What symptoms will babies have if they don't have enough breast milk?

The most common problem encountered after giving birth is insufficient milk. Insufficient milk will affect the baby's normal eating, and the baby will cry and be restless if he is not full. Many mothers cannot feel the lack of breast milk, but you can observe from the baby's performance that when the amount of milk secretion is small, the breast pain will be relieved, the baby cannot make a big swallowing sound when sucking milk, and will keep crying.

Symptoms of insufficient milk supply

Insufficient milk supply can be judged by the performance of the mother and baby. Only by judging it early can measures be taken to increase the mother's milk secretion.

From the mother's perspective, the signs of insufficient milk supply:

1. Although a small amount of milk is secreted from the breasts, the baby does not make any sound of swallowing milk when sucking.

2. Before breastfeeding, the mother does not feel breast swelling, and there is no obvious change in the breasts after feeding.

3. No milk is produced within 5 days after delivery and cannot be squeezed out. In addition, the nipples are painful, red and swollen, and the nipples remain hard after feeding.

From the baby's perspective, the signs of insufficient milk supply :

1. The newborn has fewer than 6 bowel movements per day in the first three days, and the stool is black, green or brown. After one month, newborns defecate less than three times a day.

2. If the baby drinks milk at least eight times a day, or even if the feeding frequency is sufficient, the baby will still suck without knowing how to be full, and the sucking time on each side exceeds half an hour.

3. After feeding, the baby continues to cry, or soon starts crying and looking for the nipple.

4. After feeding, children often sleep for less than 1 hour.

5. Five days after birth, the baby's daily weight gain does not reach 15 to 30 grams. Ten days after birth, the weight returns to the level at birth.

6. The baby takes a long time to feed and sucks the nipple hard, but no continuous swallowing sound can be heard.

How to judge insufficient milk supply

1. Each time the baby is full of milk, it can last for 2-3 hours. If you want to eat again after an hour or even half an hour after breastfeeding, it may be that you are not having enough milk.

2. Judge based on the child’s mental state. If he is in a good mood, full of energy and plays for a while after drinking milk, it means he is full.

3. It is normal for the baby to urinate at least six times and defecate at least three times a day. If the frequency of urination and defecation does not reach the lower limit, it means that there is insufficient milk.

4. Generally speaking, babies' stools are slightly watery but mushy. When the stool is too watery and green foam can be observed, it may mean that the mother's milk supply is insufficient.

5. The baby's weight gain is regular. One month after birth, the baby's weight will increase by at least 600 grams compared to birth. If your baby's weight gain is not up to standard, it may be due to insufficient milk.