Is your baby getting enough milk?

Breast-feeding: Is your baby getting enough milk?

If you're breast-feeding, you may wonder whether your baby is getting enough milk. Ask yourself these questions — and know when to seek help.

By Mayo Clinic staff
 
When you're breast-feeding, you can't measure the amount of milk your baby takes at each feeding — but that's OK. You can watch for reassuring signs that your baby is getting enough to eat.

Cover the basics

When you're breast-feeding, ask yourself these questions:

• Is my baby gaining weight? Steady weight gain is often the most reliable sign that a baby is getting enough to eat. Although most babies lose weight soon after birth, it's typically regained — and then some — within 10 days to two weeks. Your baby will be weighed at each checkup. If you're concerned about your baby's weight, you may want to schedule more frequent weigh-ins.
• How often does my baby breast-feed? Most newborns breast-feed eight to 12 times a day — about every two to three hours. By six to eight weeks after birth, your baby will probably begin to go longer between feedings. During growth spurts, your baby may take more at each feeding or want to breast-feed more often. Trust your body's ability to keep up with the increased demand. The more often your baby nurses, the more milk your breasts produce.
• Can I hear my baby swallowing? If you listen carefully, you'll be able to hear your baby swallowing. Also look for a strong, steady, rhythmic motion in your baby's lower jaw. A small amount of milk may even dribble out of your baby's mouth.
• How do my breasts feel? When your baby is latched on successfully, you'll feel a gentle pulling sensation on your breast — rather than a pinching or biting sensation on your nipple. Your breasts may feel firm or full before the feeding, and softer or emptier afterward. If breast-feeding hurts, ask your baby's doctor or a lactation consultant for help.
• What about my baby's diapers? By the fourth day after birth, expect your baby to have six to eight wet diapers a day. Also expect regular bowel movements — often three or more a day. The stool will be dark and sticky for the first couple of days, eventually becoming seedy, loose and golden yellow.
• Does my baby seem healthy? A baby who seems satisfied after feedings and is alert and active at other times is likely getting enough milk. Also look for a healthy skin tone. 

Trust your instincts

You know your baby best. If you sense something isn't right, contact your baby's doctor — especially if your baby:

• Isn't gaining weight
• Isn't wetting six to eight diapers a day or having regular bowel movements
• Is consistently fussy after feedings
• Seems sleepy all the time
• Isn't interested in breast-feeding
• Spits up forcefully or more than a small amount at a time

Remember, every baby is unique. You may be surprised by your baby's feeding patterns. As long as your baby grows and develops normally, however, you can be sure that you're meeting his or her nutritional needs.

7 tips for pumping success

Breast-feeding is a commitment, but your efforts are worthwhile. If you're pumping, follow these simple tips for maintaining your milk supply — from pumping often to drinking plenty of fluids.

By Mayo Clinic staff
 
Breast-feeding is based on supply and demand. The more you breast-feed your baby — or pump while you're away from your baby — the more milk your breasts will produce. Consider these seven tips for pumping success.

1. Relax

Stress can hinder your body's natural ability to release breast milk. Find a quiet place to pump. It may help to massage your breasts or use warm compresses. You may want to think about your baby, look at a picture of your baby or listen to relaxing music.

2. Pump often

The more you pump, the more milk you'll produce — especially if you're using a high-quality pump. If you're working full time, try to pump for 15 minutes every few hours during the workday. If you can, pump both breasts simultaneously. It'll save you precious time and may even increase your body's production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production.

3. When you're with your baby, breast-feed on demand

The more you breast-feed your baby when you're together, the greater your supply will be when you pump. Try more frequent evening, early morning or weekend feedings. Pumping after a breast-feeding session can help boost milk supply, too — even if you pump but no milk is produced.

4. Avoid or limit formula feedings

Formula feedings will reduce your baby's demand for breast milk, which will lower your milk production. To maintain your milk supply, it's important to pump anytime your baby has a formula feeding. Remember, the more you breast-feed your baby or pump while you're apart, the more milk you'll produce. It also helps to pump extra milk — either after or between breast-feeding sessions — and freeze it for future use.

