Introduction
One of the common concerns of lactating mothers revolves around the quantity of milk that the baby receives during breastfeeding. The quantification of the baby's feeding to be too less or too more depends on the perspectives of the mothers. The subjective maternal perception of inadequate milk production is one of the contributing factors to decreased breastfeeding rates, especially in developed countries. Understanding essential physiological concepts such as the optimal quantity of milk removal by the baby during breastfeeding and associated facts helps in reassuring mothers and improving their breastfeeding practices.
What Is the Normal Human Milk Volume and Composition?
The volume and composition of human milk do not largely depend only on the mother’s diet. Intrinsic factors such as hormones also contribute to human milk volume and production. The composition of human milk undergoes various changes during lactogenesis (natural synthesis of human milk in the breasts). Breast milk is formed in the cells of mammary glands and is initiated during the second trimester of pregnancy. Substrates such as glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals diffuse from the mother’s blood and are incorporated as milk components during lactogenesis.
The milk production remains stable for each baby for the first six months after childbirth (period of exclusive breastfeeding). Lactating mothers who exclusively breastfeed their babies produce nearly 710 mL to 803 mL per day during the initial six months. There exist variations between the production of human milk and its consumption by breastfed babies. Not all the milk produced by the mother is consumed by the baby and also not all babies consume the same quantity of milk. Normal-term babies who are exclusively breastfed consume from 440 mL to 1220 mL or above 1220 mL of breastmilk as a daily intake.
How Much Milk Does a Baby Intake in 10 Minutes of Breastfeeding?
Babies show varying patterns in milk consumption when they are breastfed. Here are some interesting facts on the volume of breastmilk consumption by babies at various phases.
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As soon as the baby is born, it learns to feed. A neonate consumes its first feed, the colostrum(thick early breast milk) of about a teaspoonful in a single feeding in the initial 24 hours, which fills its little stomach.
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Studies show that infants of one to six months of age are breastfed (exclusive breastfeeding) between 4 to 13 times per baby, where each breastfeeding session lasts for 10 to 12 minutes for one side of the breast.
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The peak breast milk intake volume is found to be nearly 173.8 mL per kg body weight for one day during the first month.
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By the third day of neonatal life, the stomach of the newborn grows exponentially and its capacity increases to hold 22 mL to 27 mL or nearly one ounce of mother’s milk per feeding.
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On completion of the first week following childbirth, breastfeeding mothers produce about 500 mL or 16.5 ounces of milk in one day. By then the infant’s stomach has grown to a holding capacity of about 45mL to 60 mL or nearly two ounces of mother’s milk.
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By the end of the second week, the infant’s stomach capacity reaches to hold 80 mL or 150 mL or nearly five ounces of milk per feeding.
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The quantity of milk that an infant drinks from one breast during one feeding session (10 to 12 minutes) ranges from an average of about 30 mL to 135 mL with a mean volume of about 75 ml.
How Do Variations in Volume Occur in Milk Intake During Breastfeeding?
An ideal human milk production should meet the hungry cues and needs of the exclusively breastfed infant. Sometimes even in the case of adequately produced milk, the volume of milk intake by the babies widely varies. Some of the factors that influence the volume of milk consumed by the baby during breastfeeding are as follows -
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Breastfeeding the infant when he/she is not having an appetite decreases the volume of milk intake in the baby.
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Usually, full milk production is established within two weeks after childbirth. The volume of milk intake is reduced if sufficient milk is not formed.
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A decrease in prolactin levels reduces milk formation and production.
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Anxiety, stress, or depression inhibits the milk-ejection reflex and is associated with poor milk production which subsequently decreases milk consumption volume in infants.
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Smoking reduces milk volume because of the inhibitory effects of nicotine on the secretion of prolactin (the hormone that favors milk formation) and oxytocin (the hormone that causes milk ejection) levels.
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High milk volumes are produced by mothers who are breastfeeding twins or triplets.
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Regular exercises in lactating women have proven to produce adequate milk volume during breastfeeding.
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Mothers taking medications do not feed their babies adequately due to the fear of drug exposure to their babies which results in reduced consumption of milk by the babies during breastfeeding.
Why Is It Important to Assess the Milk Intake Volume of the Baby?
Analyzing and evaluating daily human milk intake volume by the babies and their feeding frequency help in understanding the growth pattern of the babies and thereby fulfilling their nutritional demands. Quantifying breast milk intake volume primarily helps researchers and clinicians assess and study the exposure of infants to medications taken by lactating mothers and their subsequent risk for inducing toxic effects in babies.
How Does Breastfeeding Practices Influence the Baby’s Milk Intake Volume?
Breastfeeding practices greatly influence the amount of milk consumed by babies. Proper feeding techniques ensure an adequate supply of milk volume to the babies during breastfeeding.
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Milk volumes vary widely between exclusive breastfeeding and partial breastfeeding. The daily milk intake volume of exclusively breastfed infants ranges from 478 mL to 1,356 mL per day. This volume comparatively decreases in partial feeding when supplementary foods are introduced.
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More frequency of human milk feeding increases more intake of milk, particularly during the initial six months. It is one of the prime reasons for initiating breastfeeding at the earliest following delivery.
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Improper latching (holding of the mother’s nipples by the baby’s mouth) does not favor effective suckling force which considerably decreases milk intake.
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Improper positioning of the baby does not favor adequate milk intake by the babies.
Conclusion
Mothers who perceive insufficient milk supply should be encouraged by providing them with reliable information regarding the variability in breastfeeding frequencies, optimal suckling times, and milk intake volume. Understanding physiological concepts about milk production and milk intake volume would help in reassuring lactating mothers to continue breastfeeding for the recommended time period.
