Breastfeeding Help: How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?

Possibly the biggest thing on a new mum’s mind is how do you know for sure whether your baby is getting enough milk. How often should he feed? How much is he getting each time? Is it enough? How do I know?  

We tend to like the confidence of being able to measure things exactly but when it comes to babies, nothing is exact. It’s more of an educated guess really.

Understanding your baby’s behaviours throughout the day can really give you reassurance. Here are the key things to look out for so you know your baby is getting enough milk.

Rowena Gray IBCLC is the Parents You've Got This Lactation Expert. She teaches at the Parents You've Got This Baby Basics Masterclass which is proudly supported by Lacevo, and you can download the Breastfeeding Basics video here.

Baby wakes himself for feeds 

Your baby will feed to his physical needs so it’s important to allow him to take control of the timing. All babies wake when they’re hungry and this will happen at varied time intervals, not strictly 3-4 hourly. One to 6 hours between any two feeds is normal, so timing and volume taken will be very sporadic in the first few weeks.  

If your baby is awake, assume he’s hungry. If your baby is asleep, assume he’s not hungry yet.

Feeding is calm and comfortable and you can hear bursts of swallowing

When breastfeeding is going well it should feel comfortable, you can hear your baby having multiple bursts of swallowing, your breasts are softening with feeds and your nipples are rounded and undamaged.  Your baby should appear relaxed at the breast and will be actively sucking. If you feel your baby is “sleepy” at the breast you should reach out for lactation support.

What goes in has to come out

The simple counting of wet and dirty nappies is the ultimate reassurance that your baby is getting adequate milk.  Your baby cannot wee or poo if the milk isn’t first going in.

If you’re getting a wet nappy every feed, all is well.   You’ll be looking for a minimum of 4-6 wet nappies in 24 hours as reassurance of good hydration.  After one week of age, poos should be yellow / mustard coloured and will be quite soft or runny. The yellow colour of the poos are a sign of adequate nutrition. Dirty nappies vary a lot between babies.  Colour and consistency is key, not frequency. Some newborns poo multiple times a day and some can go up to 2 weeks!

Baby is settled after a feed

When all your baby’s needs are met he will settle or fall back to sleep very easily after a feed. A satisfied baby is a contented baby.  If your baby is not settling he may want more to feed.  Continue to offer him a feed until he is settled. If you’re finding it difficult to settle your baby after feeding you should reach out for lactation support.

Weight gain

Whilst good weight gains can be reassuring, be mindful that individual weight measurements can be misleading.  A large wet and dirty nappy just before going on the scales can show as ‘weight loss’ or ‘not enough’ weight gain. Or a big feed just before being weighed can show as a bigger than expected weight gain.  Fluctuations in weight are very normal and weight gain should always be taken in context with everything else mentioned above. Weight gain is only ONE measure of milk intake.  Remember that baby’s wet and dirty nappy output is a far more accurate measure of milk intake on a daily basis. 

If you have any concerns about whether your baby is getting enough milk reach out for lactation support.

The information provided above is general in nature and is not intended to replace the advice from your healthcare professional. Please seek the advice of your healthcare professional for tailored information that is right for your circumstances.

Rowena Gray is a mother to 3 amazing daughters, nurse, midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and has been both a consumer and giver of copious amounts of breastfeeding advice!  She is the author of ‘Born to Breastfeed - the first six weeks and beyond’ - available online (booktopia) and as an e-book through amazon.

Mother breastfeeding baby