Although it is common to hear mothers who say “they do not have enough milk to breastfeed their baby”, the truth is that in very few cases it is a real fact (hypogalactia), as long as breastfeeding is carried out on demand and there is no medical problems that justify it.
However, there may be other factors that affect the production of breast milk and the correct feeding of the baby. We explain in which cases this can happen and what measures to take to solve it.
How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?
To determine if the baby is receiving enough milk, we must pay attention to two especially important signs:
- Weight gain
A newborn baby has to gain between 120 and 150 grams a week, and after two weeks have regained his birth weight. If this is not happening, it is important to consult with the pediatrician for an evaluation .
However, in routine check-ups the pediatrician will monitor the baby’s weight and its evolution, so it is not advisable to obsess daily with the subject, much less do a double weighing (before and after taking) to check if it has Eaten.
- Wet diapers
The amount of urine and its characteristics is another of the signs that will help us to know if our baby is receiving enough milk. Thus, if under normal circumstances he wets diapers less than six times a day and the urine is yellow and has a strong odor, we should consult with the pediatrician.
Other factors such as the number of feedings you take, the type and amount of stools you make, your physical appearance or your interaction with us can also give us clues if there are problems with your diet.
Causes why the baby receives little milk
Once the warning signs have been assessed by the pediatrician, and in the event that it is concluded that the baby is indeed receiving little milk, the causes must be sought to remedy it . In most cases this situation is due to:
A bad grip or a bad position
When putting your baby to the breast you should look at his mouth. This should be wide open, and cover the entire nipple and part of the areola. The nipple must be located on the palate of his mouth, therefore, to achieve a good grip it is recommended to place the nipple at the height of the baby’s nose so that he orients his mouth upwards.
If you take only the nipple or cover it with the center of your mouth, it is easier for there to be pain from a bad position and milk production is also affected.
Misuse of the liners
If there is any reason why we are using nipple shields to breastfeed our baby, we must be very aware of the importance of placing them properly and using an appropriate size for our breast . Otherwise, they could not only cause us discomfort, but also affect milk production.
For this reason, it is advisable to always consult a lactation consultant to guide us on whether or not to use it, and how to do it correctly.
Breastfeeding on demand is not respected
Breastfeeding should always be on demand, both day and night. That is, without schedules, clocks and when the baby wants. If you put the baby to the breast every time he asks, it will stimulate the production of milk naturally. Take your time and respect their rhythm. Breastfeeding should be a calm and relaxed experience.
The time it takes to complete a feed is different for every baby and every mother, and it also varies according to the age of the baby and from feed to feed. However, in the first days of life it is recommended that they take at least 8-12 doses a day.
Short lingual frenulum
Between 1.7 and 4.8% of newborns each year in Spain present ankyloglossia or short lingual frenulum. It is a disorder that restricts the range of movements of the tongue and, therefore, can affect the production of breast milk.
If in addition to gaining little weight, your baby asks for the breast frequently, makes clicking sounds when nursing or the nipple slips out of the mouth several times while nursing, you should consult a lactation consultant. In any case, you should know that short tongue tie and breastfeeding are not incompatible.
Lack of trust
Mothers’ lack of confidence in their ability to breastfeed can also affect production. And it is that if the mother believes that “she does not have enough milk”, she will end up offering a bottle to her baby, and since there is no breast stimulation, the production will end up going down.
This lack of confidence can be caused by several factors, such as the experiences of other mothers in the environment. For example, some women have the belief that they will not be able to breastfeed their babies because their mothers, grandmothers or other women in the family did not. But the success or failure of breastfeeding has no genetic inheritance .
Likewise, if our baby cries frequently and breastfeeding is on demand, we should not think that he is doing it either because “we don’t have enough milk and he is left hungry.” That is, there can be many factors behind the baby’s crying.
Breast pumping can also negatively affect mothers’ confidence . And there are many women who decide to check if they have milk expressing it with a breast pump, but the fact that little comes out has nothing to do with the amount of milk that the mother produces.
Hypogalactia: a real problem affecting production
But despite the fact that many women claim “they do not have enough milk”, the truth is that the vast majority of mothers are capable of producing all the milk that their baby (or their babies, in the case of twins or babies, needs). tandem breastfeeding).
Only in a minority of cases does hypogalactia, or low production of breast milk, occur for justified medical reasons. According to the Alba Lactancia Association, the medical causes behind hypogalactia are:
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Undiagnosed thyroid disorders , such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or postpartum thyroiditis. With medication compatible with breastfeeding, milk production should not be affected.
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Eating disorders that produce sustained amenorrhea.
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Mammary hypoplasia , an alteration in the breasts that affects the breast tissue and that has nothing to do with having little breast.
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Breast reduction surgery.
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Other diseases such as Shehann Syndrome, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, diabetes or morbid obesity.
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Other phenomena such as retention of the placenta, emergency or scheduled cesarean section, or taking certain medications could temporarily affect the production of breast milk .
What to do if the mother thinks she has little milk?
Mothers who are having difficulties with their breastfeeding and think that they do not have enough milk, need the help and support of an expert person . In this way, it will be the health personnel specialized in breastfeeding, or a consultant, who can help the mother to find the causes of this possible or supposed sensation of low production, and remedy it.
It is also important that the mother knows what “lactation crises” or “growth spurts” are, because in many cases, these normal episodes in the baby’s development end up putting an end to breastfeeding when they think that he is left hungry. for lack of milk.
And another fundamental aspect is the support of the family and the environment closest to the mother, because as we have already seen, this supposed “lack of milk” is often due to a problem of trust due to phrases and myths that recent mom won’t stop listening.
In any case, if the pediatrician really confirms that the baby is receiving little milk, it is necessary to determine the causes and help the mother to increase production (without falling into false myths) so that the baby continues to receive the best food in these first few months. months of life.
