Four Commonly Asked Questions About Breastfeeding Your Newborn

As a lactation educator, I hear commonly asked questions when I support new families. This list of the top four questions and my responses to my clients offers some practical information on breastfeeding your newborn. Whether you are an experienced breastfeeder or entering breastfeeding as a first-time parent, this information will help you establish breastfeeding with your newborn.

How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?

Quite simply, you can’t ever see exactly how much milk your baby drinks. However, there are some very reliable observations you can make to rest assured that your newborn is getting exactly what they need.

First is the number of wet and dirty diapers your baby will have in a 24-hour period. For the first four days your baby will typically have one wet and one dirty diaper for each day old that they are (ie day one they will have one wet and one dirty; day two they will have two wet and two dirty, etc). By days four to seven, your baby will have two to four dirty diapers per day and six to eight wet diapers per day. This increase in wet and dirty diapers is in direct relation to your milk “coming in” (or increasing in volume as it transitions from colostrum to mature milk).

Please note that the range of normal can vary from baby to baby, and that it is not uncommon for some breastfed babies to skip a day (or even several days) between bowel movements. If you are concerned about your baby’s output, please check in with your care provider.

Weighing your baby is another way to check that they are getting enough milk. Almost all newborns will lose between 7 - 10% of their birth weight and this is perfectly normal. Most newborns will be back to their birth weight by the time they are two or three weeks old.

Image description: a newborn sleeps resting on the chest of an adult, a little dribble of milk hangs in their corner of their mouth.

When will my milk “come in”?

Your body is marvelous when it comes to producing breastmilk! Once your baby (and more importantly the placenta) is born, your body signals your brain to increase your levels of the hormones prolactin and oxytocin.

Every time your baby nurses, prolactin levels increase in your brain which signals your body to make milk. In turn, oxytocin levels also increase when baby suckles which signals your body to squeeze milk through your milk ducts and out the nipple. This process is called “let-down” or “milk ejection reflex” (MER). AMAZING!!!

You can see why it is SO important in those early days and weeks to feed your baby often to establish a good milk supply. In fact, you should expect to feed your newborn at least eight to twelve times in the first 24 hours. Some breastfeeding experts believe that the frequency of breast/chestfeeding in those early days may have an impact on how quickly your milk “comes in”.

Colostrum, also known as “liquid gold”, begins production about halfway through your pregnancy and nourishes your newborn in those first few precious days of life. The transition to mature milk typically begins between days three to four, your milk increasing in volume as your newborn’s stomach grows and their nutritional needs increase. After one to two weeks postpartum, your baby’s ability to latch well and empty the breast often, plays a huge role in the amount of milk you will produce.

Image description: a newborn baby smiles while nursing at the breast.

How long should I feed my baby at each feed?

I always like to tell new parents not to set a timer and/or watch the clock during feedings. Feeding times will vary from baby to baby, and so it’s important not to place time restrictions on your newborn. Some baby’s may eat quickly, while others take much longer - there is no right or wrong, it just simply is. During the newborn period, most feeding sessions take between 20-45 minutes. However, because newborn babies are often sleepy and difficult to rouse, this length of time may require patience and persistence.

Remember, you can’t nurse too often in those early days,
but you can nurse too little!

 There are some things to take note of that may indicate that your baby is full and content:

• Your baby’s hands can be very telling! A hungry baby will likely have tightly fisted hands, while a baby that is full and content will often have relaxed and open hands

• Your breasts will also change from the beginning to the end of the feeding (once your milk has “come in”). They will go from feeling rather full to feeling softer and less full after a feeding.

• If you can see and hear baby making audible swallows (which you would expect to hear once your milk has “come in”), it is a good sign that your baby is getting lots of milk. I wouldn’t recommend taking a baby off the breast that is still actively sucking and swallowing. Once you can no longer see or hear this, it is a good indication that baby is done feeding on that side and it would be a good opportunity to offer the other breast.

What is cluster feeding?

There will be days when you feel like all you’ve done is feed your baby, because truly you have! This is called cluster feeding and you may worry that you aren’t producing enough milk during this time. This usually isn’t the case - remember to step back and look at the big picture. If your baby is producing enough wet and dirty diapers and is gaining weight, then you are producing enough milk, even if your baby is feeding frequently.

It’s also important to note that most babies will experience growth spurts at two to three weeks, six weeks, and again at nine weeks. At these times, your baby may want to be on the breast continually. It’s also worth remembering that your baby nurses for many reasons, nutrition being at the top of the list, but looking for comfort and security are also important reasons for your baby wanting to be nursed often.

HAPPY NURSING!

Stephanie provides birth and postpartum doula services. Inquire today.

Image description: a newborn baby drinks milk at the breast while their mother looks down smiling