5. Drink plenty of fluids

Water, juice and milk can help you stay hydrated, which promotes milk production. Limit soda, coffee and other caffeinated drinks, though. Too much caffeine may lead to irritability or interfere with your baby's sleep. If you choose to have an occasional alcoholic drink, avoid breast-feeding for two hours afterward.

6. Don't smoke

Aside from the well-known dangers of smoking, smoking can reduce your milk supply — and the nicotine in your breast milk may change the taste of the milk and interfere with your baby's sleep. If you smoke, ask your doctor for options to help you quit. In the meantime, avoid smoking just before or during a feeding.

7. Take good care of yourself

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Include physical activity in your daily routine. Sleep when the baby sleeps — and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Also consider your birth control options. Birth control pills that contain estrogen may interfere with milk production. While you're breast-feeding, you may want to use condoms or other forms of birth control.
Breast-feeding is a commitment, and your efforts to maintain your milk supply are commendable. If you're having trouble maintaining your milk supply or you're concerned that you're not producing enough milk, ask your doctor or lactation consultant for other suggestions.

Maalik on Newborn Photo Session with //smallbites

//smallbites

Awalnya gue ngga kenal sama Rittar the owner of //smallbites. Ceritanya bagaimana gue bisa kenal Rittar itu gue melihat hasil karya fotonya Rittar yg fotoin Ninis pas dia lg hamil besaaaar (persis 1hr sebelum melahirkan kalo ngga salah....nekat!) hehehe.. 

Tdnya justru gue pengennya difotoin pas gue hamil tapiiii ternyata proposalnya ditolak mentah2 sm papanya Maalik. Jadilah gue bertekad untuk Maalik harus foto seperti bayi2 lainnya yg ada di blognya Rittar :
 

http://smallbitesbyrittar.wordpress.com/

or

http://www.smallbitesbyrittar.com/

THE NEW FAMILY MEMBER :)

-- mandy, papendy & abang maalik --

bingung JUDULnya :)

Confused want to start the story from where, so much of my life has changed .. a very beautiful change!!!

Awal ceritanya itu dimulai dr rabu sore gue udh ngga kerja karena sakitnya yg org2 bilang itu kontraksi, gue udh males ke kantor soalnya sakitnya udah ngga becanda lagi ;p cusss sorenya berangkat ke RS Asri sama andy & pas masuk ke ruang dr.satrio si dokter sempet becanda : "looh, belom melahirkan juga?" gue : %&$$#@!!* hehehe, begitu di CEK DALAM sama dokternya omaygat sakit ternyata yg namanya cek dalam ituh, hasilnya baru pembukaan 1 tapi masih belum sempurna kata dokter, banyakin jalan yah ibu kata dokter. Dalam hati gue masih kePDan besok gue masih mau ke kantor, mau ikut farewellnya @setoanggoro nobar sama tmn2 kantor di setiabudi eeeh ternyata malemnya GUE MALAH NGGA BISA TIDUR karena kontraksinya itu lebih sering disaat gue tidur -_____-"

Kamis paginya ternyata ngga sanggup juga buat ke kantor...kontraksinya tambah sering dan itu gue rasain seharian, pagi ini gue jalan pagi keliling blok rmh gue aja sama endy ditemenin dan itu pun cuma 1 keliling aja ;p dan setiap sakit kontraksi datang, gue disuruh sama mama untuk mengelilingi meja makan aja sampe sakitnya hilang & lumayanlah agak berkurang selebihnya gue tidur aja walopun suka kebangun kalo lagi sakit banget, malemnya pun sama kaya malam sebelumnya, hmmmfh..nikmatnya kontraksi. Bah!! 

