This is a commonly asked question. The key to knowing whether your baby is receiving enough milk is to observe the baby at the ***.

A Good Latch is key to efficient milk transfer. The baby needs to have the nipple and much of the areola in his mouth to access the milk supply and will use his tongue and facial muscles to aid in the transfer. Watch for the ‘sucks’ versus ‘drinks’. A mouthful of milk is indicated by a drop and slight pause in the chin, you will see this pause at the point of his chin after he opens his mouth to the maximum. The longer the pause, the more milk the baby got. Sucking is a more rhythmic ‘flutter’ movement that initiates the flow of milk. However, a baby who sucks at the *** for 20 minutes is doing just that, sucking, not drinking so it is important to note the difference between the two actions.

Wet Diapers: Typically, during the first few days, while receiving colostrum, the baby may only produce one or two wet diapers a day but by the third or fourth day the baby should be having at least 5-6 heavy wet diapers a day.

Weight Gain: Approximately 4 – 7 ozs per week after the fourth day of life.

Non-Scheduled Feeding. The baby should be allowed to initiate his feeding pattern. Don’t wake the baby, keep him close to mom (ideally skin to skin as much as possible) and be aware of early feeding cues, licking of the lips, stirring from a deep sleep, hands to the face. Crying is a LATE cue. Babies will respond better if fed in a quiet, alert state rather than wide awake and very hungry. The baby will nurse frequently in the first few weeks, around 8 – 12 feedings in a 24 hour period. However, to get breastfeeding off to the best start, for the first few days of life the baby should be skin-to-skin on the mother’s chest and allowed access to the *** whenever he shows signs of interest. This encourages the production of milk and a responsive infant.

Baby’s behaviour: The baby should be alert and active during wakeful periods and have good skin colour (some jaundice is normal in breastfed babies).

If the mother is concerned about her milk supply she should go to my website at www.beyondbirth.ca and download the article ‘Protocol to Increase Breastmilk’ by Dr. Jack Newman. There are also short videos that show the latch and the difference between and ‘suck’ and a ‘drink’.