Curious about BF moms

aryandnicole · December 2009

I am afraid that i will not know if my baby is getting enough milk or know if any milk is coming out. Did you or do you have this fear? I am so nervous about BF. Im afraid that my baby will be starving and i will not even know it.

manic mama · December 2009

Oh, you'll know it.

A) If your baby is gaining weight, then everything's fine.

If you're not producing, your baby will freak out. My supply dropped one day (I took fenugreek, mother's milk tea, ate oatmeal and lactation cookies) and DS screamed at the top of his lungs!

C) There's also a good chance (it's only happened to me a couple of times, though) you'll leak a little, so you'll know you're producing.

LeoChic · December 2009

You will know if your baby is not getting enough milk because your baby will let you know. A hungry baby shows clear hunger signs (rooting, chewing on hands, mouth and tongue will open and close very fast) so after feeding from the breast if DC still shows hunger signs then you will need to feed again.

You'll also know that the baby is getting milk because you can actually hear the baby swallowing or gulping while at the breast. My DD usually has milk coming out the corners of her mouth when she comes off the breast. She also gives me good burps after she eats which she wouldn't do if she wasn't getting milk.

Finally, you'll know you are feeding the baby as DC gains weight. Bear in mind that babies lose weight at first -- they may lose as much as 10% of their birth weight. You'll more than likely be discharged with DC weighing less than her birth weight. My DD was born at 6 lbs 6 oz and was discharged at 6 lbs 4.5 oz. At her pedi appt in the first week home from the hospital she was up to 6 lbs 10 oz. Our next appt is in 3 weeks and I'm curious to see where her weight will be by then.

Keep in mind that until your milk comes in (3-5 days after delivery, sometimes even longer) you will only be giving your baby colostrum. Babies are born with enough fat stores that they don't need the milk in the beginning and the colostrum will serve their needs plenty.

kvinh546 · December 2009

I totally worried about this with my first LO. Couldn't help but worry but it was much easier with the second. As long as the baby has enough wet and dirty diapers, you'll know they're getting enough. Just wait until you're high fiving your SO because of a big poopy diaper!!!

JenLHamby · December 2009

Also to add to the PPs, if the baby is producing enough dirty diapers that is an indication that they are getting enough BM. My LC said that wet diapers are a better indicator then poohy ones.

wnk1029 · December 2009

I worried about this at first, but I've come to realize that my little guy will definitely let me know if he's hungry!

margeincharge2 · December 2009

Totally normal fears. My DS had problems latching the first few weeks so we had to pump and give him pumped breastmilk. So I knew I had milk he just had trouble getting it. I ended up buying a baby scale because I needed the reassurance he is gaining weight. Some people say that's not necessary but it helped calm my nerves.

The general rule of thumb is that if your baby is having 6-8 wet diapers a day and (I can't remember how many poo diapers) a day then you're ok. GL! Breastfeeding is tough but if you have a good support system it is do-able.

julyjennifer · December 2009

Have confidence! I agree with what the PP's have said. You will get to know your LO so well in the early days and you will be able to recognize hunger signs, and watching the diapers and the weight gain over the first few months will reassure you. We kept close track of the diapers for the first 2 weeks, and after that we just were able to chill and know that my body was gonna provide DD with what she needed. It's an awesome process.

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