Your baby is just a few days old but already every time he squawks, somebody asks, “are you sure you have enough milk?” or they say, “you’re not feeding, again?” Now you are stressed to the max wondering, ‘do I have enough milk?’ and ‘am I starving my baby?’
Before you reach for the bottle (of milk, that is), you might feel reassured to know that your newborn’s tummy is only the size of a marble at first and will expand to about the size of a golf-ball at about ten days. Also, breast-milk is very quickly and easily digested so your baby will need frequent feeds, at least in the early weeks. It is perfectly normal for a breastfed baby to need 8 to 12 feeds in 24 hours in the first few weeks. This could mean that he will feed as often as every two hours - and that means two hours from the beginning of one feed to the beginning of the next, not two hours between feeds.
Is he getting enough?
If your completely breastfed baby is having six to eight wet nappies a day and, during the first six weeks, one to two (or more) good bowel motions daily, this is a pretty good indication that he is getting enough milk: what comes out, must have gone in! Weight checks will reassure you too.
Making milk
Breast milk production works on a ‘supply and demand’ basis: the more milk you remove from your breasts, the more they will make and an ‘empty’ breast will make milk more quickly. So, even in the early days, you can increase your milk supply quite quickly by allowing your baby to feed whenever he shows hunger signs (rooting movements with his mouth, sucking noises or trying to suck on his hand). Between feeds, cuddling your baby skin to skin will boost your milk production hormones - and your milk supply.
Feeding to Make More Milk
To boost your milk supply, baby needs to be well attached (get an expert to check)
and nursing efficiently. Offer both breasts at each feed. As baby slows his sucking, encourage him to drain the breast (and stimulate more milk) by compressing your breast so that milk is expressed into his mouth. You can also try ’switch feeding’ - let baby suck on one breast until he slows his swallowing then switch sides, several times during a feed
Too much milk?
At the other extreme, if your breasts are gushing, your baby is covered in milk and spluttering with the force of the flow, and you’re uncomfortably full again soon after you feed, this can cause just as much concern.
If your baby is finding it difficult to contend with a fast milk flow (hence the spluttering),try expressing a little milk off until your initial flow slows before attaching your baby and also remove your baby from the breast as you have subsequent ‘letdowns’ during the feed (let the milk flow into a nappy or cup). If you try positioning your baby so he is more upright as he feeds, perhaps lying against you as you recline, this will give him more control over the fast milk flow.
To help regulate your milk supply, feed your baby from one breast only, over a three to four hour period. If he wants to feed again within that time return to the ‘used’ breast. At first you will need to express just enough from the other breast for comfort but don’t overdo this as you don’t want to overstimulate your supply. As well as regulating your milk supply, your baby will get more fattier hind milk, which will help to keep him satisfied for longer periods of time and may reduce gas and tummy pains.
Pinky McKay is an Internationally Certified Lactation Consultant, infant massage instructor and author of Sleeping Like a Baby and 100 Ways to Calm the Crying. For her Free Report “10 things you must know about breastfeeding before you have your baby” visit http:www.pinkymckay.com.au













