How is the milk?
The amount of milk depends on how often the child suck. When the baby breastfeeds, the sucking motion causes the release into the bloodstream of hormones from the pituitary gland, located in the brain. The hormones released are oxytocin and prolactin. Oxytocin causes contraction of the mammary glands of the mother’s breast, which milk is released and flows to the child.
Many women experience a feeling of tightness or weight in your breasts when the baby begins to suckle. Prolactin controls the amount of milk produced. The more breast the child, the more prolactin is released and produce more milk. This means that the frequency with which breast the baby controls the amount of milk produced.How to know if the baby gets enough milk?
Among the tracks that should be given attention include:
- The infant between 6-8 wet diapers a day.
- The infant ga wins between 100-200 per week (about 400-800 g per month).
- The baby feeds every 2-3 hours (around 8-12 times a day).
- The baby looks normal, with good color and smooth skin, reacts normally, is strong and moves normally.
If the baby is gaining weight properly and the correct number of wet diapers every day, no need to worry, even if you want to nurse frequently. All children are different and some have a greater need for nursing and physical contact.
Many new mothers worry that will not have enough milk. The amount of milk depends on the size of the breasts, as both small and large breasts are almost the same number of mammary glands, only fatty tissue varies. On the other hand, it is important to believe in yourself and convince yourself that you are able to do well. The body has the ability to give milk, so if not achieved will be due to external factors.
What if the child is asleep and does not suck?
Some babies want to sleep all day, little at a time suck, and not very often. If the infant is not gaining weight or 6-8 wet diapers a day, you must awaken and stimulate feeding every two hours, every day. Switch breasts every 10 minutes to keep the child’s interest and make every effort mame. Move you and give gentle massage helps to keep the child awake, caress and stimulate you to talk and make you wake up in an appropriate manner.
credit to: Dra. María Jesús Ceñal González-Fierro, Dra. Vibeke Manniche, Christel Bech, Dr. Stuart Crisp
Children who receive little or no breastmilk are at increased risk for becoming overweight and developing diabetes and cancers, including leukemia.