What are the symptoms of babies not getting enough breast milk

Many women often have too little milk secretion due to their physical constitution. Even if they drink a lot of nourishing soups after giving birth, they still have too little milk. In fact, if the baby is not full, it will take a lot of effort and may even suck on the nipple for a long time, causing nipple pain. Babies who are not full will excrete less, gain weight slowly, and have poor physical changes. They will also cry and make a fuss.

Symptoms of insufficient milk supply

1. The baby is not full : If the baby has to spend a lot of effort to suck milk, or still holds the mother's nipple and refuses to let go after finishing the milk, sometimes he will spit out the nipple after sucking for a while, and then cry non-stop. If the baby sleeps for about an hour after feeding, then wakes up and cries, and falls asleep again after feeding, and this happens repeatedly, it is very likely that there is insufficient breast milk. Usually, if there is enough breast milk, the baby will make continuous swallowing sounds when feeding, and will be able to fall asleep quietly for 3-4 hours after feeding. The baby will be in good spirits when waking up, and his weight will steadily increase every month.

2. The baby has little excretion : If the baby urinates less than 8 times a day, has small stools or green loose stools, it means that the baby is not providing enough milk. Generally, babies with sufficient breast milk will have 2-3 bowel movements a day. The bowel movements are golden in color and sticky or formed, indicating that the baby has sufficient milk.

3. The baby's weight gain is slow : The easiest way to determine if there is insufficient milk is to weigh the baby. Parents can judge by weighing the baby continuously. Starting from 10 days after the baby is born, weigh the baby once before and after breastfeeding. The difference in weight is the amount of milk sucked. There is no need to take off clothes or change diapers when weighing the baby. If the amount of breast milk absorbed is 140 grams each time at 3 months and 180 grams each time at 6 months, it indicates that the milk supply is sufficient. But if your baby's weight gain is very slow, it means that your breast milk is insufficient.

4. Breastfeeding time is too long : If the breastfeeding time exceeds 20 or even 30 minutes, the baby always stops while feeding, and refuses to let go of the nipple at the end, it can be judged that the milk is insufficient.

5. Short intervals between breastfeedings : Two weeks after birth, if the intervals between breastfeedings are still very short, and the baby cries for food again about an hour after feeding, it can be concluded that there is insufficient breast milk.

6. Judging from the mother’s breasts : Generally speaking, about two weeks after giving birth, if the mother feels her breasts are full and the surface veins are visible, it is a sign that the mother has sufficient breast milk. If the opposite is true, it means that the mother does not have enough breast milk.