Symptoms
- The baby crying a lot and seeming not to be satisfied with feeds.
- The baby wanting to feed very often or for a long time at each feed.
- The breasts feeling soft.
- Not being able to express her milk.
- These symptoms can occur for other reasons, and they do not necessarily show that a baby’s intake is low.
- If a mother is worried about her milk supply, it is necessary to decide if the baby is taking enough milk or not.
Low Breast-Milk Intake
Signs
- Poor weight gain:
- Soon after birth, a baby may lose weight for a few days.
- Most recover their birth weight by the end of the first week if they are healthy and feeding well.
- All babies should recover their birth weight by 2 weeks of age.
- From 2 weeks, babies who are breastfed may gain from about 500 g to 1 kg or more each month.
- The baby should be checked for illness or congenital abnormality and urine output.
- The technique and pattern of breastfeeding, and the mother-baby interaction should also be assessed, to decide the cause of poor weight gain.
- Low Urine Output:
- An exclusively breastfed baby who is taking enough milk usually passes dilute urine 6-8 times or more in 24 hours.
- If a baby is passing urine less than 6 times a day, especially if the urine is dark yellow and strong-smelling, then he or she is not getting enough milk.
Reasons Why a Baby May Not Get Enough Breast Milk
Common Causes
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Breastfeeding Factors:
- Delayed start.
- Feeding at fixed times.
- Infrequent feeds.
- No night feeds.
- Short feeds.
- Poor attachment.
- Bottles, pacifiers.
- Other foods or fluids (water, teas).
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Mother: Psychological Factors:
- Lack of confidence.
- Worry, stress.
- Dislike of breastfeeding.
- Rejection of baby.
Not Common Causes
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Mother: Physical Condition:
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■ Contraceptive pill, diuretics
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■ Pregnancy
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■ severe malnutrition
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■ Alcohol
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■ smoking
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■ Retained piece of placenta
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■ Pituitary failure (rare)
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■ Poor breast development (very rare)
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Baby’s Condition:
- illness
- Abnormality.