4 Signs Your Breastfed Baby Is Getting Enough Milk in the First 24 Hours
Feel confident on your first day of breastfeeding with these four signs to know that your baby is getting enough milk on their first day of life. Check back for the rest of the series where we discuss how to know you baby is getting enough on day 2 through two weeks, what changes at 6 weeks, and beyond.
Hi, I’m Kylie and I am a Registered Nurse and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I have years of experience working in Postpartum unit, inpatient and outpatient lactation settings, and supporting new families in their feeding goals. While some people push a “fed is best” or “breast is best” line of thinking, my philosophy is that the best choice for the families I work with is one where they felt informed and supported in their decision-making around feeding their baby.
Day 1
The Golden Hour
When your baby is born, they will likely have an initial period of high alertness. We call this “the golden hour”. When placed skin to skin on their mother’s chest, most babies will initiate breastfeeding all on their own within the first hour of life. There are some amazing videos of this that demonstrate just how strong a newborn’s feeding instincts are. You can search “breast crawl” on YouTube, or check out one of my favorites that talks about the breast crawl from the baby’s perspective here.
The Birthday Nap
After (hopefully) an initial good feeding, most babies do a lot of sleeping their first day of life. They are worn out from the process of labor (contractions squeezing on their body every few minutes) and being born. I call this “the birthday nap.” During this time period, you should keep your baby skin-to-skin as much as possible. That means baby in a diaper, against a parent’s bare chest, and covered with a light blanket. Attempt to nurse at least every three hours, or sooner if your baby shows hunger cues. If your baby is too sleepy to nurse, you can try hand expression to get a few drops of milk into the baby’s mouth. Sometimes, this will wake them and entice them to feed. If not, and you are getting good drops of colostrum (your first milk) you can put that into a spoon or small syringe and feed it to your baby that way.
Signs of a Good Feeding
If your baby is waking to latch, here are some signs that they are “getting enough”
You are hearing swallows. These might be quiet and sound like a “cuh” as your baby swallows the milk
Your baby is content after feeding. Their hands will go from tightly balled fists, to open and relaxed. Their arms will go from tight like a chicken wing, to loose like a spaghetti noodle.
The feeding lasts longer than 5 minutes
Gentle tugging sensation on the nipple, no pinching, biting, or pain
24 Hours of Life Expectations: 4 Signs that Feeding is Going Well
At 24 hours of life, your care team will be checking several key markers that feeding is going well.
Ideally:
Your baby will have had at least 3 good latches lasting 5 minutes or longer.
Your baby will have had at least 1 poop diaper (Colostrum acts like a laxative, so if baby is having lots of poops, even better!)
Your baby will have had at least 1 pee diaper
Your baby will have lost less than 7-8% of their birthweight. Every baby loses some weight as they go from an amniotic fluid-filled environment into the dry air, and they lose some water weight.
Summary
That wraps up how to know if your baby is feeding well in the first 24 hours of life. The bar is pretty low for brand-new babies. We want to see that they are capable of nursing well, but we understand that they’ve gone through a stressful event, that is labor and birth. If your baby is too sleepy to nurse, that is an excellent opportunity to practice hand expression to give the baby some “freebie” milk. If your baby is nursing, is content after feedings, and you hear swallows, keep it up! At 24 hours of life, your care team will ensure your baby is hitting their goals and isn’t losing too much weight!
In general, use the first 24 hours to get as many snuggles as you can, offer the breast every three hours, and feed anytime your baby shows interest. Your baby will soon wake up and want to nurse very frequently.
What if baby isn’t meeting expectations?
Stay tuned for a future post!
What changes happen after 24 hours in my baby’s feeding behavior?
A LOT. Stay tuned for a future post.
Are you pregnant and looking for breastfeeding education?
I offer a one-on-one prenatal breastfeeding course designed to prepare you and your partner for the first few weeks of breastfeeding with confidence! In this live virtual course, we dive deep into all the essentials, including:
Understanding infant hunger and fullness cues
How to navigate partner support
Knowing when to supplement and when it’s not necessary
Bottle-feeding techniques that protect breastfeeding
Timing for pumping based on your personal goals and more!
Time to discuss your biggest worries and concerns for breastfeeding
The course is $60, and if you choose to book a visit with me, that fee will be credited toward your appointment. Plus, the course is HSA/FSA eligible, and I’ll provide you with a superbill (medical receipt) to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement.
To register and schedule, simply email me at Kylie@springslactation.com.
Disclaimer: The content provided on this blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider or lactation consultant before making any changes to your breastfeeding or lactation routine. Every individual's experience is unique, and the information shared here should be considered as general guidance. Please follow the recommendations of your care team regarding your health and your baby's health.
