Is Baby Getting Enough Milk?

August 7, 2011. Posted in: Breastfeeding Basics,Growth & Development,Supply worries,What is Normal?

By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC

IS BABY GETTING ENOUGH? — QUICK REFERENCE CARD
~~~ BIRTH to 6 WEEKS ~~~
WEIGHT GAIN:
If baby is gaining well on mom’s milk alone, then baby is getting enough. A 5-7% weight loss during the first 3-4 days after birth is normal. Baby should regain birth weight by 2 weeks. Once mom’s milk comes in, average weight gain is 6 oz/week. If these goals are not met, call your lactation consultant. More on weight gain.
WET DIAPERS: 5 – 6+ sopping wet diapers per day (after 1st week).
Expect one wet diaper on day one, increasing to 5-6 by one week. To feel what a sufficiently wet diaper is like, pour 3 tablespoons (45 mL) of water into a clean diaper (if baby wets more often, then the amount of urine per diaper may be less). Urine should be pale and mild smelling.
DIRTY DIAPERS: 3 – 4+ dirty diapers per day (after day 4).
Stools should be yellow (no meconium) by day 5 and the size of a US quarter (2.5 cm) or larger. The normal stool of a breastfed baby is usually yellow and is loose (soft to watery, may be seedy or curdy). More on infant stooling.
OTHER POSITIVE SIGNS: After a feeding, mom’s breast feels softer and baby seems reasonably content. Baby is alert, active and meeting developmental milestones.

Want to print the above information? Go to PDF Quick Reference Card or Professional Handouts

 

Additional Resources

Is baby getting enough milk? | Does your breastfed baby need formula supplements?

Is baby getting enough milk?

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Is my baby getting enough milk? by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

Neonatal (Newborn) Weight Loss by Marie Davis, RN, IBCLC talks about why babies lose weight at the very beginning

How to tell your baby is getting enough at the breast by Kathy Kuhn, RN, BSN, IBCLC

Is my baby getting enough? by Becky Flora, IBCLC

L-A-T-C-H-E-S * Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (for the first 4 weeks) and Scoring Key by Marie Davis, RN, IBCLC

Growth spurt or low milk supply? How to tell the difference by Kathy Kuhn, RN, BSN, IBCLC

Does your breastfed baby need formula supplements?

Hospital Guidelines for the Use of Supplementary Feedings in the Healthy Term Breastfed Neonate, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol Number 3

Supplementing the Breastfeeding Baby by Kathleen G. Auerbach, PhD, IBCLC

Supplementing The Breastfed Baby by Paula Yount

Thoughts on the appropriate use of supplements by Kathy Kuhn, RN, BSN, IBCLC

Does This Mother Really Have to Wean? Questions Leaders Can Ask by Laure Marchand-Lucas (Leaven, Vol. 33 No. 5, October-November 1997, pp. 117-18) has information on the acceptable medical reasons for supplementation under the WHO/UNICEF Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Initiative.

Powers NG, Slusser W. Breastfeeding Update 2 : Clinical Lactation Management. Pediatrics in Review 1997 May;18(5):147-161.

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