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Low Milk Supply and Colic
Low milk supply is more common than some people might think. Some women have permanent supply problems because of insufficient glandular tissue, breast surgery or injuries, or other chronic medical conditions. Other women might experience temporary low supply because of latch problems, drug side effects, illness, and so forth. Women who have several babies are likely to have supply issues at some time. Mothers with low supply issues will need to take steps to determine how much supplementation her baby needs and to induce her body to make more milk. Is the Supply Really Low? Because mothers instinctively feel the need to feed their babies when they cry, it’s important to know exactly how to tell when the baby is not getting enough. There are lists of symptoms which indicate the baby might not be getting enough that include things like breasts never feeling overly full and baby still acting fussy after eating, but these things can all be explained by other situations. The deciding factor in determining whether the baby is getting enough milk or not is the baby’s output. If the baby is not peeing and pooping enough, then she is not getting enough milk. On the other hand, if she is peeing and pooping enough, then she is getting enough and all other symptoms have other explanations. |
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If the supply is low from the start, the baby will take longer to pass the meconium. If the baby’s stools have not begun to change color by the fourth day of life, the baby is likely not getting enough to eat. This is even more likely if the mother is struggling to latch the baby properly. If the baby has not passed the meconium and the nipples are excessively painful by the fourth day of life, proper latching should be reviewed. This may be all that is required to solve the problem at this early stage.
If the baby is more than a week old, weight gain may be used to confirm the suspicions that the baby is not getting enough (only if the baby’s output is low). Most babies lose a few ounces in the first few days after birth. This weight should be regained by the end of the first week and baby should start gaining steadily. Babies put on quite a bit of weight the first few weeks, nearly doubling by the end of the second month. Baby should grow noticeably every week for at least the first 6 weeks. Determine How Much Supplementation to Give |
Additional Information
MOBI Lactogenic Herbs: A list of herbs that boost milk supply. Nutrition & Colic: How nutrition affects colic. Breastfeeding & Colic: How breastfeeding can affect colic. Improper Latch: How improperly latching baby can cause colic and how to fix it. Finding the Right Formula: What formula is best for the colicky baby? |