Women who exclusively breastfeed their child all face the same challenge: it is impossible to know how much milk baby drinks at each feeding. This is a problem that naturally disappears once you choose to pump breast milk and offer it in a graduated bottle.
How can you make sure, during exclusive breastfeeding, that your child is satisfied and won’t be hungry within two hours after the last feeding?
Let's look at the different signs that indicate satiety. 🍼
- Baby asks for feeding every two hours: does it mean they're not drinking enough?
- Recognizing signs of satiety in your child
- Checking diapers to ensure your baby's proper hydration
- Monitoring your baby's weight curve
- In summary
Baby asks for feeding every two hours: does it mean they're not drinking enough?
Breast milk is less dense than powdered formula, but this does not mean it is any less nutritious! However, it is digested more quickly by the stomach, which explains why your baby feels hungry sooner when breastfed (or bottle-fed with breast milk).
Additionally, the younger the baby, the smaller their stomach... As a result, the amount of milk they take is proportional to their age and increases as the months go by.
👀 Read also:
- How many bottles per day should you plan?
- How long should it take for baby to finish a bottle?
- Up until what age should you give your child a bottle?
Recognizing signs of satiety in your child
Knowing how to recognize signs of satiety in your child helps ensure they are not underfed or, conversely, overfed. Some parents, afraid that their child may not get enough, may tend to insist during meals. Rest assured—all healthy babies know when to stop drinking and will not starve themselves. 😊
Here are some easily recognizable situations proving that a baby has finished eating:
- Decreased suction: When baby starts to relax and begins to “comfort suck” instead of nursing eagerly as at the beginning of a meal, it indicates they have had enough milk. Suction becomes slower and less intense, clearly different from nutritive sucking.
- Spontaneous release from the breast: Sometimes, baby will spontaneously let go of the breast, even if there is still milk available.
- Shorter and more spaced-out feedings : As your baby grows, feedings may become shorter and less frequent. If this is the case for your child, don’t worry. It does not mean baby is drinking less—only that they are emptying the breast more quickly. It is generally advised to offer both breasts at each nursing session to ensure their needs are fully met.
- Drowsiness : After having enough milk, a baby may become drowsy and then peacefully fall asleep. Again, nothing to worry about—a baby who falls asleep at the breast is no longer hungry, unless extremely tired. Sleep deprivation can temporarily affect their ability to feed as much as needed.
- Expression of satisfaction: This is probably the most touching sign of satiety! Some babies show satisfaction after feeding with a unique expression, reflecting a feeling of deep well-being and complete calm.
- Decrease in fussiness: If your baby seemed fussy before feeding, but suddenly became calm and relaxed after eating, this usually means they had as much as they wanted.
Checking diapers to ensure your baby's proper hydration
Diapers are—and many healthcare professionals agree to tell you so—an additional indicator as to whether your newborn is well-hydrated. 👶
Here is what you should pay attention to:
🔄 Frequency of diaper changes: A well-hydrated baby will usually have between 6 and 8 wet diapers per day.
🧪Color and amount of urine: Urine should be clear to pale yellow. Dark urine is a sign of dehydration or a condition requiring immediate consultation. The quantity also matters; diapers should feel heavy when picked up. Except, of course, for those from the first few days, which are often changed promptly for hygiene, so they don’t have the chance to absorb multiple wettings.
🕒Frequency and characteristics of stools: Your baby's stools also provide important information about their health. An exclusively breastfed newborn may have soft or liquid stools in mustard-yellow to golden-yellow color. Healthy, well-fed breastfed babies will have several bowel movements per day.
🤱Stool texture and consistency: Hard stools are a sign of constipation, suggesting dehydration or issues related to feeding. If this occurs, contact your pediatrician or call emergency services if your child is in pain.
Pumping: A good option
Pumping is an excellent way to combine the health benefits of breast milk with the ability to measure exactly how much milk your baby is taking. By pumping your milk, you can feed it to your baby via bottle, giving you greater flexibility and reassurance regarding how much your child is drinking. This can also help make feedings easier to manage, especially if you need to be away or if others are participating in feeding your baby.
Monitoring your baby's weight curve
A steady weight gain is a sign that a baby is healthy and receiving enough nutrients to grow. Regular monitoring of your baby's weight is recommended, especially during routine pediatric 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 if your baby is gaining weight appropriately. Every baby grows at their own pace, so fluctuations in the weight curve are perfectly normal.
In summary
Breastfeeding is a natural experience that can nonetheless lead to anxiety and doubts regarding whether your baby's hunger is truly satisfied.
Learning to recognize the signs of satiety and checking diaper status is often enough to ease your worries and make sure your child is eating enough.
With the medical community ensuring regular monthly weight monitoring, the main advice we can offer at the end of this article is: trust yourself! 😉