Hari apa iniiii??? Jumat yah...rutinitas mengelilingi meja makan berlanjut & diselingi sama tidur siang, lumayan ngga berasa pas nonton the royal wedding siang sampe sore :) paling takut ketemu malem karena gue tau rasanya akan sama kaya malem2 sebelumnya dan sebelum gue naik ke kamar gue MINTA MAAF SAMA MAMA dan BERTERIMAKASIH karena dia dari hari rabu udah nemenin gue dirumah :* I LOVE YOU MOM

Nahhh... masuk ke hari Sabtu jam1an tengah malem tiba2 gue kaya pipis ngga ketahanan gitu, curiga air ketuban tapi gue ngantuuuk bgt jd gue bangunin endy cuma buat ngasihtau aja tapi pas gue coba mau tidur lagi beuhhhhh kontraksinya makin jadi, langsung nelfon mama buat siap2 ikut ke RS dan kita lgs berangkat deh, semua tas udah siap di mobil jadi tinggal cusss aja...


Sampai deh di RS Asri dan langsung naik ke lt.1 tempat bersalinnya, itu sekitar jam2an. Ada bidan-bidan yg jaga 2org dan mereka langsung cek dalam lagi dan kata bidannya udah PEMBUKAAN 5 rasanya gue pengen teriak girang denger pembukaan 5 berarti sebentar lagiii babynya akan lahir :D 
Jam setengah5 papaku dateng begitu di bbm sama mama, tapi gue udah ngga bisa becanda lagi semakin pembukaan terus nambah sampe jam5 dr.satrio udah sampai dan cek dalam hasilnya pembukaan 7 dan jam6an udah pembukaan 8 rasanya ituuu ALLAHU AKBAR!!! hehehe...won't tell you how its feel ;p
Sempet2nya suster nganterin makanan nasi goreng dan susu tapi ngga kepengen makaaaan!!!! Mulessss!!! :)


Siapppp..jam8 dokter udh duduk dikursi depan perut gue dan dimulailah perjuangan gue mengeluarkan beybibalabala ini, Alhamdulillah gue dapetin dokter yg baik hati & sabar, bidan-bidan yg sabar juga :) diruang bersalin lengkap ditungguin sama mama, papa, endyboy & teh dinna (kakaknya andy) geu cuma pesen sm teh dinna untuk ngga memvideokan proses lahirnya nanti detail jadi diambilnya cuma dr jauh aja. Endy setia ada di sebelah kanan gue, bantuin gue cara mengambil nafas yg benar gimana & ngingetin gue untuk tidak ngeden...WTF? Rasanya tuh seperti mau p*p tapi ngga boleh ngeden, crazy!!! Ahahaha...
Begitu dokter bilang "OK ibu siap tarik nafas untuk ngeden yah" *gue langsung blank gimana caranya ngeden & nafas secara senam hamil cuma sekali...huahuahua* untung bidannya baik hati mau ngajarin & menuntun cara mengejan yg baik & benar. Yak...dalam kurang lebih 6x gue mengejan MAALIK MAKARIM MUHIDIN lahir dengan selamat, sehat & tidak kurang satu apapun, ALHAMDULILLAH.... ALLAHU AKBAR...

Oiya gue juga mau mempromosikan dr.satrio yang sangat sangatttt sabar, dia ngga asal menggunting jalan lahirnya maalik, dia sabar menunggu sampai gue mengejan dengan ok, GUE JATUH CINTA sama cara kerja dokter satrio pokonya :) walopun dia semept bilang kalau gue ngga kuat mengejan akan ditindak vacuum tapi ternyata dia sabar tuh nungguin gue...terimakasih dokter 

Begitu maalik lahir tanpa babibu dokter langsung menaruhnya diperut gue, hangat & dia langsung 'ngempeng' jari tengah & jari manisnya :') persis sama seperti yg di USG waktu dia lg 'ngempeng', proses IMD awalnya lancar tangan kanannya seperti ada magnetnya langsung memegang puting gue yg sebelah kanan, Subhanallah. Sekitar setengah jam maalik di dada gue dan endyboy (mulai sekarang gue akan membahasakan endyboy dgn sebutan papa) meng-adzankan maalik diatas dada gue & itu rasanyaaaaa SEMPURNA bgt hidup gue, gue nangis pas proses meng-adzani itu, terharu gue :')
Suster mengambil maalik untuk ditimbang & blablabla sementara proses IMD belom sempurna, dia belum sampai ke puting gue tapi yasudahlah....

