of urinations in our case is approximately 6 times, which indicates a lack of milk. In order to find out how much is missing from the norm, you need to add 50 ml for each missing urination. In our case, the volume of supplementary feeding is 100 ml.

If you do not know the volume of urine, then to calculate the number of urinations per day, it is best to use regular cloth reusable diapers.

Expected increase method

As in the first method, here you need to weigh the diapers used per day and clean diapers to determine the difference in weight. Only in this case there is no need to clean off the feces. If by chance the baby peed past the diaper during the day, then for each such case we add 30 g. All values in the table are given for children under 4 months of age, weighing 3500 g or more.

Weight of diaper contents per day, g	Expected weight gain per month for a child
500 or more	Most likely, the monthly increase will be 1 kg or more (if it turns out to be less than 1 kg, then this is an individual characteristic or the influence of stress). The stool here is usually yellow and grainy, 4 or more times a day.
450	The increase per month will be small: about 600-700 g.
400	Most likely, there will be no increase - in this case, it is necessary to increase the amount of milk and, possibly, introduce supplementary feeding
350 or less	There will be weight loss: supplementary feeding must be introduced. Here, most likely, rare liquid green stools are observed.

A single weighing can be carried out if there is a suspicion of a lack of milk, but if a lack of milk is detected, it is better to do it 2-3 more times. Control weighing of the child is carried out once a week.

Weighing before and after feeding

Weigh the baby before and after feeding. The difference in weight corresponds to the amount of milk sucked.

Disadvantages of the method:

with a single weighing, it is impossible to extend the result to all feedings, since the baby sucks out different amounts of milk from feeding to feeding;
weighing at each feeding creates a constant stressful situation for both mother and baby;
the result may be influenced by the situation and the fact of the test itself, which can cause stress in the mother and the baby will not be able to suck milk from the breast;
it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the child’s regime, so at this moment he may not be hungry or will want to sleep;
Weighing errors on scales can sometimes cause the value to be overestimated or underestimated.

Weekly weight gain method

To do this, you need to know how much the child has gained in a week. Next, focusing on the average gain of 198 g, according to WHO tables, it is necessary to calculate the difference between the actual weight gain of the child and the average gain.

Increase per week, g	170	142	113	85	57	28
Weekly increase deficit, g	28	57	85	113	142	170	198
Daily amount of supplementary feeding, ml	60	120	180	240	300	360	420

Disadvantages of the method:

The child’s weight, which grows with age, is not taken into account. In connection with this, a large amount of supplementary feeding is obtained for children aged 1-2 months and small amounts of supplementary feeding for children aged 3-4 months;
The individual characteristics of the child related to metabolism are not taken into account. Some children eat less, but absorb more, others eat more, but absorb less;
The weight gain taken as the basis of the method is an average value and does not take into account larger or smaller gains characteristic of equally healthy children. Also, this increase is an average only for the first 4 months of life, without taking into account gender differences.

Causes

The mother's milk may not be enough for the baby due to:

Stress for a young mother and difficult emotional situation in the family after childbirth.
Inappropriate place for feeding.
Poorly balanced and insufficient nutrition of the mother.
Psychological unpreparedness of the mother for breastfeeding, as well as postpartum depression.
Lack of fresh air and physical activity in the mother, as well as her fatigue and lack of sleep.
Incorrect feeding technique, in particular, latching on to the breast.
Cracked and sore nipples.
A baby has a runny nose, as well as colic and injuries to the baby’s mouth area.
Flat nipples.
Excessive lactation caused by pumping, as a result of which the baby receives a lot of “foremilk”.

When you urgently need a doctor

Situations when you urgently need a doctor:

The child is constantly lethargic, there is no activity, he is not interested in the world around him;
The baby often rolls his eyes, his gaze has become meaningless and dull;
The child has a very bad breath;
With constant crying, the baby does not produce tears;
The mucous membranes are dry, the skin is flabby (wrinkled);
The color of the urine has changed (becomes darker).

If any of these signs are present, this means that the child is severely dehydrated. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, he may die, since his body is still too weak to cope with dehydration.

If your baby is dehydrated, call a doctor immediately

How to explain the baby's crying even after sucking the breast?

Here is a common situation: the baby was changed, fed, and an hour later he cries again? It is not surprising that the mother begins to worry whether the baby is getting enough colostrum or whether he is hungry.

In the first months of life, the act of breastfeeding performs several functions. In addition to the main thing - satisfying hunger, it serves as a natural way for the baby to relieve stress. Next to the closest person, hearing the heartbeat and feeling the warmth of the body, the newborn again feels his unity with his mother.

The so-called “gestation period,” when the baby spends most of the time in the mother’s arms, lasts from birth to three months. At this time, the baby may persistently demand the breast every 1.5-2 hours.

World Health Organization on formula supplementation after birth

WHO recommends that children not be given any food other than breast milk in the first days of life. The exception, of course, is cases when supplementary feeding is necessary for medical reasons. The following signs may indicate the need for supplementary feeding with formula:

The baby’s weight loss is not compensated over time and amounts to more than 10% of birth weight;
The mother does not feel the milk coming;
The baby's diapers are dry and there is no stool.

Colostrum is produced on average the first three days after birth. Unlike real milk, almost every woman in labor has colostrum. Lack of colostrum in a newborn is extremely rare. And it’s not so difficult to feed your baby if you follow all the recommendations.

Why colostrum is released without pregnancy and how to stop it
What to do if you don't have enough colostrum
What color is colostrum in pregnant women?

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