Breastfeeding Your Baby
Signs of Good Feeding
How can I tell that my baby is getting enough milk in the first few weeks?
- Your baby is feeding eight or more times a day after the first 24 hours.
- You see your baby sucking and swallowing. You will hear a “ca” sound during the feeding.
- In the first few days of life your baby has 1 to 3 wet diapers per day. By day four to six, as you milk supply increases, your baby should have 5 or more wet diapers a day. The urine should be pale yellow.
- Your baby has 2 to 3 bowel movements a day. After the first four to six weeks it is common for bowel movements to be less often. They may come once every few days. As long as the bowel movement is loose and the baby has wet diapers, this is normal.
- Your baby is satisfied and content after most feedings.
- Your baby has returned to his or her birth weight by about two weeks.
- Your breasts are full before the feedings and soft after. After several weeks, it is normal to have soft breasts all the time and still have lots of milk.
Call your health care provider, public health nurse, or 8‑1‑1 right away if your baby:
- Does not have:
- 1 or more wet diapers with clear, pale urine on day 1
- 2‑3 wet diapers each day, with clear, pale yellow urine on days 2‑3
- 3‑5 wet diapers each day, with clear, pale yellow urine on days 3‑5
- 4‑6 diapers each day, with clear, pale yellow urine on days 5‑7
- Many wet diapers each day, with clear, pale yellow urine on days 7‑28
- Does not have at least 2 or more bowel movements each day after 4‑5 days of age (for the first few weeks)
- Is not interested in feeding and often goes without feeding for 4‑5 hours in the first few weeks