Jadi maalik lahir itu di umur 38minggu kurang 1hari, bb-nya 3.55kg, panjangnya 50cm :)

MAALIK MAKARIM MUHIDIN

Tulisan gue besok-besok ngga akan jauh dari seputar maalik & peran baru gue sebagai mamanya maalik :)

TEGANG

Andaikan semua tau isi hati gue saat ini....

Ahahak agak dangdut yak? Tapi ini beneran, gue lagi di tahap TEGANG karena

• ada istrinya temen gue yg bulan kehamilannya duluan gue tp malah dia duluan yg melahirkan...nah lo gue kapan?
• dokter darah gue udh kasih surat protokol untuk melahirkan gue nanti *dagdigdug* dan dia ngga minta gue dateng ke dia lagi, sampai ketemu pas melahirkan saja katanya *omg...pingsan*
• takut sama harus melahirkan normal atau secio, gatau apa yg harus gue pilih!!! even gue udh selalu bilang kalo ada temen gue yg nanya : "maunya lahiran apa normal/caesar?" jawaban gue selalu lantang : "pengennya normal dong" tp tetep aja gue TAKUTTTTT *cemen yah gue*
• kualitas tidur gue udh semakin berkurang, gue merasakan itu setiap gue bangun perut gue lg kenceng
• selalu was-was aka parno baby-M ngga bergerak di perut
• berasa mules kalo inget belom cuci botol, mensterilkan botol & breastpump
• tambah mules kalo inget sekarang lg ngga punya PRT

Sekian cerita ttg ketegangan gue mendekati hari H... Tik.. Tok.. Tik.. Tok..

♥ 35weeks ♥

Agak tegang kontrol ke dokter hari ini

Kenapa?

Pas diperiksa USG dr.satrio bilang kalo detak jantungnya baby-M lemah jadi gue diharuskan CTG (rekam jantungnya si baby) terus kata dokter beratnya baby-M udah 2600gram :) 

Pengalaman pertama di CTG masuk keruangan OK dikasih baju hijau gitu karena sdh memasuki wilayah ruang operasi, agak lama nunggu didalem situ karena alat CTGnya cuma 1 jadi gantian sama yg mau melahirkan. 

Gue disuruh tidur sampai akhirnya alat CTG dipasang di perut gue, jadi alatnya itu kaya stetoskop yg dipasang di perut gue & ditempelinnya pake iket pinggang karet terus alat itu merekam bunyi detak jantung bayinya dan hasilnya langsung ketulis dikertas gitu, semakin lama gue direkam, semakin panjang kertasnya. Gue dikasih tombol yg harus dipencet setiap bayinya bergerak. 

CTG ini diukurnya selama 30menit. Pertengahan gue lg asik mencet2 tombol karena kebetulan bayinya jadi aktif bgt & gue tau alesannya dia aktif gerak-gerak yaitu mybabybalabala itu udh laper, jam7an dia belom gue kasih makan ;p datenglah dr.satrio melihat hasil CTG yg udh setengah jalan dan ternyata kok hasilnya tetep lemah detaknya ternyata suster yg masang alatnya bengak! "kurang pas nih naronya.." jd dokter minta gue dioksigen dulu selama 2 jam abis itugue di CTG ulang -____-" Ngoook bgt kan?

Tanpa menunggu lama suami siagaku membeli aqua & sari roti coklat kesukaan gue, lumayan untuk mengganjal laper gue :) tapiii karena diharuskan tidur berjam2 jadi lama2 gue cranky karena pegel di punggung gue...

Akhirnya abis di oksigen langsung di CTG dan hasilnya selama 30menit itu suster & bidannya laporan ke dr.satrio : "dok, ibu cindy sudah selesai CTG dan hasilnya normal dok, sudah ada tegang setiap setengah jam, dan bayinya juga aktif, dok. Jadi duvadillannya tetap diberikan yah untuk diminum sehari 2x dosis setengah, baik dok, terimakasih"

Sebelom pulang susternya pesan "ibu, jangan terlalu capek yah soalnya bayinya aktif takutnya nanti terjadi pembukaan kalo bayinya aktif bgt sedangkan belum waktunya"

Yaudah saatnya pulaaang... capek & pegel :)