World Breastfeeding Week: How do I know if my baby is getting enough breast milk? (Pregnancy query)

Is my baby getting enough breast milk? A common query of many new mums answered by lactation expert, Effath Yasmin.

By: Effath Yasmin | | Updated: August 2, 2016 3:29 pm

I am eight months pregnant. How will I know whether my baby is getting enough breast milk when I feed her? What are the signs that a baby is getting enough breast milk? Also Read - Things that could affect the taste, smell and quantity of breast milk

Also Read - Another study confirms that COVID-19 doesn’t spread through breast milk

The query has been answered by International Board certified lactation consultant, Effath Yasmin. Also Read - Pasteurising breast milk using Holder method can inactivate coronavirus: Researchers

Most new mothers do not know how to check whether the baby is getting enough breast milk. Having essential information like how often the baby should pass stool, the ideal number of wet nappies used in a day or the adequate weight gain of the baby, can help a new mom understand whether the baby is being sufficiently fed. Here are a few pointers that signal that your baby is getting enough milk.

The baby gains his birth weight within the first 2 weeks of birth.
The baby should gain 150-200g weight per week, after two weeks of birth.
After the fifth day of birth, the baby should ideally pass stool 3-4 times a day.
The baby has about 7-8 wet nappies in a day.

If these points do not hold true for your baby, it means that he/she isn t getting enough breast milk as a result of insufficient lactation or improper latch. Mothers can then increase the frequency of breast milk feeds as this will ensure that they lactate more. Also, make sure that the positioning of the baby is right so that the latch is proper. If you are not sure about the latch of the baby, consult a lactation expert.

Also, most importantly, most moms worry that their babies aren’t having enough milk without realising the fact that babies have very small stomachs, and hence will not have milk as much as we expect them to. To understand how big or small a baby’s stomach is, watch this Facebook Live video with lactation expert, Sonali Shivlani, where she speaks about how much milk a baby needs depending on her age.

Co-authored by Nazneen Haider

Image source: Shutterstock

Published : August 2, 2016 11:00 am | Updated:August 2, 2016 3:29 pm

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