Signs your baby is breastfeeding correctly and getting enough

One of the most common questions new mums have is how to know whether baby is getting enough breast milk. Momby will help answer your questions about breastfeeding directly!

5 signs your baby is feeding correctly and getting enough:

• Baby's behaviour: baby will seem comfortable, relaxed and happy, and rarely fussy. Your breasts feel softer after feeding (because your baby has drunk the milk that was making them firm).
• Feeding time: Feed on demand, without limiting the timing or length of each feed. When full, baby will come off the breast on their own (switch to the other side if baby is not yet full). Usually a baby who has fed well will be full after 10-15 minutes of feeding and sleep for 3 hours straight after the feed.
• Weight gain: Average weight gain for babies up to 6 months old:

- 0.8-1 kg/month in the first 2 months
- 600-800 g/month in the middle 2 months
- 500-600g/month in the last 2 months

• Number of wet nappies: Baby wees 6-8 times/day, and the urine is pale. You can keep an eye on the number of wet nappies: In the first 2 days after birth, baby needs about 2 – 4 nappy changes. From day 5 onwards, however, this rises to 6 – 8. Baby's urine is pale and odourless. If baby's urine is dark, they are most likely still hungry.
• Number of poos: In the first month, baby passes loose, dark yellow stools many times, on average 6-8 times/day; babies who feed a lot may poo 10-15 times/day but still feed regularly and gain weight well. From the second month, exclusively breastfed babies may have physiologically infrequent bowel movements, pooing only once every 3-4 days, but the stools are still soft and baby still feeds and plays normally

How to breastfeed correctly:

• After birth, baby should breastfeed as soon as possible, ideally WITHIN 30 minutes of birth. This will help:
• Baby enjoy the precious colostrum
• Stimulate your mammary glands to start working sooner, increase milk supply faster and avoid blocked ducts, which can cause breast abscesses,..
• Reduce blood loss after birth thanks to active uterine contraction under the effect of oxytocin
• Breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months. Do not give baby anything to eat or drink other than breast milk
• When baby is ill, even if baby has diarrhoea, keep actively breastfeeding.
• Breastfeed many times a day (8-10 times), both day and night. The average gap between 2 feeds is 3 hours; it is best to feed on demand.
• Let baby finish one breast, and only switch to the other breast if baby still wants more. Express any milk left after each feed to stimulate new milk production and avoid blocked ducts.
• Correct feeding position: sit while feeding, with baby's back resting along your arm and their head raised at about 45 degrees, baby's chin pressed against your breast and baby's mouth latched deeply onto the breast, covering the whole areola. If the milk flows fast, hold the nipple between two fingers to stop baby choking on milk.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, then continuing to breastfeed until 2 years old. If you go to work, breastfeed whenever you are with your baby and express milk for the feeds you can't be home for.
• Expressed breast milk needs to be stored correctly. You can find more details on how to store and thaw milk correctly in the articles on the topic "Breastfeeding" on Momby!

Reference: Breastfeeding