Women who exclusively breastfeed their children all face the same problem: it's impossible to know how much milk baby is drinking at each feed. A problem that no longer exists, of course, when you decide to breastfeed and offer your milk in a graduated bottle.
When breastfeeding exclusively, how can you be sure that your baby is full and not hungry within two hours of the last feed?
Let's take a look at the various signs suggestive of satiety. 🍼
- Baby cries for the breast every two hours: a sign that he's not drinking enough?
- Recognizing the signs of satiety in your child
- Analyze diapers to ensure your baby is properly hydrated
- Monitoring your weight curve
- In a nutshell
Baby cries for the breast every two hours: a sign that he's not drinking enough?
Breast milk is less consistent than powdered milkbut that doesn't mean it's any less nutritious! However, it is more rapidly digested by the stomachThis explains why your baby feels hungry more quickly when breast-fed (or bottle-fed, but with breast milk).
Moreover, the younger a baby is, the smaller his stomach... So the quantities of milk absorbed are proportional to his age, and increase with each passing month.
👀 Read also:
- How many bottles a day should I plan for?
- How long does it take baby to drink his bottle?
- How old is too young to bottle-feed?
Recognizing the signs of satiety in your child
Knowing how to recognize the signs of satiety in your child means you don't underfeed or, on the contrary, overfeed. Some parents, fearful of their child's stomach crying out for food, tend to insist on feeding them. But all young parents should be reassured: a healthy baby knows when a healthy baby knows when to stop drinking and doesn't let himself starve. 😊
Here are a few examples of situations that are easily recognizable and prove that a baby has finished his lunch:
- Relaxed suckling When baby begins to relax and "suckle" instead of suckling greedily as he does at the start of a meal, this indicates that he has had enough milk. His sucking becomes slower and less vigorous, easily distinguishable from nutritive sucking.
- Spontaneous release from the breast Sometimes the baby spontaneously lets go of the breast, even if there is still milk.
- Shorter, more frequent feedings As your baby grows, his feeds may become shorter and less frequent. If this is the case with your child, don't worry. This does not mean that baby is drinking less, but simply that he is emptying the breast more quickly. In fact, we recommend that you systematically offer both breasts to ensure that your baby's needs are met.
- Sleepiness After drinking enough, a baby will doze off until he or she falls peacefully asleep. Here again, no need to worry. A baby who falls asleep at the breast is no longer hungry, unless he's extremely tired. Sleep deprivation can have a temporary impact on his ability to feed as much as he needs.
- Expression of satisfaction This is probably the most moving indicator of satiety! Some babies express their satisfaction after a feed by adopting a particular expression, reflecting a feeling of intense well-being mixed with absolute peace.
- Less restlessness If your baby seemed agitated before feeding, then suddenly became calm and relaxed after drinking, this normally indicates that he has been able to quench his thirst as much as he would like.
Analyze diapers to ensure your baby is properly hydrated
Diapers are, and many health professionals agree with you, an additional indicator to attest to an infant's good hydration status. 👶
Here's what you should pay attention to:
🔄 Frequency of diaper changes : A well-hydrated baby will generally wet between 6 and 8 diapers a day.
🧪Urine color and quantity : Urine should be clear to pale yellow in color. Dark urine is a sign of dehydration or a pathology for which you should consult without delay. The quantity delivered is also important; diapers should feel heavy when held. Except, of course, for first-day diapers, which tend to be changed systematically to optimize hygiene and which therefore don't have time to soak and absorb several micturitions.
🕒The frequence and characteristics of stools : Your baby's stools also provide information about his or her state of health. An exclusively breastfed infant may have soft or liquid stools that are "mustard" yellow to "golden" yellow in color. Healthy, adequately nourished breastfed babies will have several bowel movements a day.
🤱Stool texture and consistency : Hard stools are a sign of constipation and indicate dehydration, or even problems in connection with feeding. If the case arises, contact your pediatrician or call 15 in case of pain in your child.
The breast pump: A good option
Breast pumps are an excellent option for combining the benefits of breast milk with the ability to measure the exact amount of milk your baby is taking in. By expressing your milk, you can give it in a bottle, giving you greater flexibility and reassurance about how much milk your baby is taking in. It can also make it easier to manage feedings, especially if you have to be away or if other people are involved in your baby's meals.
Monitoring your weight curve
Regular weight gain is a sign that a baby is healthy and receiving sufficient nutrients to thrive. Regular monitoring of your baby's weight is recommended, especially during scheduled paediatric visits.
Did you know? 📈 These weight curves are based on data collected from a population of healthy children, and serve as a reference to determine whether your baby is gaining weight appropriately. All babies develop at their own pace, so there may be normal fluctuations in the weight curve.
In a nutshell
L'reast-feeding is a natural experience that can give rise to anxiety and doubts about feeding your baby.
Learn to recognize the signs of satiety and the condition of diapers is often enough to dispel fears and check that your child is eating properly.
The medical profession, for its part rigorous monthly monitoring of acquired weightThe main advice we can give you to conclude this article is: trust yourself! 😉
