How Will I Know If My Baby Is Getting Enough Milk?
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New parents often worry that their baby is getting enough to eat. This is especially true for moms who choose to breastfeed. Since it is not easy to measure exactly how much breast milk a baby is getting, there are other signs that parents can watch for to tell if their baby is getting enough milk.
The first sign that a baby is getting enough milk is that he is having wet diapers. After the third or fourth day of birth, a baby will typically begin to have somewhere between 5 and 8 wet diapers (before the third day, he will only wet one or two per day). Additionally, a baby will typically have between 2 and 5 bowel movements each day as well.
The number of feedings that your baby is taking can also help you know that she is getting enough milk. A nursing baby will typically feed somewhere between 8 and 12 times each day. In addition, you should be able to hear your baby swallow when she is breastfeeding.
Your baby’s weight is also a telltale sign that she is getting enough milk. She will typically gain somewhere between 4 and 7 ounces each week. In addition, a baby who is getting enough milk will grow, both in terms of the length of the baby, as well as in the circumference of the baby’s head.
Signs that your baby is hungry are not limited to crying. Your baby might be hungry if:
- He moves his head from side to side.
- She frequently opens her mouth or sticks out her tongue.
- He puts his fist or his hand into or up to his mouth.
- She puckers her lips in a sucking motion.
- He nuzzles against mom’s breast.
- She moves her mouth toward something that touches her cheek (known as the “rooting reflex).
Some signs that your baby might not be getting the nutrition that she needs can include:
- Her face doesn’t look as full as it should.
- Even after a feeding, he doesn’t seem to be satisfied.
- Her skin is still wrinkled, even after the first three or four weeks after being born.
Generally, your health care provider will want to check on your baby within 2 to 4 weeks after birth to make sure he is growing and getting the nutrition he needs. If you are concerned that your baby is not getting enough milk, contact your health care provider, as it may be a sign of another problem.
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