Find Answers To Your Breastfeeding Questions

2 mins to read

Breastfeeding not quite going to plan? The Blackmores Nutrition Advisory Service is ready to help you out with your questions.

Nutrition

Over the next five weeks, Blackmores Advisory Naturopath and breastfeeding consultant, Julie Cottle handles the most common questions she is asked – and offers her advice.

Breastfeeding often comes with a side order of 101 questions, and some sneaky self-doubts that we’re not always ‘doing it right’. But fear not, you’re far from alone – Julie says it’s common for mums to worry about different aspects of feeding. This week, she tackles a very common concern for breastfeeding mums – how to know when bubs is getting enough milk.

Q: I'm not sure my baby is getting enough milk - how do I know if I am making enough milk, or if he is starving all the time? He still seems quite grizzly sometimes after a feed.

A: You are certainly not alone with this concern! It’s important to remember that babies cry for all sorts of reasons. As you get to know your baby, you will likely learn to differentiate between the different cries and you will get to know hunger from tired, from pain, from being uncomfortable – so on and so forth.

If you are feeding your baby according to need rather than to a feeding schedule, chances are that your baby will be getting plenty of milk to meet his appetite and provide the nutrients he needs to grow. You can offer a breastfeed whenever he seems hungry and allow him to feed for as long as he wants to. This will ensure that you build up a supply that meets his appetite exactly. It may take some time in the beginning, but once your baby gets good at milking the breast, and your breasts get used to delivering the milk, your baby will be satisfied much more quickly.

The very best way to determine if your baby is getting enough milk is by monitoring the number of wet nappies, you want to see at least six pale wet cloth nappies or at least four heavy wet disposable nappies in a 24-hour period. If the urine appears bright yellow in colour and has a smell to it, it is important to talk with a health professional to assess your supply and your baby’s health ASAP.