💡 Ask the Expert👩‍⚕️: How do I know my baby is feeding enough?

As a general rule, eating a varied and balanced diet is all that is required when breast feeding. Occasionally your baby may be sensitive to something in your diet though. If you suspect this is the case, you could try keeping a food diary for a week or two and record everything you eat. Often you are then able to pinpoint what the problem might be. Before cutting whole food groups out of your diet though, it is best to discuss it with your doctor.

Baby generally releases the breast on his own and seems content and happy after a feed. Fists that may have been clenched are now relaxed Breasts that felt firm before the feed have now softened. You witness baby actively gulping during the feeding session Baby has 6 to 8 wet diapers in 24 hours Baby is meeting growth and development milestones

There are many positions to feed a baby in, and the best one for you might take a bit of trial and error. Factors such as your breast size and shape, the baby’s oral anatomy, baby’s size, your nipples, and many other things will impact this. If you are unsure, you could always reach out to a breast feeding professional for guidance.

It really depends on the mother. While some women find that their weight drops off easily while breast feeding, others find that they have difficulty losing weight while breast feeding. There are many reasons for this. There have been numerous studies done on this over the years, but all have been inconclusive unfortunately.

The single best way to increase your supply is to have lots of skin to skin contact, and latch your baby frequently and on demand. If you cannot latch, then a good quality Hospital Grade pump is your next best bet. If you are pumping, then make sure that you are measured to ensure that the flanges fit correctly. Getting lots of rest, and staying hydrated is also recommended. There are certain foods and supplements which some mothers find helpful. None of these will take the place of frequent latching or pumping though.

As a general rule, you cannot over feed a breast fed baby. Some mothers do have an over abundant supply, but it is not a concern unless it is causing problems for mum or baby. Very rarely, rapid weight gain in a breast fed baby can be as a result of a medical condition, but most breast fed babies who initially gain a lot of weight will slim down once they become mobile.

While some mothers find breast feeding pillows helpful, they are not generally necessary and can be a bit cumbersome to use when you are out and about. Feeding in positions such as The Biological position, where you use your body to support the baby, can be helpful to learn.