Milk Supply: What’s Normal?

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

By Jacque Ordner BSN, RN, IBCLC, RLC 

The number one concern I hear from breastfeeding moms is worry over not making “enough”.  Moms want what is best for their babies and are often concerned they won’t make adequate milk throughout the breastfeeding process.  Couple that concern with daily social media posts about huge freezer stashes and 10+ oz. pumping sessions and moms can get full on anxiety about whether their production is “normal”.  Don’t worry mamas!  We’re here to let you know what a full milk supply looks like and to hopefully calm your fears about just how much milk you’re likely going to need. 

THE AVERAGE BREASTMILK INTAKE FOR A BABY FROM 1 MONTH TO 6 MONTHS IS 25oz. PER DAY.  Research tells us that the range is from about 19oz to 30oz. per day.  Milk production usually peaks at around 40 days postpartum as well. Medically speaking, a full milk supply ranges from 750ml –1035ml per day. It’s also normal for this amount to fluctuate from day to day.  It’s normal to see pumping output fluctuate from session to session as well.  

FOR MOMS WHO ARE PRIMARILY DIRECTLY NURSING THEIR INFANTS, TYPICAL PUMPING OUTPUT CAN RANGE FROM 0.5 oz to 2 oz. PER SESSION. We talk to so many moms whose babies have been growing and thriving while nursing at the breast, but then mom becomes concerned when her first pumping session only yields about an ounce from both breasts combined.  We can literally hear the relief in their voices when we tell them that THIS IS NORMAL!  Mamas, you don’t have to be pumping 5-10 oz per session to be successful at breastfeeding!  The amount you can pump is not necessarily an indicator of the amount your body is making.  Pumping is a learned skill that takes time to develop for many moms.  If you’re conditioned to letting down to your warm, squishy baby, it can take a while to train your body to let down to the cold, plastic pump. Take cues from your baby….if they’re growing well and making adequate wet and dirty diapers, chances are you’re making the perfect amount of milk for them.   

EXCLUSIVELY PUMPING MOMS TYPICALLY SEE A PUMPING OUTPUT OF 2oz. – 4oz. EVERY 2-3 HOURS. As I mentioned before, pumping is a learned skill and can take some time to get used to.  The above output range is for moms whose supply is established (after 40 days postpartum).  Unfortunately, some moms have been told that exclusive pumping will not allow them to make a full milk supply.  This is just not true, mamas!  With a high quality, hospital strength pump, a consistent pumping schedule, and well fitted flanges, moms can make a full milk supply (and more) with exclusive pumping. 

While it’s true that most women can make a full milk supply, it’s also true that a small percentage cannot.  If you suspect you have low milk supply or just need reassurance that things are going well, don’t hesitate to reach out to an IBCLC. Our Spectra Baby USA IBCLCs are here to help with free virtual consultations.  Click HERE to schedule. We can also help via email at ibclc@spectrababyusa.com  Happy pumping, mamas! 

 

Sources: 

Bonyata, K. (2018, January 02). Exclusive Pumping • KellyMom.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020, from https://kellymom.com/mother2mother/exclusive-pumping/ 

Bonyata, K. (2018, January 16). I’m not pumping enough milk. What can I do? • KellyMom.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020, from https://kellymom.com/hot-topics/pumping_decrease/ 

Lawrence, R. A., & Lawrence, R. M. (2016). Breastfeeding: A guide for the medical profession. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. 

Mohrbacher, N. (2012, November 27). How Much Milk Should You Expect to Pump? Retrieved July 27, 2020, from http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/articles/2012/11/27/how-much-milk-should-you-expect-to-pump.html 

 

Latch Tips and Tricks

/0 Comments/in , , /by

baby latching on mom

By Jacque Ordner BSN, RN, IBCLC, RLC 

As an IBCLC people are constantly asking me for insights to make breastfeeding easier.  Today, I’ve got my top tips and tricks to make latching easier and more comfortable!  

This advice isn’t original to me, and isn’t original to any other IBCLC or breastfeeding professional.  It’s been around as long as breastfeeding has, but it hasn’t been readily passed from mother to mother in recent years the same way it likely was centuries ago.  

#1 ALLOW BABY’S HEAD TO TILT BACK Let’s start with a little exercise.  Tilt your chin down as if you’re looking at your toes.  Can you open your mouth very wide in this position? Now, imagine taking a drink…..can you drink easily and efficiently?  Not so easy is it?  Let’s try another exercise.  This time, look up at that wall about 6’-8’ high.  Your head should be slightly tilted back and you should be able to easily open your mouth nice and wide.  Imagine raising a glass to your lips in this position.  Could you drink well like this?  Of course you can!  These same principles apply when our babies are nursing! Allowing baby to tilt his or her head back, while supporting it with your hand just at the base of the neck, will make getting those deep latches much easier! To make latching even easier, make sure baby’s chin touches the breast while the nose remains free. Sometimes, this is referred to as the asymmetrical latch technique.  Click HERE for more information! 

#2 CHECK BABY’S BODY POSITION We also want to make sure the rest of baby’s body is in an appropriate position to support a good latch.  Just as we imagined drinking while staring at our toes, now let’s imagine drinking while looking over our shoulders.  Difficult isn’t it?  We want to avoid putting baby in a position where she might have to drink while looking over her shoulder as well.  The best way to do this is to align the ear lobe, shoulder, and hip and place baby belly to belly with mom (or belly to side for football hold).  This puts baby in a comfortable, well-aligned drinking posture.   

#3 SUPPORT THE BREAST AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL Supporting mom’s breast can also make latching easier for both mom and baby.  This is especially true for women with larger breasts.  Young babies do not yet have the strength and motor function to hold a heavy breast at the appropriate height for latching or to maintain that height once they have latched.  It can be especially helpful for mom to maintain support of the breast for the duration of the nursing session.  We all know moms are great multi-taskers and one way to free up a hand is to use a rolled hand towel under the breast to support it during feedings.  Mom can even use the freed hand to help shape her breast to make it easier for baby to latch onto.   

The overall takeaway is that the number one tip for a good latch is to think about what makes up good drinking posture.  Look at your baby’s neck, shoulders, and hips.  Are they in a position that makes it easy and comfortable for your baby to open wide and latch on?  What about your breast?  Does baby have to turn his head to find the nipple or is the breast supported at the appropriate level?  Taking the time to assess and adjust can make for a much easier and more comfortable nursing session! You got this, mamas! 

Need additional help getting into the right position?  Is pumping uncomfortable?  Our IBCLC’s can help!  Schedule your virtual CONSULTATION today or email questions to ibclc@spectrababyusa.com.