Expert explains that breast milk is enough to meet the needs of the baby

“Is my milk sustaining the baby?” “Do I need to supplement?” These are frequently asked questions by mothers who are breastfeeding, especially in the first days of the child’s life. These questions are often answered by people who help reinforce the doubt and belief that breast milk is weak and does not support the baby. So let’s look at some questions:

first milk

The first milk that the mother produces is colostrum, which is rich for first nutrition. But it comes out in a small amount, suitable for the first days of life.

Increased milk production

Between the third and fourth days of life, there is milk let-down. At that moment, the woman “feels” her breast full, but not always. baby can extract all the milk produced. Gradually milk production adjusts to the child’s demand, and the mother may mistakenly think that she is producing less milk.

Assess the baby’s cry

A baby cries for many reasons, not just hunger. It is necessary to assess the real need in order not to interpret that the breast milk is being insufficient.

Empty one breast at a time

The more the baby suckles, the greater the milk production. You have to exhaust one breast to be able to offer the other. This works like a command sent to the brain, warning that the stock is being used and that it is necessary to provide more.

Adequate consumption of milk

The first milk offered in a feeding is rich in water and mineral salts, called previous milk. The milk that follows, hindmilk, is rich in fat, which makes the baby grow and gain weight. Therefore, if the baby is not expressing the hind milk, he will be hungry soon, and the mother may interpret that her milk is weak.

handle care

Handling is another factor that can interfere negatively if it is not adequate. The baby needs to grab a part of the areola, in addition to the beak, and make milking movements to remove the milk from the alveoli.

If the child is poorly positioned and cannot express milk properly, he will become irritated, shaking his head, as if to say that it is not good like that, and the mother will end up interpreting that the baby does not want her milk anymore.

Be patient and seek help

Anyway, there are several factors that can be improved and that contribute to the success of breastfeeding. It is important for a woman to have help from people close to her or from a professional she trusts.

There are many support groups for women on social media. Knowing that other women experience similar dilemmas and finding out how they managed to resolve certain issues can help calm the mother.

The most important thing is to be patient, with the certainty that breast milk is the best baby food, never being weak or insufficient. And enjoy it, because, going beyond nutrition, breastfeeding should be a moment of pleasure and intimacy between you and your baby.

By Dr. Lucimeire Brockveld in collaboration with Redação EdiCase

He holds a doctorate from the Faculty of Public Health of the University of São Paulo in Dental Education, Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding.