Milk scanty
What is it?
Almost all mothers wonder if they produce enough milk for their child, especially when they begin breastfeeding. When asked mothers why they did not breastfeed or stopped quickly, their answer is usually: "I thought I did not have enough milk. "Yet many experts say it is very rare that a mother does not produce enough milk.
Many women think they do not have enough milk when it is not the case. This can happen if you do not feel the strong letdown reflex or that you no longer feel that your breasts are full, or if milk stops dripping from your nipples. It is actually natural and common signs that indicate that your body has just adapted to the needs of your baby. It is also possible that a child who is a growth spurt requires more milk than usual and take you to ask you about your milk supply. Some babies also suck more effectively and more quickly, resulting in shorter feedings and giving you the impression of not having enough milk.
It may be that mothers do not produce milk to their full capacity but for the vast majority, understanding the process of breastfeeding will solve this problem. Only 2% of mothers are physically unable to produce enough milk.
What causes it?
For most women, the real problem concerns the distribution and not production of milk. They produce lots of milk but the baby does not latch on well and not suckling effectively, it does not swallow enough milk.
Breasts are made to produce a suitable amount of milk your baby needs. The more he suckles, the more milk you produce. If your milk supply decreases temporarily, you may:
• whether you have sensitive nipples and feedings that are painful or
• that your little one is a sleeper and should be encouraged to breastfeed;
• that your newborn is often a pacifier in his mouth, which reduces the time spent to breastfeed, or
• you feed your baby every four hours and not only on demand.
In some women, biological or physical problems, such as hormonal disorders or injury / operation of the breasts, may explain a low milk production. However, milk production is so important, most mothers affected by these problems still manage to produce enough milk to feed their child.
What should I do?
First, do not worry unnecessarily about your milk supply. It's pretty easy to tell if your baby gets the milk he needs.
Weight gain is the best way to make sure your toddler has enough milk. Although newborns typically lose 5 to 10% of their birth weight during the first day, then they start to gain weight. If you weigh your baby after 5 to 7 days, so it should have begun to grow.
If you answer yes to the following questions, your child probably has enough breastmilk and therefore you produce enough.
• Does he 5-8 diapers a day?
• Does he look bright and healthy?
• Are the stools golden yellow liquid, lumpy and have they started to clear up to the fifth day after birth?
If you feel that you do not produce as much milk as you (and your baby) would like, you can concentrate on the latch. To do this, do you like helping with a lactation consultant. Ask your nursery nurse or midwife if she can recommend someone or see our list of nursing organizations.
To increase your milk supply:
• Let your baby feed as often and long as he wants and offer him both breasts at each feeding.
• Give him only breastmilk and avoid pacifiers that can reduce the time spent within.
• Avoid supplementary bottles. Your milk supply will adjust to the demand for your child. If you appease his hunger with milk powder, it will need less breast milk and your production will decrease accordingly.
• While you are trying to improve the "latch" with your baby, you can also pump your breasts after each feeding. By emptying your breasts up, you will help to stimulate lactation. If you store the milk in the refrigerator or freezer, you can then offer a little "extras" of breast milk when your baby will be hungrier, such as evenings.
• Most pharmacists and pharmacologists also advise against the use of herbal remedies during pregnancy and lactation.
In the few days after birth, it may be that you had to stimulate, encourage your baby to nurse more often asleep. Your breasts will be well stimulated and therefore produce more milk. If you have trouble waking him or he is not feeding well, pull a little colostrum / milk and try to make her drink by other means (cup, spoon), so you can meet the needs of your child parallel and promote lactation.
A term baby should be awake and alert. If your child needs to be stimulated to suck, that means it does not latched on or he does not feel well, in which case it is better to consult a pediatrician.
Some medical conditions may also explain a low milk production:
• low rate of thyroid (or sometimes higher)
• loss of a large amount of blood during labor or after (your milk supply may be affected until you have recovered).
• a fragment of placenta remained in the uterus can interrupt lactation until it is removed.
• certain medications (such as the combined contraceptive pill and remedies to relieve nasal congestion) may reduce milk production.
My baby will find he affected?
Yes, he regularly needs more milk than he has, he may not benefit, which can disrupt the physical and mental development. Make an appointment with your doctor if your child does not gain weight or lose. Often, an improvement in your breastfeeding techniques can be useful, but poor weight gain may indicate a health problem.
Can I still breastfeed?
Yes, especially if your milk supply decreases temporarily, effective and frequent feedings are essential to stimulate lactation.