If a baby cries often, mothers or the family may assume the baby is hungry and does not have enough breast milk. They often forget that crying in a baby is not always due to hunger. She may simply need to be held or cuddled or may be crying due to a wet diaper, or feeling hot or cold or unwell.

Many mothers also assume they are not producing enough milk if the baby keeps sucking her
fingers. This sucking is due to the rooting reflex. If you touch the baby’s cheeks with your fingers, she tends to turn her mouth in that direction. This is called rooting.

You may also worry that the baby is not getting enough if she feeds for a prolonged period or if she finishes her breastfeed too fast. Some babies are fast feeders; others are slow. Also, as babies grow older, they may finish the feed in a shorter time compared to the early days when they suckle for a longer period.

Another reason why mothers think they do not have enough milk is because the breasts feel soft.

Engorged breasts tend to happen only the early days of breastfeeding or if frequent suckling is not emptying the breasts. When the supply and demand of breast milk are well adjusted between the mother and the baby, the breasts will feel soft.

You should note the colour of your baby’s urine and count the number of times the baby wets her diaper to determine if she is getting enough milk.

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