There are many concerns that mothers experience when they start breastfeeding. One of them is whether the amount of breast milk can meet the needs of the baby. Actually, how much the hell need for breast milk for newborns?
The need for breast milk (ASI) for newborns is different. However, newborns generally only need a small amount of breast milk. The amount of milk needed by the baby will continue to increase in the first few days.
The amount of breast milk a newborn needs
A new mother may expect her baby to suckle for a long time and suck in large quantities of milk to keep him full. However, this is not the case. Newborns usually only feed for about 20 minutes on each breast.
The amount of breast milk consumed by newborns at each feeding also varies, depending on their age. As an illustration, here is the average amount of milk a baby needs at each feeding in the first week:
- The first day, as much as 15 ml.
- The second day, as much as 20 ml.
- Third day, as much as 30
- Fourth day, as much as 45
- Seventh day, as much as 60
In the first month, babies feed 8-12 times per day. When the baby is 1-2 months old, the frequency of compiling it will decrease to 7-9 times a day. The frequency of feeding babies who are breastfed is different from that of babies who are given formula milk. This is because breast milk is easier to digest, so the baby is hungry faster.
If your little one gets hungry easily and feeds frequently, you don't need to be afraid that your breast milk supply will not meet their needs. As the frequency of breastfeeding increases, the natural milk production will also increase, especially in the first few weeks.
Signs of a Newborn Baby Enough Breastfeeding
To find out if your little one is getting enough breast milk, you can pay attention to the following signs:
- The little one releases the mother's breast by itself.
- Your baby makes a swallowing sound when feeding.
- After feeding, the little one looks calm and not fussy.
- Mother's breasts feel soft because the milk has been drained.
- Your little one pees every few hours.
- Your baby's poop changes color from dark to yellowish in color and has a soft texture.
The need for breast milk for newborns is generally only small. So, if there is not much breast milk, there is no need to worry. The important thing is that your little one wants to continue breastfeeding and looks full after feeding. To meet the needs of the Little One, Mother is advised to adopt a healthy lifestyle so that milk production is abundant.
If you are worried that your little one is not getting enough breast milk, consult your pediatrician or obstetrician and lactation consultant to find out how to breastfeed properly.