How do I know if my baby has had enough?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Truong Nghia Binh - Obstetrician-Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.
First-time mothers will probably wonder many times about whether their children have had enough to eat. Is the amount of breast milk enough for the baby to gain weight? After leaving the mother's womb, the baby sleeps, does it need to be woken up to breastfeed? The reason is that mothers often worry that insufficient breastfeeding will affect the physical and mental development of the baby.

1. Breastfeeding time

Newborn babies should stay in the same room as their mothers, and start breastfeeding early in the first half to 1 hour after birth. Mothers should breastfeed on demand and until the baby is full (the average breastfeeding time is about 20-30 minutes). Let your baby empty one breast first (because the final milk is high in calories) and then feed on the other breast. The more often you breastfeed, the more milk you will produce.
In the first day after birth, the baby needs to feed every hour or if the baby is too sleepy and sleeps a lot, the mother needs to feed the baby more milk. After the first 1-2 days have passed, your baby will be constantly hungry because his stomach is small, empty quickly and will digest all the food in a few hours.
Depending on your baby's appetite, sometimes he just wants a little feed or other times he wants a longer and fuller feed. By the end of the first week, breastfeeding will likely require 12 feeds every 24 hours. Mothers should pay attention and give milk to babies whenever needed.

2. How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk?

Mothers can tell if their baby is getting enough milk based on the following signs:
2.1 Wet diapers The most common way to know if your baby is getting enough is through the number of diapers. Mothers need to note the following:
In the first two days after birth, your baby needs to change about 2-4 diapers. However, from the 5th day on, this number increases to about 6-8 pieces. The baby's urine is pale in color and has no odor. If your baby's urine is dark, chances are he's still hungry. 2.2 Going to the toilet Going outside is a way to know if the baby is getting enough to eat or not. Here are some things to keep in mind:
From the first 1-2 days, your baby usually passes meconium (thick, sticky, black or dark green). As your baby transitions from colostrum to breast milk, his stools will become looser, yellow, and less foul-smelling. During the first few weeks, your baby's poop will change suddenly about 2-3 days before going once. As long as your baby changes diapers 6-8 times a day, the stools will be yellow and loose. 2.3 Weight gain After birth about 3-4 days, the baby may experience physiological weight loss. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about. About 2 weeks later, your baby's weight will return to normal. The baby's weight, height and head circumference increase continuously, which means that the baby is getting enough milk. Usually after the first week, the baby's weight is the same as at birth, and after that will increase 200g per week.
In addition, mothers can also recognize by signs that the breast is softer after feeding, the baby will automatically leave the breast after feeding, after feeding, the baby will sleep for 2-4 hours.

2.4 Baby's hands tell you very clearly that the baby is full. Please take the time to observe your baby during each meal from the moment he is born. When hungry, in addition to crying, your baby's hands will clenched and shake continuously or he will even put his fist in his mouth.
At the end of the meal, the baby's hand gradually loosens and opens the whole hand. This is the sign of feeling “I am full”.
A relaxed, energized baby's body tends to naturally relax and stretch.
2.5 The baby is comfortable, happy and relaxed If the baby has released the breast but is still uncomfortable, wobbly, or crying, you need to check the following steps:
Burp the baby Next and then invite the baby to feed again. . Check that your baby is latched on correctly and has a comfortable sucking position. Then let the baby continue to suckle, if the baby accepts to continue to suckle and automatically releases the breast, combined with signs of no longer fussing, it is time for the baby to have eaten. 2.6. The baby's sleep is seamless When the baby is full, it is also the time when the baby will have a deep and good sleep. If your baby sleeps for more than 45-60 minutes (45 minutes is the minimum time for a newborn's sleep), it is a signal that the baby's milk intake is enough for sleeping and playing activities.

3. How to get enough breast milk for babies?

Mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies for at least 6 months. So in order to have an abundant milk supply for breastfeeding, even during pregnancy, the mother needs to eat enough, have a reasonable rest, and be mentally comfortable. At the same time, mothers must eat enough nutrients such as starch, protein, fat, vitamins and mineral salts.
Mother's diet needs to be higher than normal. Every day, you should eat a few more bowls of rice, some meat, fish, or eggs, some vegetables. Mothers should eat more ripe fruit. At the same time, you should also limit spices such as chili, onions, and garlic because they easily make milk smell bad, and babies easily quit.
In addition to eating enough, mothers also need to drink enough, get enough sleep. Mothers can drink more milk, eat more green vegetables and fruits to help breast milk get more and full of nutrients.
It is important for mothers to produce a lot of milk that mothers need to breastfeed often and properly. A baby latching on to the breast correctly will suckle more effectively and avoid causing pain to the mother's breast.
Mothers should keep the spirit comfortable, cheerful, avoid worrying and stress. Increased closeness to the baby also increases milk production.
Breastfeeding is not only providing the necessary nutrients for the baby, but also beneficial for the mother. Besides, breastfeeding also helps to create a strong bond between mother and baby. Hopefully the above sharing can help mothers be more confident, no longer embarrassed when taking care of a newborn baby.
In the process of breastfeeding, if you notice any abnormal signs, parents can take their children to Vinmec International General Hospital, because this is one of the leading hospitals in the country for examination, Diagnosis and treatment of digestive, urinary, respiratory, and nutritional diseases, especially in infants and young children. With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.
If you have a need for consultation and examination at Vinmec Hospitals under the nationwide health system, please book an appointment on the website for service.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

SEE ALSO:
How is breastfeeding good for both mother and baby? How long does breast milk keep in the freezer? Storing breast milk: Do's and Don'ts