Is My Baby Getting Enough Breast Milk?

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 11:09:57 -0500

Parents worry that they do not have enough milk for many reasons:

No sensation of a let down
No longer leaking milk
Mom’s breast do not feel full (or engorged) anymore
Unable to produce milk with a pump
Baby does not stay at the breast as long as mom would like

Though some of these things may cause reason to look further, none are indicative of a poor milk supply.

The best way to gauge adequate supply is growth.

In the first few months of life, we expect babies to gain close to an ounce per day, and double their birth weight by 5 months.

Since you may not always have a scale handy, ask yourself questions like:

Do you hear swallows during the feed?
Does your baby seem content after the feed?
Is your baby pooping 4 or more times per day? (this number falls around 3 months)
Is your baby having 6 or more pale wet diapers per day?

Get to know Holly Erwin, Cook Children's Virtual Lactation Consultant

Holly Erwin, LVN, IBCLC, is a mom of three boys and has worked as a pediatric nurse for over 11 years within the Cook Children's Health Care System. When not working, she spends her time running to and from sports for her boys, being outside with her family and dreaming of traveling with her husband of 10 years. For now, she settles for their bi-annual date-night!

Through her own children and the thousands of moms that she has helped over the years, Holly found a special interest in infants and breastfeeding. In 2015, she became internationally board certified as a lactation consultant and now works as an IBCLC virtually through the Cook Children's telemedicine department. Schedule an appointment with our virtual lactation consultant.

If you answered these questions “yes”, then it is likely the baby’s weight is climbing as well. If some or many of the answers were “no”, then you should follow up with your child’s pediatrician for a weight check and/or evaluation.

How Much Vitamin D Does My Baby Need?

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 10:19:16 -0500

Babies need vitamin D for strong, healthy bones and teeth. A severe deficiency of vitamin D can cause serious conditions like Rickets (a bone deformity that results in permanently bowed legs).

Most mothers eat a varied diet with fortified foods (usually milk) containing Vitamin D, take prenatal vitamins, and have some exposure to sunlight while pregnant and have plenty of Vitamin D to pass on to their babies.

However, due to an increase in vitamin D deficient babies, the American Academy of Pediatrics published guidelines in 2003, recommending that all breastfed babies receive 400 mgs IU of Vitamin D drops each day.

The increased number of vitamin D deficient babies is likely due to the less amount of time today’s moms and babies spend in the sun. Darker skin tones, vegan diets, babies born in northern regions and those who cover completely (like religious veils) are at a higher risk for deficiency.

Talk with your child’s health care provider about vitamin D options for your child.

Related Topic:

Get to know Holly Erwin, Cook Children's Virtual Lactation Consultant

Checkup Newsroom

Is My Baby Getting Enough Breast Milk?

How Much Vitamin D Does My Baby Need?