Our breasts don’t come with indicators on them to show us how much milk a baby is drinking at each feed, so there must be a way of working out if a breastfeed baby is getting enough milk.
There is….just remember that what goes in has to come out! Keeping an eye on a baby’s nappy output will give a good indication if a baby is getting enough breastmilk.
There are slightly different things to look for depending on the age of your baby.
Day 1 to Day 5
At birth babies have small stomachs and the first milk they drink, colostrum, is produced in the breast in small quantities, a perfect amount for a newborn to handle.
As your baby takes their small, frequent feeds over the first few days, your milk volume is increasing. You can see this in the nappy output.
Day 1 – 1 wet nappy
Day 2 – 2 wet nappies
Day 3 – 3 wet nappies
Day 4 – 4 wet nappies
Day 5 – 5 wet nappies
As well as wet nappies, babies will pass poo, this poo changes a lot in the early days. The early poo is black, tar-like and sticky and is called meconium and it is what has been sitting in your baby’s bowel before birth. The poo will change colour and consistency when your baby is breastfeeding well.
Day 1 – 1 sticky green-black poo
Day 2 – 2 green-black poos
Day 3 – 3 green-brown poos that are less sticky
Day 4 – 3-4 lighter greenish-brown or yellowish poos
Day 5 – 4 generally mustard-yellow poos, can be seedy or watery
From Day 6 to about 6 weeks
If baby is getting enough milk, you will see at least 5 heavy, wet disposable nappies in 24hrs and about 4 mustard-yellow poos in 24hours. When you count the poos, count the ones that are at least as big as a 50c piece.
Beyond 6 weeks
Babies will settle into their own poo pattern and this can be 1-2 times a day, up to once a week! The best guide to adequate breastmilk intake is now wet nappies, where you will see at least 5 heavy, wet disposable nappies in 24hours. They will not be strong smelling or yellow stained, but will be clear. If you are using cloth nappies, you can expect to see 6-8 thoroughly wet nappies in 24hours.
There is….just remember that what goes in has to come out! Keeping an eye on a baby’s nappy output will give a good indication if a baby is getting enough breastmilk.
There are slightly different things to look for depending on the age of your baby.
Day 1 to Day 5
At birth babies have small stomachs and the first milk they drink, colostrum, is produced in the breast in small quantities, a perfect amount for a newborn to handle.
As your baby takes their small, frequent feeds over the first few days, your milk volume is increasing. You can see this in the nappy output.
Day 1 – 1 wet nappy
Day 2 – 2 wet nappies
Day 3 – 3 wet nappies
Day 4 – 4 wet nappies
Day 5 – 5 wet nappies
As well as wet nappies, babies will pass poo, this poo changes a lot in the early days. The early poo is black, tar-like and sticky and is called meconium and it is what has been sitting in your baby’s bowel before birth. The poo will change colour and consistency when your baby is breastfeeding well.
Day 1 – 1 sticky green-black poo
Day 2 – 2 green-black poos
Day 3 – 3 green-brown poos that are less sticky
Day 4 – 3-4 lighter greenish-brown or yellowish poos
Day 5 – 4 generally mustard-yellow poos, can be seedy or watery
From Day 6 to about 6 weeks
If baby is getting enough milk, you will see at least 5 heavy, wet disposable nappies in 24hrs and about 4 mustard-yellow poos in 24hours. When you count the poos, count the ones that are at least as big as a 50c piece.
Beyond 6 weeks
Babies will settle into their own poo pattern and this can be 1-2 times a day, up to once a week! The best guide to adequate breastmilk intake is now wet nappies, where you will see at least 5 heavy, wet disposable nappies in 24hours. They will not be strong smelling or yellow stained, but will be clear. If you are using cloth nappies, you can expect to see 6-8 thoroughly wet nappies in 24hours.
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