How do I know my baby's getting enough breast milk?
Unlike with bottles, you can’t really measure how much milk your baby is getting while breastfeeding. So I stressed out whenever one of my kids suddenly wanted to nurse more frequently. “A baby who is feeding more often doesn’t mean a mom has low milk supply,” reassures lactation consultant Anita Arora. “Babies go through growth spurts or cluster feeds, or just want to be soothed and be near their moms.”
Once you’ve checked there’s adequate weight gain and enough wet and dirty diapers, just go with the flow and feed on demand. “Any time is a good time to breastfeed a baby,” says Jo-Anne Elder-Gomes, a La Leche League leader in Fredericton. Even at midnight, 2 a.m., 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. It’s an exhausting schedule, but it’s totally normal—and it won’t be like this forever. You and your baby will soon find a more sustainable equilibrium.