- Newborn stomachs are about the size of ping-pong ball vs the one-week size of large chicken egg! Newborns eat about a 1-2 teaspoons per feeding to start. Your milk is sufficient from delivery and increases based on baby’s demand. A one-week old baby is drinking about 1-1.5 ounces per feeding.
- Babies who are breastfeeding well are able to latch and maintain for the duration of the feeding. Length of feeding isn’t as important as quality of the feeding.
- The latch will not be painful to you.
- You will not hear clicking or smacking noises.
- The suck changes from rapid and shallow to deep and rhythmic.
- You see and hear baby swallowing.
- Sometimes the opposite breast leaks.
- The breasts feel fuller before nursing and softer after.
- The baby releases the breast, content and “milk drunk.” Hand relax and unclench.
- Baby is feeding effectively at least 8 or more time in 24 hours.
- Baby may or may not burp (there is no air in the breast).
- Baby has at least one wet diaper day for each day of age the first 6 days, then at least 6 per 24 hours.
- Stools vary in frequency but at least one the first 24 hours and changing from meconium to yellow and soft or seedy by the third or fourth day of life. Average 4-6 dirty diapers per day after day 4 and for the first 6 weeks, then a few less per day after that.
- Babies don’t always have real tears at first, but their lips and tongue won’t look dried out, the skin will bounce back if gently pinched, and the soft spot on top of their head will be flat.
- All babies lose weight but they normally start gaining again after day 3 and should regain birthweight by the 2 week check-up.
Regular Charting of Progress
Signs breastfeeding is not going well and you need help:
- You are so sore you don’t want to feed your baby
- Baby is latching on and off or making clicking noises
- Feeds are lasting longer than 30 min and no signs of swallowing/no change in the sucking rhythm
- Baby is always awake, never seems satisfied. Or always sleeping more than 4 hours between feeds
- Skipping more than one feed.
- No latch/trouble latching
- Weak or no suck
- Irritable or weak cry.
- Diaper count is less than above.
- Baby is continuing to lose weight after day 3 or has lost an unusually large amount.