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Is my older baby getting enough milk?
By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC
| IS
BABY GETTING ENOUGH? -- QUICK REFERENCE CARD |
| ~~~
AFTER 6 WEEKS ~~~ |
WEIGHT GAIN:
If baby is gaining well on mom’s milk alone, then
baby is getting enough. More
on weight gain. Average weight gain for breastfed
babies:
| 0 - 4 mo |
6 oz /week |
4 - 6 mo |
4 - 5 oz/week |
6 - 12 mo |
2 - 4 oz/week |
|
WET DIAPERS: 4 - 5+ sopping
wet diapers per day.
To feel what a sufficiently wet diaper is like, pour 4-6
tablespoons (60-90 mL) of water into a clean diaper (if baby
wets more often, then the amount of urine per diaper may
be less). Diapers may be wetter in the morning, especially
with older babies. Urine should be pale and mild smelling. |
DIRTY DIAPERS:
Depends on your child.
Number ranges from many per day to one every 7 –
10+ days. After 4 - 6 weeks, some babies switch to an
infrequent stooling pattern. This is normal as long as
baby is gaining well, and stools are soft and profuse
if several days have passed. More
on infant stooling. |
| OTHER POSITIVE
SIGNS: After a feeding, mom’s breast feels
softer and baby seems reasonably content. Baby is alert,
active and meeting developmental milestones. |
|
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Quick
Reference Cards
Most nursing mothers are familiar with how
to tell if a newborn is getting enough milk, but what about
when baby gets older? Can you use the same criteria? At some point,
many moms will wonder about their milk supply and whether it is
"keeping up" with baby's growth.
Following are signs that your older baby is getting enough milk.
(If baby is younger than 6 weeks, then see how
to tell if your newborn is getting enough milk.) If baby is
getting enough milk, then you can rest assured that your milk supply
is just fine.
- Baby has adequate
weight gain. If your baby is gaining weight well on breastmilk
alone, then baby is getting enough milk and you do not have a
problem with milk supply.
- Baby (older than 6 weeks) should wet at least 4-5 disposable
diapers (5-6 cloth diapers) every 24 hours and the diapers should
be really wet. At all ages, urine should be pale and mild
smelling. As baby grows, so also does his bladder and its ability
to hold more urine. For this reason, your baby may not wet as
often as he did as a newborn, but typically the diapers will be
wetter than when baby was younger. To feel what a sufficiently
wet diaper is like, pour 4-6 tablespoons (60-90 mL) of water into a clean
diaper (but keep in mind that if baby wets more often, then the
amount of urine per diaper will be less). It's also normal for
diapers to be wetter in the morning, especially with older babies.
Note: If baby is getting significant liquids in addition to
breastmilk (formula,
water or
juice), then
this diaper count will let you know that baby is well-hydrated,
but will not be a reliable gauge of whether baby is getting
enough breastmilk. Breastmilk should be baby's main source of
nutrition throughout the first year.
- Baby is stooling within normal parameters (for your baby).
Older breastfed babies (after the first 6-8 weeks) can go several
days without a stool. Ten days or more is not uncommon! The long
periods between stools in a baby who is obviously thriving is
not a cause for concern if the baby's abdomen remains soft, and
the baby is content and alert. As long as the stool is no thicker
than toothpaste when passed and profuse if several days have gone
by, it's still within the norm. Keep in mind that ANY formula
or other supplemental foods given to the baby can alter the color,
consistency, and frequency of the stool. More at this link on
normal
stools for breastfed babies.
- Your breast feels softer after the feeding.
- Baby seems reasonably content immediately after the feeding.
- Baby is alert, active and meeting his/her milestones.
Many times, the normal changes that occur as breastfeeding
continues past the first few weeks or months can make mom feel like
her milk supply is decreasing, even though it isn't. See Is
your milk supply really low? for more information.
Page last modified:
12/16/2005
Written: 03/13/2002
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