Breastfeeding Tips - Is Your Baby Getting Enough Breastmilk?

You are aware of the health benefits of breastfeeding and you want to provide the best possible infant nutrition that you can...your own breastmilk. Yet somehow you don't know if you are producing enough breastmilk. How much is enough?

It is difficult to convince yourself, your mother, or even your husband that your baby is getting enough breastmilk when you are not filling up the container yourself and measuring how much the baby has taken. But breastfeeding is not just a different type of milk in a different type of container. There is physiology associated with breastfeeding and you should know how it works.

Breastfeeding works on supply and demand. The more often you feed your baby and the more breastmilk the baby takes away, the more milk you will produce. But it doesn't happen overnight. It can take several months for this process to regulate itself. Apparently this is too long for some and a lot of mothers give up before their baby's 3rd month of life is completed.

Just because nursing is natural does not mean it comes naturally to every woman. Many things can happen that interfere with the normal and natural breastfeeding process. One of the main ways that this process is interfered with is by separation of baby and mother in the first days following birth.

Baby should be put to the breast within the first 30 minutes of life and fed at least 8 times per day. This time of early and frequent nursing will not only establish a good milk supply but provide frequent opportunities for the baby to perfect his latching technique.

The advantages of breastfeeding in this early period are many including supplying the baby with the rich immuno-protective properties of colostrum which is the precursor to breastmilk. Hormones released during suckling cause uterine contractions and promote normal involution of the uterus to its pre-pregnant state.

Signs your baby is not getting enough breastmilk would be that you baby does not gain weight. Your baby should be back to birth weight by three weeks.

Your baby should have 6-8 wet diapers per day. If you are not changing diapers this often or if baby is going long period without setting the diaper this may be a sign that he is not getting enough breastmilk.

If your baby is not getting enough breastmilk he may be fatigued and lack the energy to suck vigourously enough to empty the breast completely. He may even fall asleep before he has had enough to eat.

Do not confuse sleepiness and lack of crying with "contentedness". Sometimes babies who are underfed do not cry often or hard because they lack energy. In fact your underfed baby may be quite placid and sleepy. He needs more breastmilk to give him the energy to cry and fuss when he wants more to eat.

If your breasts do not get firm before the next feeding is due in the first few weeks this may also be a sing that you are not producing enough breastmilk. Babies grow a lot in the first few weeks and months of life and your breastmilk supply should be increasing during that time. This ever increasing supply of milk will make your breasts get firm.

If breastfeeding did not get off to a good start for you and your baby it is possible that your baby is not getting enough breastmilk. If you want to continue to provide your baby with all the advantages of breastfeeding here are some breastfeeding tips to help you build up your milk supply and get your baby gaining on the good stuff!.

Breastfeeding tips to help build up your breastmilk supply:

• breastfeed your baby at least 8 times per day in the first few weeks. If the baby is sleepy then wake him up. Bath time is a good wake up for most babies!


• express or pump milk between feedings. Save this milk.


• get plenty of rest (between feedings and pumping!)


• make sure your baby is latched on properly. His mouth should be almost completely covering the dark red area around the nipple. If your baby is not latched properly you may have sore nipples and it is more work for the baby to remove the milk from the breast.


• let your baby nurse until he naturally lets go of the nipple. Babies who have "had enough" will naturally slide off the nipple if a little pressure is exerted.


• use both breasts at every feeding and pump both breasts completely dry after the baby has finished feeding.

If your baby is not back to birth weight by three weeks of age you should offer supplemental feedings in a bottle using your own expressed breastmilk but only after the baby has fed from both breasts. If you do not want to confuse your baby with an artificial nipple you can offer the extra breastmilk with a spoon or a dropper.

Within three days of this regimen you should notice that your breasts are producing more milk. You will know this because your breasts will feel firmer and may even ache when it is time to feed the baby.

If your baby is getting enough breastmilk to satisfy his needs he will eventually start gaining and becoming more alert ...and he may even start to cry more often!

But do not be fooled into thinking that everything will now proceed in a consistent way. Breastfed babies often will go through growth spurts and nurse more frequently for a few days until the milk supply is increased to meet their needs.

It is a wonderful system of supply and demand! Your breasts can supply the milk your baby needs as long as you understand the breasfeeding system and nurse your baby on demand you will always have an endless supply of breastmilk when your baby needs it and it will always be at the right temperature and in a sterile container too!

Beverly Hansen OMalley is a health promotion specialist and likes to write about health related topics that help people in their daily lives. She is the the owner of http://www.registered-nurse-canada.com/index.html where she explores the uniqueness of the nursing profession in Canada including comparison of the nursing entrance tests for the US and Canada, comparison of registered nurse salaries across the country and what it means to have a nursing license.

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Separation Anxiety in Preschool Children - No More Tears For Children When Parents Leave

Separation Anxiety is very common and almost all children will experience some degree of it some time in their life. If you are reading this article then it's highly possible that separation anxiety is not just a passing few tears, but you are seeking to find a solution to ongoing distress, either in your child or as a carer of a child.

