- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- babies today articles
- babies today q&a
- toddlers today articles
- toddlers today q&a
- breastfeed.com articles
- breastfeed.com q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Is Baby Getting Enough Breast Milk?
A Lesson in Supply and Demand
By Melissa Clark Vickers, IBCLC
The breast is an amazing milk factory. It bases how much milk to make on how much milk your baby removes. If he takes a lot, your breast makes a lot. If he takes only a little, your breast responds by making less milk. And your breast continues to make milk, even during a feeding. Unlike a bottle, it is never truly empty, so there's no reason to wait a set time period for your breast to "refill." 
Signs of Good Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding doesn't hurt! When your baby is properly positioned at the breast, it makes it easy for him to get that milk out. A poor position often causes pain while breastfeeding. Sometimes a minor change in positioning makes a major change in comfort – and in the amount of milk your baby can take from the breast. If it hurts, get help.
- You can hear your baby swallowing while he nurses. Listen for a soft "cah, cah" sound as he nurses. Try placing a finger under his chin to feel him swallow. A typical swallowing pattern starts out with a few quick sucks to get your milk to let down. Then the sucking slows down with a swallow after every suck or two. Your baby may rest for a bit, and then do the quick sucks again, followed by the slow sucking pattern. This means that he has triggered another letdown – and that your body is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing! Those later letdowns help get the fattier milk out that will help satisfy your baby.
