Signs your baby is receiving enough milk

A common worry in moms who are breastfeeding is that their baby might not be getting enough milk, since there’s no real way of determining exactly how much milk your baby has received at each feed (if you’re bottlefeeding you can keep track of how many ounces your baby has at each feed).

The easiest way of knowing your baby has had enough milk is by timing how long she goes between feeds – if it’s a couple of hours or more you can be sure she’s getting enough. In addition, she’ll steadily gain weight. There may be times when she suddenly seems hungrier and feeds more often – if you notice an increase in her appetite she could well be having a growth spurt. If she’s wetting or soiling her diaper after each feed (expect six to eight wet diapers over 24 hours) this is also a good sign that she’s getting plenty of milk from you. 

If you think your baby isn’t getting enough to eat, discuss it with your pediatrician. It’s very important that you establish if there’s a feeding problem so that it can be rectified. It is very serious if your baby does not receive adequate nutrition but rest assured that this is also quite uncommon.

Why not chat to other moms about this, or other topics, by leaving a message on our chat forum? Alternately, if you want to meet other moms in your area with similar age babies, visit our people section to find out what’s happening in your area, or join or start one of our groups. 

The information on this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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• Baby Health: Your baby’s milk teeth