Signs that your baby is getting enough milk

How can I tell if my baby is getting enough milk?

During the first couple of weeks, you may wonder if your baby is getting enough milk, especially if he wants to feed all the time or is unsettled after feeds. Once the first sleepy day or two have passed, your baby should seem to be hungry often. And he probably is, since breastmilk is digested within a couple of hours of consumption.

Most newborns want to breastfeed eight to 15 times a day after the first three to four days of life. Many are still feeding about 10-12 times a day after a week. Most will continue to do so for another week before dropping to about eight to 10 feeds a day. Feed your baby as often as he needs it. Routines have no place in your day while you're getting breastfeeding under way.

Unfortunately, weighing the baby in the first few days will probably not reassure you, since newborns normally lose five to 10 per cent of their birthweight in the first week or so. However, your baby should start to gain weight after that, and if he weighed again at 10 to 14 days, you should be able to see him regaining his birthweight.

There are some ways to gauge if your baby's getting enough milk, and there are signs that he may not be receiving enough. Dehydration in newborns is rare, but it's important to know the signs of a healthy eater so you can alert your doctor if anything seems amiss. These include:

• Your baby feeding eight to 10 times a day for the first two to three weeks.
• Your breasts being well drained and softer after feeds.
• Your baby's skin feels firm - it bounces right back if pinched.
• There should be at least six wet nappies in a 24-hour period. (It's easier to tell if a non-disposable nappy is wet than a disposable.) Your baby's urine should be clear and odourless.
• Being able to see him swallow while he is feeding.
• Producing yellowy-mustard stools or frequent dark stools, or the stools beginning to lighten in colour by the fifth day after birth.

What are the warning signs that my baby isn't getting enough to eat?

Signs that your baby isn't getting adequate milk usually include most of the following:

• Your baby does not begin to regain his birthweight and put on weight after two weeks.
• Your breasts don't feel softer after feeds.
• Your baby is unsettled or lethargic most of the time.
• Your baby has dimples in his cheeks or makes clicking noises while breastfeeding. (This is a sign that your baby is not latched on properly and you will need to get expert help from a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant to make sure that your technique is right.)
• Your baby is wetting fewer than six to eight nappies in a 24-hour period after the five days following birth.
• Your baby doesn't have a bowel movement at least once a day or is having small, dark stools five days or more after birth.
• He becomes more yellow, instead of less, after the first week.
• He does not develop a rounded face by about three weeks.
• Your baby's skin remains wrinkled after the first week.

If you're concerned about any of these signs, call your family doctor or paediatrician.
You will be giving your baby enough milk if:

• Your baby is latched on well at the breast and feeds on demand.
• Feeding is comfortable and painless.
• Your baby changes rhythm whilst sucking and pauses during feeds, starts feeding again without prompting, and comes off the breast spontaneously when he's finished.

If your baby is showing these signs, then it is very unlikely that you are underfeeding him. One of the hardest things about beginning a breastfeeding relationship is feeling confident that you are giving your baby enough milk. No doubt you are, but you shouldn't hesitate, in the early days of breastfeeding, to get reassurance and help from your paediatrician, family doctor, breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant.