How Do I Know that my Baby is Getting Enough?

As a breastfeeding mom, it is difficult to measure how much your baby is getting at each feeding session. Bottles come with ounces written on the side, breasts do not. A new mom, still learning her baby's cues, might think that every time her baby cries that she/he is hungry, therefore leaving mom with a sense that she must not be making enough milk. This is usually not the case. But, to put your mind at ease, here are a few ways to actually know if your baby is getting enough.

For babies 1-6 weeks old:

• Has regained his birth weight by 10-14 days old
  
• Has 5 or more wet diapers and 3 or more soiled diapers in 24 hours
  
• Gains 4-7oz per week
  
• You can hear swallowing throughout the feed
  

If your baby is meeting the above criteria, trust your body, trust your maternal instincts, and continue what you're doing.

If your baby is not meeting the above criteria, I would recommend seeing your pediatrician or a lactation consultant to assess the situation.

FYI, Babies go through growth spurts around 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months old. During these 2-4 days, your baby will be fussy, want to eat constantly, and want to be held all of the time. This is normal. This is nature's way of increasing your milk supply with extra breast stimulation. During these growth spurts, breastfeed on demand; this will make the growth spurt take less time….pacifiers only make them last longer. Once your baby has successfully increased your milk supply, he/she will go back to feeding on a more regular schedule.

How do I know if my baby is feeding well?

As a lactation consultant, I get asked this question all of the time..."How do I know if my baby is feeding well?" First of all, it all depends on the age of the baby because feeding and weight gain patterns change as the baby grows and gets older.

For a 1 day old to 14 day old newborn:

How do I know things are going well?

• Your baby nurses 8 or more times in 24 hours and is vigorous for at least 20 minutes of each feeding.
• Your baby’s urine and stool output increases daily, and by 1 week of age he/she is urinating 6 or more times and has yellow stools 4 or more times in 24 hours.
• Your breasts start to feel full 3-5 days after your baby was born.
• Your baby settles after most feedings.
• Your breasts may be tender, but it is not painful to breastfeed.
• Your baby regains his/her birth weight by 10-14 days old.

How do I know that I need to meet with a lactation consultant?

• Your baby nurses less than 8 times a day (during the first few months)
• Your baby seems hungry all of the time, yet consistently eats for a few minutes and then falls asleep at breast.
• Your baby has not regained his/her birth weight by 10-14 days old or has very slow weight gain.
• You have very sore and/or cracked nipples and it is painful to breastfeed.
• You are worried that you do not enough milk.
• Your baby is increasingly getting yellow from jaundice.

References: Counseling the Nursing Mother by Lauwers and Swisher

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