When you start breastfeeding your baby, it is normal to be concerned about your milk supply. You are not the only one to worry about this. There are many other mothers who, along with the quantity of their milk, are concerned about whether the baby is getting enough milk to meet the increasing needs.
Your baby’s weight gain and proper development for his age are the best indications that you are producing enough milk. A newborn’s weight loss is normal in the first few days, but three to five days after birth, he begins to gain weight again. Usually, when a baby is 14 days old, he or she will regain the same weight as it was at birth.
Below are a few more signs that can show that your baby is satisfied with the amount of milk it gets. like:
- Breastfeeding is comfortable and you do not feel any pain during this
- Your newborn is breastfeeding six to eight times a day and seems satisfied after the feeding
- Your breasts feel empty and soft after you breastfeed
- You can see and hear your baby swallowing milk while breastfeeding
- Your baby goes off the breast on its own after you’ve finished breastfeeding
- Your baby is urinating at least seven times in 24 hours. His stool is yellow and lumpy, which looks like frothy milk. Exclusively breastfed babies may have bowel movements several times a day or once in five days. Both the situations are quite normal.
In most cases of suspected low breast milk supply, the real problem is not how much milk you are able to produce. Rather, the problem is how much milk your baby is able to drink. Make sure your baby latches onto the breast properly so that he can efficiently expel the amount of milk you have.
It is important to breastfeed your baby frequently and as often as she wants in order to build up and continue to build up a large supply of breast milk. If your newborn sleeps a lot, you may need to wake him up and gently encourage him to breastfeed more often. This will stimulate your breasts to produce more milk.
Your body keeps on changing your milk production according to the demand. Therefore, if you start giving your baby formula milk or other supplements instead of breast milk, your milk supply will decrease. The more you breastfeed your baby, the more milk your body will produce. If you feel that you are not making enough breastmilk or you are concerned about your baby’s weight, it is best to talk to your doctor about it. She will be able to give you the necessary advice or treatment. Furious Nutritions brings you an amazing formula of breast milk enhancement in the form of Lact M Granules.
Do I need to eat and drink more to make enough breastmilk?
It depends on two things. One is whether your BMI was normal before you became pregnant and the other is how much weight you gained during pregnancy.
If you were underweight, or normal before becoming pregnant, you may be advised to eat a little more food to meet your caloric needs during breastfeeding. On the other hand, if you were overweight before pregnancy and you have gained the expected weight during pregnancy, you may not need calories at all. Your doctor will be able to tell better if you need extra calories.
The general advice is to go according to your appetite and eat whenever you feel hungry. Your body is quite efficient at producing milk. The body may have stored fat during pregnancy, which can be used to produce breast milk. During breastfeeding, you need to drink water only to quench your thirst. Drinking too much water or being thirsty does not affect your milk supply. Your body is quite capable of regularly storing essential nutrients so that it can maintain your milk supply.
However, keep in mind that during breastfeeding, your body releases the hormone oxytocin, which makes you feel more thirsty. Therefore, carry a glass of water with you while you are breastfeeding. Lactating mothers are advised to take daily iron, folic acid, B vitamins, and calcium supplements. After knowing about your diet, the doctor will recommend the appropriate dose of Lact M Granules for you and tell you how much dosage you should take.