Coming Home · Feeding
How do I know she's getting enough milk?
Breast, bottle or a little of both, the signs are the same: happy feeds, full diapers and a baby who grows. Here's what to look for.
She's tucked against you, eyes half closed, one tiny hand resting on your skin, and you can hear her swallow. It's one of the most peaceful feelings there is. And then, a little later, the question every new mom asks: is she getting enough?
Here's the good news. Your baby is wonderfully good at telling you. Whether you're breastfeeding, formula feeding or doing a combination, you don't have to guess. You just need to know what to watch.
How often newborns eat
Newborns eat often, because their tummies are tiny. Breastfed newborns usually nurse 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, often about every 2 hours. Formula-fed newborns usually eat every 2 to 3 hours, about 8 to 12 times a day.
If you're using formula, the amounts start small. In the first day or two, she may take only about half an ounce at a feeding, then usually 1 to 2 ounces. By the end of the first month, many babies take 3 or 4 ounces at a time, about every 3 to 4 hours.
In these early weeks, don't let her go too long between feeds. A sleepy newborn may need a gentle wake up to eat: try a diaper change, undressing her or stroking her skin. If you're breastfeeding and she sleeps more than 4 hours at night, wake her to nurse.
Reading her cues
She'll show you she's hungry before she ever cries. Watch for:
- Hands to her mouth. Often the very first sign.
- Turning toward you. Her head turns toward the breast or bottle.
- Busy lips. Puckering, smacking or licking.
- Clenched hands. Little fists often mean "I'm ready."
Crying is a late sign of hunger, so feeding at the first cues usually goes more smoothly. When she's had enough, she'll close her mouth, turn her head away and relax her hands. Many babies seem content and drowsy after a good feed.
Count the diapers
What goes in comes out, and diapers are one of the clearest signs you have. A quick note on your phone after each change makes it easy.
- The first few days. Her first poops are blackish and tarry, 1 or 2 a day, then at least 2 a day turning greenish to yellow around days 3 and 4. Wet diapers start out few and increase as feeding picks up.
- By 5 to 7 days. Look for 6 or more wet diapers a day, with pale yellow or nearly clear pee, and at least 3 to 4 poops a day.
- By the end of the first week. Breastfed babies' poops are usually yellow and loose with small curds. Formula-fed babies' poops can look a bit different, and the number can vary.
Weight tells the story
It's normal for a newborn to lose some weight in her first few days. A breastfed baby may lose up to 8 to 10 percent of her birth weight before she starts gaining again. That's expected, and it's why her first checkup comes so soon after you go home.
By about two weeks, she should be back to her birth weight, and then she'll keep growing steadily along her growth curve. Her pediatrician will weigh her at each visit, and weighing her is the most precise way to know how feeding is going.
The one thing to remember
Happy feeds, plenty of wet and dirty diapers, and steady weight gain. When you see all three, she's getting what she needs.
Help is part of the plan
Feeding is a skill you're learning together, and nearly every mom has questions. If breastfeeding hurts, if her latch doesn't feel right, or if you're wondering about your supply, a lactation consultant (IBCLC) can watch a feed and help in person. Your pediatrician can help, too, with breast, bottle and everything in between.
Asking early is a sign of a mom who's paying attention. It's never a sign that anything is wrong with you.
When to call her pediatrician
Call her doctor if you notice any of these:
- Fewer wet diapers. After the first week, fewer than 6 wet diapers or 4 poops a day, or pee that is dark yellow or specked with red.
- Very sleepy. She's hard to wake for feeds, or much sleepier than usual.
- Signs of dehydration. A dry mouth, fewer tears when she cries, or a sunken soft spot on her head.
- Yellow skin or eyes. Her skin looks more yellow, the yellow spreads to her belly, arms or legs, or the whites of her eyes look yellow.
- Still hungry, all the time. She seems hungry after most feeds, or she isn't back to her birth weight by two weeks.
- Feeding trouble. She's fussy and not nursing or taking formula well, or nursing is very painful for you.
A full, sleepy baby
One day soon you'll notice it: the heavy little body, the milky smile, the arms flopped wide in a deep, happy sleep. That's what enough looks like.
You're feeding her beautifully, Mama, one sip at a time.
Where this comes from
This article draws on guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics. It's here to help, not to replace your own doctor, midwife or pediatrician. If you have questions, ask them.
- How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Warning Signs of Breastfeeding Problems, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Signs of Dehydration in Infants & Children, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Jaundice in Newborns, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- How Much and How Often to Breastfeed, CDC
- How Much and How Often to Feed Infant Formula, CDC
- Signs Your Child Is Hungry or Full, CDC