Is My Baby Getting Enough?

The most common question I get when I support new breastfeeding parents is ‘How do I know my new baby is getting enough?’. This is true if the family bottle feeds (either formula or expressed breast milk) first, as it involves measured quantities. With breastfeeding, the newborn controls what they take in and tends not to overfeed. However, it can be difficult for parents to trust that their baby is getting enough milk.

There are several ways to recognize your baby is getting sufficient milk from breastfeeding.

Checklist when breastfeeding your new baby

  • Your breasts feel softened or less full after the baby breastfeeds
  • Your nipples are intact (no damage or colour changes) and are not pinched after breastfeeding
  • Your baby is waking on their own and cueing for feeds. A baby should be breastfed a minimum of 8 times in 24 hours
  • Your baby is having multiple dirty diapers and 6+ wet diapers in 24 hours (please note: every baby is different)
  • Your newborn’s stool has fully changed from black post-birth meconium stool to yellow liquid stool by day five to six postpartum
  • You can see active sucking at the breast, and you can hear and/or see your baby swallowing
  • You feel uterine cramping while you breastfeed and/or feel your letdown reflex aka oxytocin reflex or milk ejection reflex. Oxytocin is produced by the posterior pituitary gland in the brain, in response to the baby suckling at the breast.  It elicits the letdown reflex as well as contraction of the uterine muscles post birth.
  • Your baby appears content and relaxed after breastfeeding

Weight checks

Another way to know your baby’s feeding is going well is to weigh them. Your postnatal health care provider will weigh your baby often during the first week postpartum. This is to make sure the baby’s weight loss is not concerning and that they are slowly beginning to gain again.  A drop in birth weight is normal and is expected. 

Bringing your new baby home

Once parents bring their baby home,  the concerns about getting enough milk begin to surface. When I first came home with my newborn I remember walking through the door thinking, I have no idea what to do next.  Thankfully, my midwife recommended breastfeeding my baby every two hours for the next two days, until I saw her again.

This was vital in helping me build my breast milk supply and increase my baby’s weight, which had dropped by 10% of her birth weight. Once my baby was able to breastfeed on cue, I went through the list above and I made sure my baby was getting enough milk.  Keeping in touch with my healthcare provider with all the questions and concerns I had helped me feel reassured I was breastfeeding properly for my newborn. 

My challenging start as a new parent and worrying about things like ‘How do I know she is getting enough?’, fueled my desire to become an IBCLC.  The extra knowledge gained in this training, now helps me support families with infant feeding from newborn to weaning.  It is also important to remember not to wait it out if you have breastfeeding concerns.  Reach out as soon as your questions arise so you can get back to enjoying the time with your new baby, feeling calm and confident.


For more answers to your breastfeeding questions and other tips contact me. I’m available for home, clinic and virtual appointments. I offer a free Discovery Call appointment to see how I can best support you.

About Mélanie Jacobson

Dr. Mélanie Jacobson is a Naturopathic Doctor in Toronto. She uses naturopathic tools and lactation consulting to support moms through the first steps of motherhood, allowing them to feel empowered, grounded and focused on caring for their growing family throughout their fourth trimester and beyond.

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