Baby Getting Enough Breast Milk

Is baby getting enough breast milk?

A new mommy will always wonder whether her baby has or is drinking enough breast milk while breastfeeding, since you cannot measure the exact amounts like you can with bottle feeding.

- Sucking and swallowing ~ While breastfeeding, you can see by the way baby is moving his mouth and chin whether he is drinking or not. Watch the video to see the examples below. If you can hear baby swallowing, then you can rest assured that he is getting in lots of milk, but not every baby makes swallowing sounds at the breast.

- Sensation at the breast ~ You should feel a strong deep pulling sensation when baby is suckling.

- Bowel movements ~ Colostrum will help move the meconium (first dark stools) from baby’s system. Baby should have at least 1 dark bowel movement every day until about day three when the stools start to become lighter in color. By the end of baby’s first week he should be passing at least 2 soft stools each day. After three weeks of life, it is very common for exclusively breastfed babies to only have 1 stool every week or so, so don’t worry if baby starts pooping less after 3 weeks of age, this happens as a result of breast milk being so easily digested. Read more on normal stools for the breastfed baby.

- Urination ~ After 4 days, baby should be wetting at least 4 diapers per day (24 hours) Baby’s urine should be a clear color, darker urine indicates that baby is not getting in enough fluids.

- Your breasts feel softer after nursing. This indicated that baby has removed milk, making your breasts seem emptier.

- Weight gain ~ Most babies will lose about 9% of their birth weight and then gain it back by week two. After this baby should gain between 5 & 10 ounces a week. By 3 months he should have gained about 6 ounces, by month 6 baby should gain about 3 ounces per week and from 6 to 12 months about 2 ounces per week.

NEVER judge your baby’s milk intake by…

- Thinking that your breasts are not full of milk, because they do not feel full. Many moms do not feel full or engorged during the first few weeks until baby has started drinking well. An engorged breast does not indicate the amount of milk available.

- Baby not sleeping through the night. Most breastfed babies do not sleep through at night as breast milk is absorbed much quicker than formula.

- Baby cries after every feeding ~ Baby may be crying for many different reasons… read some of these here.

- Baby seems to never get enough because he breastfeeds very often. There is no right amount of time that baby should feed, each baby is different, but make sure that baby is actively sucking and swallowing during feeding times. Using breast compression can also help your milk flow into baby’s mouth keeping him alert during feedings. It is normal for baby to want to breastfeed 15 or more times per day for a few weeks (between 6 and 8 weeks), after this the feedings usually go down to between 8 and 10 feedings per day.

- Not pumping enough breast milk. The amount of milk that you express has nothing to do with whether you have enough milk. Baby sucks much more efficiently than a breast pump and a person's breasts are constantly producing milk while baby is sucking.

- Baby is willing to take a bottle after breastfeeding. Do not offer your breastfed baby a bottle, this may interfere with breastfeeding and cause nipple confusion. Babies will usually accept anything you put in their mouths even when they are not hungry, so this is not a good indication of whether baby is hungry or not.

- Baby is pulling away from the breast. This could mean a few things. Read more on breastfeeding strikes.

- Always allow baby to finish one breast before offering the other. This will help with satiety (baby feeling full) during feedings, as most of the fatty milk is at the back of the breasts. If you have to make turns with your breasts for every feeding, that’s fine, you can just pump a little milk from the side that is full if you feel you become a little engorged.

- Make sure you are comfy during breastfeeding. Cracked nipples can be a sign that baby is not latching on correctly…which could cause a decrease in the amount of milk intake. Read more on proper latching on techniques.

How to know if baby is full

- Baby starts falling asleep at the breast

- Baby’s arms and legs become limp

- Baby starts pulling away or moving his head away from the breast

If it happens that baby does need to be supplemented it is always best to introduce a lactation aid or other alternative feeding method to decrease the chances of baby refusing the breast later on when breastfeeding is resumed.

Is my baby getting enough breast milk? Watch the video…

Not enough breast milk for baby?

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