How Do You Know?

When my patients ask me what’s the number one thing that they can do to increase the chances that they’ll be able to breastfeed their baby,  I tell them to take a breastfeeding class BEFORE they deliver.  And, if they bring their partner or whoever is going to be providing lots of support in the first few days, that helps more. 

Why is that, you might ask. It’s because, this is a new skill and the last thing any mom needs, is someone constantly asking them questions, like, “How do you know if they’re getting enough?” or “Why are you feeding that baby again?”  These types of questions undermine a mom’s confidence.  When everyone is on the same page, things go much better, and there are fewer questions and more validation.  When moms choose to use formula, they too need validation and fewer questions about their choice. So how do you know if the baby is getting enough to eat?  Well, you have check their diapers.  If there are plenty of wet diapers (5-8) and a few stools (1-5) each day, then the baby is getting plenty to eat.  For more information on feeding your baby click on Barb's Daily Dose