Mothers want their babies to be adequately fed, so maintaining an ample supply of breast milk is a common concern among breastfeeding moms.

Your body is designed to make enough, provided that it is receiving the proper stimulation for milk production. This stimulus comes from regular breastfeeding sessions, so don’t deprive your baby.

There is a lot of misinformation about a woman’s capacity for milk production. Do not automatically trust everything you see on television or the stuff you read in magazines.

It is crucial to get your facts straight.

A nursing mother is perfectly capable of creating enough milk to nourish her baby. No matter what everyone else is saying (and sometimes even your health care provider won’t have the right information), don’t give up. Even a partial switch to formula feeding can derail a good breastfeeding habit. This may lead to health issues later on, so learn to identify false alarms.

Several situations have caused women to erroneously conclude that they are running out of milk. By understanding the situation better, you can set your mind at ease and continue giving your baby breast feedings.

* Milk Does Not Leak or Suddenly Stops Leaking.

Leakage is a measure of how well a woman’s nipple sphincters are working. It has absolutely no relation to the amount of milk being produced. Some moms never leak, yet they breastfeed successfully. Some women’s bodies adjust to the baby’s particular requirements and their breasts will stop and start on schedule. These women may experience a sudden cessation of leakage when the adjustment occurs.

* Breasts Suddenly Shrink.

Breast size is not a reliable indicator of capacity for milk production. An abrupt change in size can happen in normal women weeks to months after giving birth. This is nothing to be concerned about as it is connected with your body’s normal adjustment to the post pregnant state. Another explanation is that your breasts are just getting better at making milk, so it doesn’t need any extra tissue.

* A Seemingly Unsatisfied Infant.

Your baby may cry or be irritable after a feeding. This does not necessarily mean he is still hungry. It is possible that your infant is one of those babies who enjoy the sensation of sucking, even if they are full.

You can satisfy your baby by allowing him to suck even if no milk is coming out. If this quiets him then it is perfectly acceptable to give your baby a pacifier. Sometimes the irritability has another cause, like an emerging tooth. Teething pains can start weeks before tooth eruption.

Remember that for the first 12 months of life, it is best to make breast milk the primary source of your baby’s nutrition. You can start supplementing with small amounts of solids at six months, but your milk should still predominate.

Be aware that babies can consume more milk even if they are full, in much the same way adults can overeat. Do not fall for this trap and end up giving him formula after a feeding. Just because he finishes the bottle it does not mean he wasn’t satisfied with the breast feeding.

In order to find out if your baby is adequately fed, just pay attention to how he is behaving. A healthy baby steadily gains weight, his measurements for head circumference and length will predictably increase. He will also urinate a lot and expel healthy amounts of waste.

You can consult with a health professional and a breastfeeding expert who can compare your baby with normal values for breastfed babies. Just be aware that the growth curve is different for formula fed babies so don’t compare your baby with others. If he is happy and healthy then your breastfeeding is doing its job.