How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?
A lactation consultant's guide to easing the stress of not knowing.
“I have no idea how much my baby is eating.. Wouldn’t it be easier to tell if I just gave a bottle?”
Mama, I hear you. If you are exclusively breastfeeding, there are no bottles to measure, apps to track ounces, or charts to tell you you’re doing it right. And in our world, where we are focused on data and tracking it, it can feel overwhelming and scary. But I have good news: For generations, mothers have known how to tell if things were going well, without bottles and apps, by tuning into their baby, their body, and the signs that breastfeeding is on track.
Hi, I’m Kylie Pina and I am a Lactation Consultant and Registered Nurse. I work with families who want to breastfeed but feel unsure or anxious about whether it’s working. If you’ve ever wondered “Is my baby getting enough?”, you’re in the right place.
In this guide, I’ll show you:
What signs to look for that tell you breastfeeding is going well
What warning signs may signal that it’s time to get support
Think of this as a kind of mindfulness exercise, paying attention to your body, your baby, and what they are communicating to you. Of course, we still care about the baby’s actual weight, but on a day-to-day basis, I want you to be able to feel that things are going well based on your observations. This is your invitation to stop second-guessing and start feeling confident. Let’s dive in.
4 signs your baby is getting enough to eat while exclusively breastfeeding:
Your Breasts Feel Softer After Feeding
When you go through the initial stages of your milk coming in, your breasts might feel full before feeding. Take note of how they feel before the feeding and how they feel after your baby nurses. If they feel softer, that is a good sign that your baby was able to move the milk from your breast to their belly!
Your Baby Looks Relaxed and Content
Babies are good communicators. If your baby is relaxed and content after feedings, this is a sign that things are going well. You might notice that your baby goes from a tight body posture with their arms held closely and hands balled up in fists, to a more relaxed body posture. Their arms might look like limp spaghetti noodles and their hands are open and relaxed. They might look milk drunk, fall asleep, or even spit out the nipple and turn away. Many times a baby will get to that relaxed state, take a few minutes to rest and digest, and then be ready for dessert on breast #2!
You Hear Swallowing
Listen for swallows. It might sound like a quiet “cah” sound, or maybe even like little gulps. This is a great sign that your baby is moving milk from your breast to their belly!
Diaper Output is On Track
We all know the saying, “What goes in… must come out”. The same is true of your baby’s digestive process. Look for:
6+ heavy wet diapers a day
4+ yellow, seedy poops a day
Clear or light yellow pee
Baby is Gaining Weight
Ahhh, back to the numbers. I include this section not to make you go out and buy a scale, but to let you know that your healthcare team will take care of watching the scale for your baby. Your providers will keep a close eye on your baby’s weight in the early days, and this is to ensure that your baby is getting enough to eat. Weight loss of up to about 8% is normal in breastfeeding babies at about 2 days of life. From there, your baby should start gaining weight. There’s usually a pediatrician appointment a day or two after you are discharged home. If your baby is still losing weight, has lost more than 8%, or isn’t nursing well, this is one of the times when you might start supplementing and pumping, in addition to connecting with a lactation consultant. Additionally, your baby will have another appointment with the pediatrician at two weeks of life. At that point, the hope is that your baby will be back to their birth weight. That’s an encouraging sign that nursing is going well and your baby is getting plenty of milk.
Warning signs that your baby may not be getting enough when exclusively breastfeeding
If you notice any of these signs, it would be wise reach out to a trusted lactation professional. You aren’t failing, you just need guidance. You will likely be instructed to supplement and pump to help feed your baby and protect your milk supply while we work to figure out what is going on.
Baby isn’t gaining weight or lost more than 8% from their birth weight
Your baby’s nursing sessions are consistently super short (less than 10 minutes) or super long (50 minutes).
Less than 6 pees and 4 poops per day by day 5
Concentrated, dark urine or poop that still looks like meconium (that first black sticky poop) after day 5
Your breasts still feel full and firm after feeds
Latching is painful, or your nipples are looking damaged. In my experience, this usually means your baby is latching too shallowly. When they are latched shallowly, they don’t transfer milk as effectively, and it HURTS you.
A Reminder
I hope this guide was helpful and you feel more confident in knowing that your breastfeeding journey is going well. If not, remember, you’re not meant to figure this out all alone. If you are going down the rabbit hole trying to figure out if breastfeeding is working for you, or if something feels off, trust your instincts. The sooner you get support, the easier it is to get back on track, with less stress, fewer tears, and more confidence. You are not failing. You just need support, and that’s exactly what I’m here for.
Need peace of mind? I offer in-home lactation consultations for Colorado Springs families and virtual consults for families nationwide. You can book here.
