Is my baby getting enough milk?

Many mothers worry about whether their babies are getting enough milk. Most babies will do fine if they nurse eight to 12 times in 24 hours. (You should be able to hear the baby swallowing.) Another way to tell that your baby is getting enough nutrition is if she or he:

• Produces enough wet diapers: By day two, the baby should produce at least two wet diapers each day.
• By day three, she or he should produce at least three wet diapers each day.
• By day four, she or he should produce at least four wet diapers each day.
• From day five on, the baby should produce six to eight wet diapers each day.
• Has at least two to three bowel movements in 24 hours. (After the first month this may change. Some breast-fed babies may have bowel movements only every few days.) At first, stools will be sticky and tarry. After breast feeding is well- established, stools will be yellow and very loose.

If you are concerned that your baby is not getting enough milk, call your baby’s doctor. She or he may want to weigh your baby or refer you to a Breast Feeding Clinic at your local hospital, staffed by certified lactation consultants, nursed trained to help women and babies learn to breast feed. She can discuss a specific plan for you to increase your milk supply before using formula to supplement breast feeding.

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