How to know if breastfeeding is going well.
What easy self assessment tools can you use to tell if breastfeeding is working?
Introduction to Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding has become the standard accepted form of feeding infants exclusively for the first 6 months of life. After 6 months, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends continued breastfeeding, along side complimentary feeding, until 2 years or as long as desired by mother and baby. The benefits of breast-feeding are too many to list but include nutritional health of baby, physical health of baby & mother but also emotional well-being of mother and baby & developmental health of baby.
I want to focus on knowing if breastfeeding is going as optimally as it can and how to know baby is getting enough milk. It is not meant to replace expert lactation help or medical advice given by your health care provider.
Latching
You shouldn't have pain or discomfort that lasts.
There is some evidence to show that some mild discomfort in the initial days, at the start of a feed, is normal and will resolve relatively quickly. But any discomfort that does not go away a few sucks into a feed, stays during the whole feed, stays or comes and goes between feeds and lasts longer than a few days is not normal. The idea that mothers need to “toughen up” nipples or just get desensitized to nipple discomfort is a long debunked myth.
If you have nipple or breast pain or damage (cracks, blisters, bleeding, crescent moon creasing, lip stick shape, white or purple nipples, engorgement, etc) you should have breastfeeding evaluated. Resolution might be as simple as changing positions or it could be a sign of something more happening. There are lots of things that can be done to help your comfort but also heal up damage & trauma and prevent future damage and trauma.
Output - wet & dirty diapers
Watching babies diapers gives us clues about milk intake
During the first week babies pees and poops change and increase in amounts. The milk also changes in type and amount and correlates.
Breastfeeding has become the standard accepted form of feeding infants exclusively for the first 6 months of life. After 6 months, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends continued breastfeeding, along side complimentary feeding, until 2 years or as long as desired by mother and baby. The benefits of breast-feeding are too many to list but include nutritional health of baby, physical health of baby & mother but also emotional well-being of mother and baby & developmental health of baby.
I want to focus on knowing if breastfeeding is going as optimally as it can and how to know baby is getting enough milk. It is not meant to replace expert lactation help or medical advice given by your health care provider.
Latching
You shouldn't have pain or discomfort that lasts.
There is some evidence to show that some mild discomfort in the initial days, at the start of a feed, is normal and will resolve relatively quickly. But any discomfort that does not go away a few sucks into a feed, stays during the whole feed, stays or comes and goes between feeds and lasts longer than a few days is not normal. The idea that mothers need to “toughen up” nipples or just get desensitized to nipple discomfort is a long debunked myth.
If you have nipple or breast pain or damage (cracks, blisters, bleeding, crescent moon creasing, lip stick shape, white or purple nipples, engorgement, etc) you should have breastfeeding evaluated. Resolution might be as simple as changing positions or it could be a sign of something more happening. There are lots of things that can be done to help your comfort but also heal up damage & trauma and prevent future damage and trauma.
Output - wet & dirty diapers
Watching babies diapers gives us clues about milk intake
During the first week babies pees and poops change and increase in amounts. The milk also changes in type and amount and correlates.
What does breastfeeding look like in real time?
A breastfeed baby is going to feed at least 8-12 times in 24 hours in the newborn stage. Another way to think about it every 2-3 hours. But sometimes there is only one hour between feeds and they are ready to go again. Once in a while, they might go 4 hours. Feeding on demand while following their cues is best.
The length of time a baby breastfeeds for varies from roughly 15-20 minutes per breast, on average. Some babies will feed faster than that and some slower. Some will feed one breast. some will feed two. Short feeds or long feeds can be normal. Or it can be a sign that feeding is not effective. If a baby is at the breast for 40 minutes and isn't performing well, no amount of time will help. Again, correlating with output & maternal comfort helps determine the situation. For example, a mother with nipple pain, a sleepy baby and low poops tells us we should weight the baby. The weight can help us determine accurately how feeding is impacting the baby.
Weight gain
What is the average weight gain for breastfed babies?
A breastfeed baby is going to feed at least 8-12 times in 24 hours in the newborn stage. Another way to think about it every 2-3 hours. But sometimes there is only one hour between feeds and they are ready to go again. Once in a while, they might go 4 hours. Feeding on demand while following their cues is best.
The length of time a baby breastfeeds for varies from roughly 15-20 minutes per breast, on average. Some babies will feed faster than that and some slower. Some will feed one breast. some will feed two. Short feeds or long feeds can be normal. Or it can be a sign that feeding is not effective. If a baby is at the breast for 40 minutes and isn't performing well, no amount of time will help. Again, correlating with output & maternal comfort helps determine the situation. For example, a mother with nipple pain, a sleepy baby and low poops tells us we should weight the baby. The weight can help us determine accurately how feeding is impacting the baby.
Weight gain
What is the average weight gain for breastfed babies?
Where can I get breastfeeding help?
Local Resources to help with breastfeeding.
There are a wide range of support options available when it comes to breastfeeding, from education to support to clinical skills.
La Leche League Peer Support Group - Call 306-584-5600 for a recording of more details information.
Regina Qu’appelle Health Region - Contact your local Health Nurses - There is no longer a breastfeeding support centre (discontinued October of 2016)
Private International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) - There are IBCLC’s in the community that provide support in your home and in office, also. These is a fee for this professional service. I am a lactation consultant in Private Practice. Book an appointment with me.
Local Resources to help with breastfeeding.
There are a wide range of support options available when it comes to breastfeeding, from education to support to clinical skills.
La Leche League Peer Support Group - Call 306-584-5600 for a recording of more details information.
Regina Qu’appelle Health Region - Contact your local Health Nurses - There is no longer a breastfeeding support centre (discontinued October of 2016)
Private International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) - There are IBCLC’s in the community that provide support in your home and in office, also. These is a fee for this professional service. I am a lactation consultant in Private Practice. Book an appointment with me.
