Got Milk

Although most mothers are able to produce enough milk for their babies’ needs. It’s rare that a mother is unable to produce enough milk for her baby and there are many steps you can take to ensure that your baby gets as much breastmilk as he needs.

Our advice

Young babies need to nurse frequently to get enough milk and establish their mothers’ milk. Using feeding schedules, regular supplements, or a dummy can really reduce your milk production.

Breastfeed your baby frequently from birth—at least 8–12 times in 24  hours. Keeping your baby close makes it easier to nurse every hour or  two.

If your baby is sleepy, perhaps from a medicated birth, you may need to wake him and encourage him to nurse.

Even if your breasts feel empty, there’s always some milk there.

Full breasts and engorgement slow milk production and are a sign you  may need to nurse more often.

If your newborn is unable to breastfeed, hand express frequently until your milk ‘comes in’, then combine with using a hospital-grade electric breast pump to help establish your milk production and relieve engorgement. Your milk can be given to your baby until he is able to nurse.

Once your milk production increases, usually on day 3–4, expect your  baby to begin gaining weight. Most babies regain their birth weight by  the age of 10–14 days.

A good intake from the beginning will see the thick, sticky black  meconium poos passed within 3 days of birth, followed by at least 6–8  wet and 3–5 dirty nappies in each 24 hours.

Babies nurse for comfort as well as for food. And those little ‘in between’ comfort feeds can really help your milk production.

Night feeds really help you make more milk.

Your breasts will quickly adjust to making more milk if you follow your baby’s needs.

Every baby has his own individual feeding pattern. If  your baby is gaining weight at an appropriate rate, following his own  feeding pattern is the best way of ensuring you are meeting his needs.

What you achieve:

You Know, every baby has his own individual feeding pattern. Don’t get too disheartened. There is help for every problem. Call me! Just keep on breastfeeding!