Empty-days
If you are breastfeeding, you will probably wake up early and go to bed late in the early days. Your milk production is not yet set to your baby's demands. Moms often feel uncertain during these "empty" days; baby seems insatiable and your breasts feel empty. Don't worry: it's natural that your production will find its proper rhythm.
How do you recognise "empty" days?
- If your baby is crying and often wants to drink
- If you feel like your breasts are empty
- If you have the idea that your baby is not satisfied after feeding
The nutritional needs of a baby change regularly. At some moments a baby is sprouting in a growth spurt. And, then, does not get enough milk. As a result, the baby is more hungry and wants to drink more often.
If you feed the child more often, your breasts will no longer have the time to get full. That is the signal that more milk has to be produced. After a few days of more frequent drinking, milk production is then adjusted to the higher dietary demand. And the child will have a full feeling after drinking.
When do you have "empty" days?
In general, these occur around
- 10 days
- 3-4 weeks
- 3 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
What do you do during these days?
- Just feed your child when he asks for it. This takes a lot of time and energy, but after a few days you will see that breastfeeding is adapted to the new nutritional needs.
- Make sure your baby feeds from the breast well. After all, the hunger of your child improves with the fatty milk from your chest. The following principle applies: the more baby feeds, the more milk will be available next time.
- Feed your baby every time he: wakes up, cries, makes hungry noises, looks around with his mouth open.
If your child seems to be insatiable and wants to breastfeed at one particular point of the day, you may not be in the empty days, but your child is growing quickly.
Also see these information articles: · Breastfeeding · Benefits · Bottling · Breastfeeding diapers · Changing food · Clustering · Duration · Let down reflex · Menstruation · Milk channels and breast inflammation · Milk production · Nipples · Physical consequences · Positioning · Quickly stopping · Reasons to stop · Tandem feeding · Thrush
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