Have you ever wondered if your baby is breastfeeding well? I remember sitting on the couch breastfeeding my newborn baby for an hour at a time thinking everything was going well, only to find out later that he really hadn’t been getting any milk at all. So how can you tell?

1. Check the latch.

A baby who isn’t latched well often struggles to get milk from the breast or can’t get any at all.

You can tell your baby has a good latch when:

• Their chin is pressed into the breast
• Their mouth is wide while they’re latched on and there is lots of areola (the coloured circle around the nipple) in the mouth, especially on the chin side. Areola can usually still be seen by the top lip as the latch is asymmetrical or a bit lopsided.
• Their head is tipped back slightly
• Their nose is clear of the breast or only just touching slightly
• And most importantly: it is NOT painful!

If you think your baby isn’t latching well, you might like to work with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) to help you figure out why. Book a home visit with me HERE. 

2. It’s all about the swallows!

Have you ever noticed that your baby’s sucking pattern changes throughout a feed? When your baby first latches on, they will usually start off with short, quick sucks that stimulate the nerves in the nipple and trigger the letdown reflex. The letdown is a reflex (milk ejection reflex) that causes the milk stored in the breast to be pushed down the ducts towards the nipple to your baby.

When stimulated, the nerves in the nipple send messages to the brain which triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin then causes the storage sacks in the breast to contract and squeeze the milk out into the ducts towards the nipple. Some mums feel the let down as a prickling or tingling sensation in the breast. Others notice it as a sudden feeling of fullness in the breasts. Some mums don’t feel the let down at all.

Even if you can’t feel it, you can look for these signs that the letdown is happening:

• You will be able to see your baby’s suck pattern change from short, quick sucks to a longer and rhythmic suck/swallow pattern.
• You may notice milk leaking from the other breast (the let down affects both breasts at the same time)
• You will be able to see your baby’s jaw drop lower during some sucks (this is a swallow)
• You may hear your baby swallowing. This might sound like a “kah” sound or a gulp like sound. This usually happens every 1-2 sucks during a letdown.

It’s these rhythmic swallows that we want to see! This is when your baby is actually getting milk. If they’re not swallowing, they will only be getting small dribbles and drips of milk which is unlikely to be enough for them to grow and gain weight well. Most mums will have a few let downs at each breast during a feed (those mums that feel the let down only usually notice the first one) which means the suck pattern may change from the long rhythmic suck/swallow pattern back to the small, short sucks for a while and then back to another period of suck/swallows, or you may notice your baby pauses for a while and then does some more swallows.

If you’re not sure if your baby is swallowing or you can see that your baby definitely isn’t swallowing, it is important to get help from an IBCLC early to help you work out what’s going on. You can book a home visit with me HERE.

3. Watch their nappy output

Even if your baby is doing everything above, you may find yourself doubting yourself and your supply, especially when your baby is fussy for no apparent reason. The smallest little thing that your baby does can make you feel like you’re doing it all wrong and send you into a spiral of anxiety and worry that you’re not good enough. There are many “signs” that make mums think they don’t have enough milk, but these are usually unreliable signs. The only reliable signs you need to watch for to know that your baby is getting enough breastmilk are:

• Your baby is having at least 5 heavily wet nappies each day
• Your baby is doing 3 runny/soft poos each day (babies older than 6 weeks may do less, but they should still be runny/soft)
• Your baby is gaining weight
• Your baby is growing in length and head circumference
• Your baby is generally content (remember, all babies have fussy periods throughout the day)

If you are noticing things that make you worry about your supply, bring your focus back to the reliable signs! Use this as your reassurance when you are doubting yourself.

If your baby is not showing the signs that they are getting enough breastmilk, get help from a lactation consultant ASAP to help you work out what’s going on and get back on track. Book a home visit with me HERE.  

4. Your baby is feeding frequently

Babies breastfeed a lot! At least 8 times per day (but more likely 10-12) and they often are not spaced out evenly… Maybe a long stretch between feeds then a shorter stretch, then another short stretch… etc. This is completely normal! Some parenting books talk about only feeding every 3 or 4 hours but your baby is the expert on when they’re hungry, not a book! Your baby will show feeding cues that will let you know they’re hungry and your job as a parent is to respond to those cues.

Along the same lines, there is no need to time how long your baby is on the breast. Some parents are told 15 (or any other random number!) minutes on one side, then switch breasts. This can interfere with your baby’s feeding instincts and can also decrease supply in some cases as the breasts may not be getting drained well.

Some babies come off the breast all on their own when they’re finished but some babies are happy to just hang out at the breast even when they’re not actively feeding anymore. If your baby is the second type, you can try doing some breast compressions (video HERE) to see if your baby starts to swallow some more. If not, they’ve likely had all they are going to have from that side. Most mums find it helpful to offer the second breast with every feed, though not all babies will need both sides. Your baby will let you know if they don’t want anymore. Moral of the story? Watch your baby, not the clock!

If you have any concerns about how your baby is breastfeeding or how breastfeeding feels for you, getting in touch with a lactation consultant as soon as possible can help you get breastfeeding back on track. You can book a home visit with me below.