Breast. Here are two questions nearly every new breastfeeding mom asks: How much breast milk, exactly, does my newborn need at each feeding? And is my baby getting enough milk?
For most moms, the answer is their breasts are producing just the right amount of milk to nourish their babies. (If you’re feeding a premature baby or if your baby has medical conditions, be sure to discuss feeding with their doctor.)
Newborns need very little to eat, especially in the first few days of life. That’s because your newborn’s stomach is tiny at birth – just the size of a marble, or the equivalent of about 1 to 2 teaspoons of milk. The colostrum your body produces in those first couple of days is extremely concentrated in nutrients, so it covers your baby’s nutritional and fluid needs in just a tiny amount.
Every day, your breastfed newborn will take small but gradually increasing amounts of milk. That means you can expect your newborn to breastfeed often – about eight to 12 times every day, or every one to three hours. Your baby will likely also have a daily bout of cluster feeding, when they’ll eat every 30 minutes to an hour for a few hours.
Eating frequently ensures your baby gets enough, plus it helps increase your milk supply – so it’s important to look for signs your baby is hungry and feed them on demand. In newborns, each nursing session can take 20 minutes or more. Since babies can be groggy for the first couple of weeks, you may need to wake them to eat if it’s been more than about four hours since their last meal.
By day 10, your baby’s stomach will have already grown to the size of a ping pong ball, with a volume of between 6 to 12 teaspoons. That equals about 30 to 60 mL, or 1 to 2 ounces. Your milk production will have ramped up accordingly.
Accommodating a newborn’s feeding schedule is very demanding, especially when you’re recovering from birth. The good news is, it gets less intense after the first couple of months. With experience, babies get more efficient at breastfeeding, and each nursing session should eventually take just five to 10 minutes per side.
As they get older, babies have more at each feeding, so can go longer between feedings. At 2 months old, most babies will drink 4 to 5 ounces every three to four hours. By 6 months old, many babies have 6 to 8 ounces every four to five hours.
Exclusively pumping? You can follow the same schedule as if you were breastfeeding, which means you’ll pump about eight to 12 times in 24 hours for the first couple of months. Because your body makes more of the milk-producing hormone prolactin when you nurse or pump at night, schedule at least one pumping session overnight. Also, avoid going longer than five hours between pumping sessions.
How much colostrum does a newborn need from breast?
Colostrum is the thick yellow liquid your breasts make during pregnancy and in your baby’s first days of life. It’s rich in nutrients and antibodies to support your baby’s nutritional needs and their inexperienced immune system as they adjust to the world outside of your womb.
Your breasts start producing colostrum between 12 and 18 weeks of pregnancy, and they’ll keep this up until your body begins making milk. It takes between two to five days for transitional milk to come in. You’ll know this has happened when your breasts feel fuller and your milk turns bluish-white. You can expect mature milk to arrive about 10 to 15 days after birth.
In the first month, here’s how much your baby will eat at each feeding:
- Days 1 to 2: about 1/2 ounce
- Days 3 to 7: 1 to 2 ounces
- Weeks 1 to 2: 1 to 3 ounces
- Weeks 2 to 4: 2 to 3 ounces
Of course, unless you’re pumping and bottle-feeding, it’s impossible to know the precise amount of milk that your breastfeeding baby gets at each feeding. You’ll know your baby is eating if you see or hear them swallowing and you feel your breasts soften during feedings. Babies who have a full tummy seem relaxed and happy when they’re done eating. If you’re concerned that your baby isn’t getting enough breast milk, see a lactation consultant for help.
Besides tracking nursing sessions, the easiest way to verify your baby’s milk intake in the early days is to count their wet and dirty diapers. In the first two days, your baby may only wet two or three diapers. This will increase to about six wet diapers a day around day five.
Your baby should have one or two bowel movements each day on days one and two, and at least two per day on days three and four. Your baby’s first poop – known as meconium – will be blackish-green and sticky. By 1 week old, your baby should have at least three to four poops each day. These should be loose and yellow.
Your baby’s doctor will closely monitor your baby’s weight in the days after birth to ensure they’re getting enough to eat. Babies normally shed up to 10 percent of their birth weight in the first few days of life, as they lose excess fluids. By five days of age, your baby will start gaining about an ounce a day. They’ll regain their birth weight by about 14 days of age.
One tip: Make sure to watch your baby’s cues rather than just focusing on the numbers. It’s helpful to know typical amounts babies eat when you’re figuring out life with your newborn, but don’t let this stop you from learning your baby’s individual wants and needs.
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