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Low Supply False Alarms
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Low Supply False Alarms
  • The baby nurses often.  Many babies have a strong need to suck or a need for frequent contact with their mothers.  Frequent nursing assures that the baby is getting enough- not that there is a lack of milk.
  • The baby seems hungry an hour or so after being fed.   Human milk digests more quickly than formula and places less strain on a baby's immature digestive system, so the breastfed baby needs to eat more frequently than the formula-fed baby.
  • The baby suddenly increases the frequency and/or length of nursings.   Babies who are very sleepy as newborns often "wake up" at about 2-3 wks.  Or it could be a growth spurt (common at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age)
  • The baby suddenly decreases nursing time, perhaps down to 5-10 mins. per breast.  It may be that baby has learned to extract milk more quickly now that he is more experienced at nursing.
  • The baby is fussy.There are many other causes of fussiness other than hunger. 
  • The mother's breast leak only alittle or not at all.  Leaking has no relationship to the amount of milk the mother produces, you will notice less leaking as baby gets older.
  • The mother's breast suddenly seem softer.  The intial breast fullness and engorgement subsides within the first few weeks.
  • The baby takes a bottle after nursing.  Many babies will suck on a bottle even when they are full, because they like to suck.  This is not necessarily a sign that baby did not get enough at the breast.  They may also suck in order to keep from drowning (as they must put their tongue at the end of the bottle nipple to stop the flow, and as soon as they remove their tongue the flow starts again).
  • The mother cannot express much milk. Milk-expression is a learned skill that improves with practice.The amount of milk a mother is able to express is unrelated to her actual supply.

 

The people at Breastfeeding101 are not medical professionals. We are moms here to show support. Please consult your physician or LC for any medical questions you might have.