It is important to realize that just as each child's experience of separation anxiety from their primary caregiver is different, so might the strategies we use to support them differ. The following ideas are suggestions I have found helpful over many years in child care and as a parent. Adapt them to each child's situation or use them to spark your thinking of other strategies.

1. Always Have The Child And Parent Say Goodbye
It is amazing how many parents prefer to make an unseen "get away" while their child is momentarily occupied. I have found that while the parent may feel better for not witnessing their child cry, this actually adds to the child's anxiety in future separations as they are unsure when mum or dad might disappear while they are not looking. It fuels the anticipation of their caregiver leaving and children of speaking age have actually said to me "Where did mummy go? Will she come back?".

It's important for parents to take the time to say goodbye to their child, tell them how much they love them, tell them where they are going and how long they will be. Even if this makes the child upset initially, it adds to TRUST. This action may need to be repeated as a ritual for many days / weeks, but the overall time that separation anxiety exists in the child will lessen quickly in most children. The more the parent is trustworthy, usually the faster the child feels secure that the parent will return when they say.

2. Prepare The Child For Separation
This does not mean morbidly repeating that the child and parent will be separated. However, referring periodically to the time of separation prepares the child and allows some time for adjustment. For example, Lucy (2 ½ yrs) was going to stay for a weekend with her grandparents while her mum and dad had their first weekend away. In the week leading up, her mum referred 3-4 times to the weekend saying "you're going to have 2 night time sleeps at Nan's. Won't that be fun! You can take your pyjamas and pillow" Creating excitement about the event helps fearful anticipation to become excited anticipation.

If children regularly attend child care and are experiencing ongoing separation anxiety, you could have a weekly routine chart using photos that show the child which days they attend child care. On waking, for example, the parent can show the child Monday's photo is day care, but the next day is a photo of a day at home with Dad. The alternative is to suddenly surprise them in the car on the way to the care environment, but my experience is that in the long term the anxiety continues for longer. Children need predictability and routine to develop trust, which again supports them to feel secure and less anxious.

3. Leave The Child For Short Periods and Gradually Lengthen The Time
Children usually need to know and trust people in order to feel secure in their care. Try leaving them for an hour or two and gradually lengthen the time as the child feels more secure. This includes formal child care. Parents should try to work in partnership with centre and with their own work commitments. This may even mean taking the day off work for the first day the child is in care. The parents will probably be more relaxed, and are easily available to collect the child after a few hours.

4. Spend Time Allowing The Child To Know And Feel Secure With The Carer In The Presence Of The Parent / Primary Caregiver
Plan ahead and visit the child carer, or spend 1-2 hours at formal child care with the child. The primary carergiver should remain with the child for the duration, allowing the child to explore and get to know the person and surroundings.

5. Leave Something Special With The Child That Belongs To The Parent / Primary Caregiver
It is important to emphasize that this should not be something of monetary or sentimental value that. if broken or lost, is irreplaceable. Allow the child to have a photo of Dad / Mum, Mum's scarf, Dad's t-shirt, or anything of significance that ties the parent to the child and can bring them comfort.

6. Allow The Child To Have A Familiar Object Or Toy Of Their Own
A teddy, blanket, doll or other security toy that can bring comfort. Again, this should not be of great monetary or sentimental value.

7. Help The Child To Understand That Mum / Dad Will Return.
This may be simple, but often overlooked. It may simply be a reminder that "Daddy / Mummy will be back soon". I remember in one of my first child care positions many of the children spoke a language other than English, and the first phrase I learnt in that language was "Mum's coming back soon". I still remember the phrase some 10 years later! Older children can benefit from visual timetables which depict, in photo or picture form, what happens in the day and when in the day Mum / Dad come back. Even older children can begin to use clocks and more formal time measures.

8. Have A Special Ritual Which The Parent And Child Do Together When They Are Reunited
In formal child care, this may be an activity the child and parent do together at the centre, or it may be special time they have at home such as reading time or a trip to the park. This helps the child to look forward to the days of separation because at the end is a special treat.

9. Encourage The Carer To Be A Familiar Part Of The Family
Where appropriate, a photo of the carer or care environment in the home (eg on the fridge) allows the child to see the person in a familiar place. Older children may talk about the carer, helping to build trust and familiarity.

10. Help The Parent / Primary Carer Through the Separation Process
The more the parent feels comfortable in the separation process, the more they can help the child. Often separation anxiety is a heartbreaking emotion to watch, but may be momentary. The number of times I have witnessed children happily playing before the parent has reached their car is astounding. However, the last image the parent has is their child in distress. Where possible and appropriate, use a video camera to capture the child happily engaged in play. It is not always enough to say to the parent "they are fine when you leave". Some parents need proof. If video is not available, try using a still camera. The more relaxed the parent is, the more the child senses this and their anxiety diminishes.

Cassandra writes for Onsite Early Childhood Training and you can find more information on Separation Anxiety in Childcare and Childcare Staff Training

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