Am I making enough milk? Yes, you are!
The number one concern of breastfeeding moms is, am I making enough milk?
Short Answer: Yes you are!
As you feed your baby, your body adjusts to make the right amount with the right nutrients.
In the beginning, it doesn’t take much to fill up your baby. At birth, your baby’s tummy is no bigger than a toy marble (about 1 to 2 teaspoons). By day 10, your baby’s stomach grows to the size of a ping-pong ball (about 2 ounces).
Putting your baby to your breast early and often will help your body keep up with your baby’s growing tummy. In the beginning, you will probably be feeding your baby 10-12 times or more every 24 hours.
As your baby grows, he or she may nurse less frequently and drink more in a single feeding. Your milk supply will adapt. During a growth spurt, your baby might want to nurse more often or for longer.
One of the best ways to tell if your baby is getting enough milk is to keep track of wet and dirty diapers. As your milk changes, your baby’s poops will too. At first, poops will be black and tarry. Then they’ll be greenish to yellowish. Then they will become yellow, loose, and seedy. Around 10-15 days after delivery, your baby may poop after every feeding or less often.
| Baby’s Age | Dirty Diapers |
|---|---|
| Day 1 (Birth) | 1 (Thick, tarry, black) |
| Day 2 | 2 (Thick, tarry, blackish brown) |
| Day 3 | 3 (Greenish and pasty) |
| Day 4 (or when milk increases) | 3 (Greenish yellow) |
| Day 5 and up to 6-8 weeks of age | 5+ (Yellow, seedy) |
You may want to keep a log of your baby’s diapers in a notebook or use a smartphone app.
Other signs that baby is getting enough:
- You can hear or see baby swallowing
- Baby begins to gain weight (after losing some weight at first) – your WIC clinic can check your baby’s weight gain, just call and ask!
- Breasts soften during the feeding
- Baby seems satisfied and content after feeding, hands and feet are relaxed.
- Baby awakens to feed
- A newborn breastfeeds at least 10 to 12 times every 24 hours, including at night
Even if you have twins, triplets, or quadruplets, you will still make enough milk for your babies. Breastfeeding your babies early and often after their birth will help.
Source: USDA WIC Breastfeeding Support – How Much Milk Your Baby Needs