ENOUGH MILK FOR YOUR BABY It is a good idea to have your baby weighed at How much milk you make is determined Probably the #1 concern of new breastfeeding your pediatrician’s office during the first by how often and how well your baby mothers is whether their babies are getting week. There are some clues to tell you breastfeeds. In other words, the supply is enough breast milk. During your hospital stay, whether your baby is getting enough. influenced by your baby’s need. To maintain an you may see from your baby’s medical record How much a baby takes in affects how adequate milk supply, it is very important to that they have lost weight. The first weight much comes out. Keeping track of the only breastfeed for the first 4 weeks of baby’s that newborns lose is extra fluid. You will see number of wet and soiled diapers will help life. your baby’s eyes get less puffy each day, and you know whether your baby is getting A healthy, full-term newborn who is • After feeding, your baby does not display they will be able to look around more easily. enough (see the list of guidelines starting on the breastfeeding effectively at least 8 times a day feeding/hunger cues (for example, trying to It is normal for newborns to lose up to 7% next page). should need no additional fluid other than put their hands into their mouth, rooting, of their birth weight before beginning to breast milk. Feeding a baby water or formula sucking on their hands) and seems satisfied for gain. Most babies are at home by the time LITTLE TUMMIES TAKE TIME can lessen their desire to nurse, which will an average of 1 to 3 hours between feedings they begin to gain weight. It is also perfectly TO GROW upset the supply-and-demand system. Do not • Your breasts feel softer after a feeding (once normal for your baby not to be back up to Your baby’s tummy is about the size of a small marble at give your newborn water unless instructed by your milk supply has increased) their birth weight until they are 2 weeks old. birth. After 3 days, it’s about the size of a ping-pong your physician. Be aware that babies who ball, but still can’t hold much.1 receive bottle feedings, especially just as they • Expect at least 1 wet diaper the first day In the first few days, after recovering from Day 1 are learning to breastfeed, may have difficulty of life and three on days 2 and 3. Look for birth, your baby may “wake up” and seem to going to the breast afterward. Bottle feeding more wet diapers on days breastfeed infrequently or to be fussy. Many encourages babies to use a sucking technique 4 and 5. Your baby should wet at parents think this means their baby is not that is different from the one used for least 6 diapers every day after about getting enough breast milk. That is not true. breastfeeding. A baby may get used to the bottle 6 days of life. This is a normal stage of the breastfeeding Marble • Your baby is passing yellow, seedy, runny cycle, but—unfortunately—some new *e and then later refuse the breast. z parents don’t realize that. It is the most i Day 3 stools, starting on day 3 or 4. If baby is not y s Even though you cannot see the amount of passing any stools or is still passing common reason they give for introducing m breast milk that goes into your baby, there are m meconium (thick and black or dark green supplemental bottles in the early days. u other signs that suggest they are getting s t ’ stools), check with their pediatrician. y enough to eat. Your baby is likely getting Sometimes this fussy period coincides with b a • Your baby is gaining enough weight, as shown the normal softening of the mother’s breasts B enough milk if: after the initial engorgement is gone. Mothers by the scales in the health care office. A baby may then question the adequacy of their milk • They breastfeed at least 8 times in every should stop losing weight by about the fourth supply. The fussiness is only temporary, and 24-hour period or fifth day after birth, and should be back to does not necessarily mean you don’t have • They usually breastfeed for 10 minutes or birth weight by 2 weeks of age. If you have any enough milk. Some mothers worry that their Ping-pong ball more in a rhythmic suck/pause/suck pattern concerns about your baby getting enough milk is too “weak” for their babies. milk, contact their health care professional or Remember: Your milk is right for your Until they are about 4 months old, your baby’s tummy • You can hear frequent swallowing after baby a certified lactation consultant. They may can only hold small amounts of milk at a time. Too much has been at the breast for a few minutes. weigh your baby and make specific baby! If you let your baby finish the first milk during feedings can lead to things like fussiness, Once your milk supply has increased or suggestions. breast before moving on to the second, you gas, or spit-up. “come in”—by day 3 or 4—the swallowing is can be sure they get the especially nutritious * These models may be useful only as a representation of the high-fat milk at the end of the feeding. average breast milk intake during the early newborn period.1 much easier to hear. Reference: 1. Spangler AK, et al. J Hum Lact. 2008;24(2):199-205. 12 13