In plain words
Milk transfer is the amount of milk a baby gets during a feed. It answers the question, is my baby getting enough? You cannot see it directly. Parents often judge it by how the breast feels, but that is a weak signal. Better signs include diaper output, the baby's weight trend, how the baby swallows, and how alert and content the baby seems after feeds. The latch, a shield, and the way the baby sucks all change how well milk moves. A can watch a full feed and help you read the signs.
The deeper version
Milk transfer is the volume of milk removed from the breast by the infant during a feed. It is measured by pre- and post-feed on a scale with about 2 gram resolution, and estimated indirectly by weight trajectory and output. Woolridge, Baum and Drewett (Early Human Development, 1980) used test weights to show that changed sucking patterns and milk flow. Intake varies widely between feeds, so a single carries large uncertainty (Kent and colleagues, Pediatrics, 2006). The controversy is how much transfer measurement should drive decisions compared with weight and output trends.
Where it comes up
- Is my baby getting enough?Feeding Your Baby
- Nipple shields: when they help, how to wean offFeeding Your Baby
- Getting a deep latchFeeding Your Baby
- Low milk supply: real, perceived, and what helpsFeeding Your Baby
What mothers here say about milk transfer
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Woolridge MW, Baum JD and Drewett RF — Effect of a traditional and of a new nipple shield on sucking patterns and milk flow. Early Human Development (1980)
- Kent JC and colleagues — Volume and frequency of breastfeedings and fat content of breast milk throughout the day, Pediatrics (2006)