Bunda, Kenali 7 Tanda Bayi Kurang ASI & Solusi Mengatasinya

For a nursing mother, it is very natural to wonder if her baby's breast milk intake is sufficient or if the baby is actually getting too little. To support their maximum health and development, mothers and fathers need to ensure that their little one does not show signs of insufficient breast milk intake.

We understand that in the early life of a baby, the mother's breasts produce colostrum, a thick and sticky milk fluid that is very nutritious for your Little One. Therefore, in the early post-partum period, mothers are highly encouraged to breastfeed as often as possible, 8-12 times or more within 24 hours to increase breast milk production.

So how do you know if your baby has had enough breast milk and what are the signs of insufficient breast milk intake? Let's break down the discussion one by one.

What Are the Signs of Insufficient Breast Milk Intake in Babies?

1. The baby appears very sleepy or lethargic because their body energy is low due to a lack of breast milk. In fact, a newborn baby needs to nurse every 2-3 hours.
2. The baby only nurses for a short time or may continue trying to nurse for more than an hour but seems unsatisfied. Because they feel unsatisfied, the baby will generally cry and ask to nurse again.
3. When latching onto the mother's nipple, it feels quite painful for the mother or the baby has not latched deeply enough.
4. A sign that the baby is not getting enough breast milk is dry mouth and eyes. This can be caused by dehydration due to a lack of fluids in the body.
5. The Little One does not produce stool or their urine color is not pale (it is very concentrated, like brick red).
6. The baby has not reached their birth weight by 1-4 days old or their weight gain is slower. Normal baby weight gain is 155-240 grams or 5.5-8.5 ounces per week.
7. The Little One rarely has a bowel movement (a four-day-old baby should have bowel movements 3-4 times a day).

Causes of Insufficient Breast Milk Intake in Babies

Problems with babies not getting enough breast milk or even experiencing dehydration are usually caused by two things: breastfeeding issues such as blocked milk ducts and improper bottle-feeding practices. Because of these conditions, babies who lack breast milk intake appear unsatisfied by crying and asking to nurse again.

Therefore, to ensure the baby's breast milk intake is always sufficient, make sure the baby's latch position on the mother's breast is correct so they can nurse and suckle properly.

To help breast milk flow smoothly again, as much as possible, mothers should breastfeed the little one frequently and are encouraged to pump after every breastfeeding session.

What Are the Signs That a Baby Is Full?

Actually, you can tell when your baby has had enough breast milk and is full when the Little One stops nursing because they feel satiated. The following are some measures and physical and behavioral signs that the Little One has received enough breast milk:

1. The baby starts nursing with several quick sucks followed by long, rhythmic sucks and occasional swallowing pauses.
2. You can hear and see the baby swallowing the breast milk comfortably.
3. The baby's cheeks remain rounded and do not dimple while nursing.
4. The baby appears calm and relaxed while nursing.
5. The Little One will release from your breast on their own after finishing nursing.
6. Their mouth and lips look moist after nursing.
7. The Little One will finish one nursing session, either by releasing their mouth from the breast or immediately falling asleep.
8. The baby appears satisfied, not fussy, and happy after nursing, at least for 1 to 3 hours between subsequent nursing sessions.
9. The mother's breasts feel softer and do not feel as full as they did before nursing.
10. Mothers may feel sleepy and relaxed after nursing.

If you still see signs of the baby not getting enough breast milk, consult your pediatrician or a lactation consultant. Experts will help you address breastfeeding issues, low milk production, correct nursing positions, and more.

Prevent Insufficient Breast Milk Intake by Meeting Daily Needs

Ensure your child drinks enough fluids every day to prevent signs of insufficient breast milk intake. The amount of fluid each child needs can vary depending on their age, how active they are, and how hot the weather is.

As a basic guideline, babies should nurse at least 8 to 12 times a day during the first few weeks of life. As they get older, babies will nurse less frequently and sleep time will no longer be as long.

If the baby is fussy and does not want to nurse directly, try offering a bottle or breast milk as often as possible to meet their nutritional and fluid needs.

The key is that the best way to prevent signs of insufficient breast milk intake is by breastfeeding as often as possible. Every two to three hours, place the baby at the breast with a correct and comfortable latch position so they can nurse.

Mothers can also provide expressed breast milk that has been pumped and stored in a breast milk storage bottle. Hegen PCTO 150 ml/5 oz Breastmilk Storage PPSU can store quite a large amount of breast milk that you pump.

Hegen Multipurpose Bottle is made of PPSU, BPA-free, and food-grade. The "express-store-feed" advantage means that with just one bottle, it can be used as a container for expressed breast milk during pumping, storage, and as a drinking bottle for the baby.

Hegen's unique baby bottle is a reliable choice because it can quickly transition from a storage container to a safe feeding bottle. The innovative and stackable design ensures breast milk storage is organized. This further simplifies breastfeeding and optimizes baby nutrition with Hegen.

Hegen Indonesia provides all the baby care needs that you can easily get through the official Hegen Indonesia website. Come check out the Hegen collection right now!

References:

1. Bebeclub.co.id. 10 Tanda Bayi Kurang ASI dan Cara Menanganinya. https://bebeclub.co.id/artikel/ibu-perlu-tahu/0-3-bulan/tanda-bayi-kurang-asi
2. HealthPartners Blog. Sign baby isn’t getting enough breastmilk. https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/how-do-i-know-my-baby-is-getting-enough-breastmilk/
3. La Leche League International. Is my baby getting enough milk?. https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/is-baby-getting-enough/