Is my Breastfed Baby Getting Enough to Eat?
Breastfeeding is a beautiful, natural, and effective way to provide optimal nutrition to your baby. However, one of the most common concerns that new mothers have is whether their baby is getting enough milk during a feeding. Since breast milk is not measured like formula, it can be difficult to know if your baby had enough to eat. Fortunately, there are several signs that can help you determine if your baby had enough to eat after breastfeeding.
Weight gain
One of the most reliable ways to determine if your baby is getting enough milk is by tracking their weight gain. A healthy, full-term newborn typically gains about half an ounce to one ounce (20-30g) per day for the first few months of life. If your baby is gaining weight steadily and meeting their developmental milestones, it is a good sign they are getting appropriate amounts of breastmilk.
Often a Lactation Consultant will perform a pre/post feed weight to determine milk intake. This can be a helpful tool to get a better understanding if there is a milk supply issue or a milk transfer issue. But we need to remember that these weights are just a snapshot of feeding and shouldn’t be used to determine the overall effectiveness of breastfeeding, it’s important to take a detailed feeding history and look at multiple weights and feeds in order to determine if there is a concern.
Frequency of feedings
Newborns typically feed frequently, sometimes as often as every hour, for the first few weeks of life or when they experience a growth spurt or cluster feed. As they grow, they may space out feedings overnight but still feed frequently throughout the day. Babies typically feed every 2-3 hours throughout the day and up to 2 times overnight for the first year of life. If your baby is feeding at least eight to twelve times a day, it is a good sign that they are getting enough breastmilk.
Length of feedings
The length of time that your baby spends at the breast during feeding can be a good indicator of whether they are getting enough milk. In general, newborns will feed for 10-20 minutes on each breast at each feeding. As they grow, feedings may become shorter as they become more efficient. As a Lactation Consultant who has observed many babies breastfeed over the years, I generally like to see a minimum of 10 minutes on the first breast before offering the second breast. But I want moms to watch their babies and not the clock. So if your baby seems content after 7 minutes of feeding and your breast feels pretty soft, that may be a good time to burp and offer the second breast.
Swallowing
You can also tell if your baby is getting enough milk by listening for consistent swallows during feedings. If you hear your baby swallowing milk regularly throughout the feeding, it is a good sign that they are drinking well. If you don’t hear consistent swallows after 3 minutes of sucking, that generally means your baby took in most of the available milk in that breast and now would be a good time to switch sides.
Output
Another way to determine if your baby is getting enough milk is by monitoring their output. After the first week of life, your baby should have at least six wet diapers and three to four bowel movements per day. The urine should be pale and odorless, and the bowel movements should be soft. yellow and easily passed.
Contentment after feeding
After a breastfeeding session, your baby should appear content and relaxed. They should settle within 20 minutes of the feed ending. If they are still fussy and crying, it could be a sign they are still hungry. When in doubt, offer your breast again. But if you rule out hunger and they are still fussy, try changing their diaper, burping, abdominal massage, bicycling their legs, or offering a soother.
In conclusion, determining if your baby had enough to eat after breastfeeding can be challenging, but there are several signs that can help you determine if your baby is getting enough milk. Tracking your baby's weight gain, frequency of feedings, length of feedings, swallowing, output, and contentment after feeding can all be helpful in determining if your baby is getting enough milk. If you have concerns about your baby's feeding habits or weight gain, consult with a Nourish Lactation Consultant today!
