Milk supply: Is your baby getting enough breastmilk?
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Heather Kelly, IBCLC
Need some advice? Ask our experts here.
Your question:
I have an eight-week-old son who I am breastfeeding. I am worried as my milk supply seems to be very low and my baby is always hungry. Is it possible for your milk supply to dry up? What can I do to keep the supply up?
The expert answers:
If you are unsure of your milk supply and feel like it is dropping, the first thing to check out is the baby's weight gain. At the stage that your son is at (eight weeks) you should expect him to be gaining about a half an ounce to an ounce per day (that's 4-7 ounces per week). Get a current weight on him and compare the rate of growth to the other weights you have gotten on him up to this point. If weight gain is good, then he may be going through a growth spurt or may be uncomfortable for other reasons, which you are interpreting as hunger cues. If this is the case, consult your pediatrician to rule out any physical problems or to help alleviate your son's discomfort.
If the baby is not gaining well, or if you are sure that it is hunger, you should seek the assistance of a certified lactation consultant right away and talk to your baby's doctor.
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About the author: 
Heather Kelly is a board certified lactation consultant and is featured in "The Real Deal on Breastfeeding" a "reassuring, candid and often hilarious" instructional video. In addition to her work in private practice, Heather regularly conducts workshops, breastfeeding support groups and lectures on breastfeeding across New York City. A frequent media contributor, Heather recently appeared on the Today Show. She is the mother of four.
