The phrase
"breastmilk intake" refers to the amount of milk a baby drinks when they are breastfeeding.
Full definition
Studies show that water supplementation before the age of six months can reduce
breastmilk intake by up to 11 percent.
Current breastfeeding research does not indicate that
breastmilk intake changes with baby's age or weight between one and six months.
Herbal treatments are only part of the solution to «not enough milk» (see Handout B: Protocol to
Increase Breastmilk Intake by the Baby).
* Just a side note... if all of the other things are looking normal about this baby (weight gain going well, nappy output perfect within the 24 hour period) then there could be something else going on unrelated to the volume
of breastmilk intake such as tongue tie or food intolerances.
Inadequate breastmilk intake may be related to improper feeding technique or routines, ineffectual suckling, illness in the infant or mother, prior maternal breast surgery, or breast abnormalities.
Studies looking
at breastmilk intake between 24 and 36 months have found typical amounts to be 10 - 12 oz per day (300 - 360 mL per day).
Several studies have
measured breastmilk intake for babies between 12 and 24 months and found typical amounts to be 14 - 19 oz per day (400 - 550 mL per day).
Offering foods to infants before six months
reduces breastmilk intake and interferes with full absorption of breastmilk nutrients.
One study found
average breastmilk intake to be 30 oz per day (875 ml / day; 93 % of total intake) at 7 months and 19 oz (550 ml / day; 50 % of total energy intake) at 11 - 16 months.
It's always about looking at everything that's going on when you are assessing a baby and
their breastmilk intake.
AS mentioned previously a bit of a «witching hour»... or hours can be completely normal, however a baby who is on and off the breast MOST of the time day and night is not normal and a good indicator that something is going on related to
their breastmilk intake (remember look at the whole picture!)
If you are concerned about your baby's
breastmilk intake and whether or not they're getting enough, please head here to go through the checklist.
See Protocol to Increase
Breastmilk Intake by the Baby.
(See Handout 1: Breastfeeding - Starting Out Right 2005 and Handout 1b: The Importance of Skin to Skin Contact, as well as Handout B: Protocol to Increase
Breastmilk Intake by the Baby.
See Handout B: Protocol to Increase
Breastmilk Intake by the Baby, and Handout 25: Slow Weight Gain After the First Few Months.
See Handout B: Protocol to Increase
Breastmilk Intake by the Baby
Fixing the latch and using compression will usually fix the problem (See Handout B: Protocol to Increase
Breastmilk Intake by the Baby).
Using compression will often keep a baby drinking (see Handout B: Protocol to Increase
Breastmilk Intake by the Baby).
Basically, don't have the solids replace
the breastmilk intake.
(See handout: Protocol to Increase
Breastmilk Intake by the Baby).
After six months,
breastmilk intake will continue at this same level until — sometime after six months, depending in baby's intake from other foods — baby's milk intake begins to decrease gradually (see below).
Current research tells us that
breastmilk intake is quite constant after the first month and does not appreciably increase with age or weight, so the current findings are validating what moms and lactation counselors have observed all along.
If a baby urinates at least six times in 24 hours, this is a sign that
breastmilk intake is adequate.