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

One of the most common questions we hear is, “How can I tell if my baby is getting enough?” As a new parent, it can be so hard to gauge how much our infants are taking in at the breast. 

We teach parents to rely on three indicators to feel confident about their babies getting enough at the breast. 

• Audible swallows – Are you able to hear your baby audibly swallowing when latched and sucking during breastfeeding? Those early swallows can be quite difficult to hear but our lactation professional can help parents feel confident about identifying them.  

• Wet and dirty diaper counts – On the first day of life, we are looking for baby to have one wet and one dirty diaper. Of course, the count rapidly goes up from there! Our lactation consultants can help review baby’s wet and dirty diaper count and give input on the quantity and quality of babies output. Just like us, the more nutritional intake, the more the output. 

• Infant weight gain – As babies breastmilk intake increases, so should their weight gain. Most healthy babies with adequate milk intake will regain their birth weight by 10-14 days of life. Our lactation professionals provide weighted feeding services which help build a solid clinical picture of intake at that specific feeding.