Breastfeeding both my babies from they were born for about a year each time were two of the most amazing things I have ever done with my body.
But that’s not to say it was always easy going – it wasn’t, especially in the beginning. I had mastitis twice with my little girl, and my little boy almost from the get go seemed to prefer one of my boobs over the other, and on the other I had to use a plastic shield to even get him to latch on.
One of my biggest worries in the beginning of our breastfeeding journeys was if they were getting enough milk. I mean; they wanted to latch onto my around the clock, so did that mean they were permanently hungry? Did I not make enought milk? Should I be supplementing with formula? The questions were endless.
In the end, my health station midwife calmed my fears and made me feel assured that they were indeed getting enough, and that there was no need to do anything else but to just feed them when they wanted to be fed and trust that my body knew what to do.
And mamas, if this is you, if you are caught in a similarly overwhelming spiral of anxiety, a US-based lactation consultant has a powerful visual to help new parents understand why their babies are nursing so much. It’s important information that many mums don’t know about and hospitals don’t often think to tell.
Lactation specialist Kaci Dean, of Heart & Bloom Birth and Lactation Services in Mississippi, shared this photo to Facebook and every new mama should see it:
Here is her post in full:
See that tiny pink bead on the lanyard? That is the size of a newborn’s tiny tummy. When baby is born, the birthing parent produces colostrum which is the perfect #superfood for baby. Colostrum is concentrated and contains just the amount of food baby needs! It passes antibodies designed to protect baby from illness while preparing his/her tummy for the milk to come in. It’s #liquidgold!
In this photo, I have a standard 2 ounce bottle of formula that is given to new babies. So, if baby’s belly is only the size of a marble, what happens when baby is fed 2 ounces? Well, baby will usually spit up all the extra, which then can be spinned into baby having reflux. When really, baby is just being over fed. This leads to interventions like formula changes, antacid medications, etc.
It’s important that we give all the available information so parents can make the best decisions for their families.
This image is such a powerful visual for new moms to help them see why their baby is nursing so much! It’s not because you don’t make enough milk or your baby isn’t satisfied. It’s because her tummy is this small and she needs frequent feeds of that amazing newborn colostrum!
#KnowledgeIsPower #Breastfeeding #Colostrum #Repost #CrowningGloryBirthServices
Edited to add: I support my client’s choices, always. I encourage my clients to be informed before making these choices. But what they decide is what I support. This photo is merely to showcase the size of a baby’s tummy and encourage breastfeeding mothers that their babies are getting enough and that frequency of feeds alone is not an indication of poor supply (it is much harder to be confident when you can’t see the volume being fed to your sweet little baby). The reason the formula is shown here is simply to note for those who choose formula (or feel like they NEED supplementation), that two ounces of anything is far too much for a new baby in his or her first few days of life. No shame. No ugly formula talk. Just encouraging everyone to make the best, most INFORMED choices and use healthy methods of feeding whatever milk you choose for your baby 
Because their stomachs are small, babies require little to eat but also eat more frequently, which is why newborns tend to eat every two to three hours. This frequent breastfeeding also stimulates milk production as mums’ bodies adjust.
According to experts, by Day 3, baby’s stomach grows to the size of a ping-pong ball (which is also when milk volume starts to increase for many mums). By Day 10, the baby’s stomach is the size of a large chicken egg. (In comparison, an adult stomach is about the size of a softball!)
So, rest easy, Mama—it’s not you! How often your baby is feeding isn’t necessarily an indication of poor supply, Dean said, though she also understands that it can be hard to feel at ease when you can’t see how much your baby is actually eating.
Remember, it takes time to establish a steady supply and schedule. Be kind to yourself during this tricky period. Trust your body and pay attention to your baby’s cues. And if you’re ever concerned, talk to your doctor.
