How Much Breastmilk to Feed-Support for Families in McDonough GA

Breastfeeding & Bottle-Feeding Support for Moms in McDonough, GA

If you are wondering whether your baby is eating enough, you are not alone. As a lactation consultant serving McDonough, GA and surrounding communities, this is the number one question I hear from new parents. It can feel confusing because if you are feeding directly from the breast then you cannot see how much your baby is eating, which can make you doubt yourself. In this post, I will explain what to look for to know your baby is getting enough milk, whether you are breastfeeding, pumping, or bottle-feeding expressed breast milk. If you need personalized support, I offer in-home lactation visits in McDonough and South Atlanta as well as virtual lactation consultations throughout Georgia.

Newborn Stomachs are Small, but They Grow Quickly

Your baby’s stomach is only the size of a grape on the first day of life, but by the third day it will grow to the size of a strawberry and continue to grow from there. Since your baby’s stomach is so small, your infant will need to feed often in the early weeks of breastfeeding. When your infant latches to the breast or you pump, you are stimulating your breasts to make more milk to accommodate your baby’s growing belly. Infants cluster feed (feeding every 1- 1.5 hours) around the second night of life in order to grow your milk supply. Remember, a baby’s belly grows significantly around the 3^rd day so your baby will need more milk. When the cluster feeding happens, take a deep breath, knowing that this is your baby’s way of telling your body what to make. Many parents begin to panic and think the baby is starving, but your baby is doing what he/she was designed to do!

If you are in the McDonough, GA area and feeling unsure during this stage, having a local lactation consultant assess a feeding can provide reassurance and support.

How Often Do I need to Feed my Baby?

Observe your baby’s feeding cues and feed your baby whenever you see hunger cues, such as stretching the arms and legs, opening the mouth and turning to the side, and putting the hands in the mouth. In the early weeks, wake your baby after 3 hours if no hunger cues are seen. After a few weeks, your baby can go longer between feeds (if hunger cues are not seen) as long as your baby is feeding well and gaining weight appropriately.

How Long Should Feedings Last?

Feedings can vary, lasting anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour (in the early days). Let your baby feed from one breast for as long as he/she is actively sucking (you see movement of the jaw, not just the lips) or your baby lets go. Offer the other side when your baby is finished nursing. If your baby goes to sleep within a few minutes of feeding, it is best to reach out a lactation consultant for help as this can mean that your baby is struggling to get enough milk to stay awake and finish the feeding.

How Do I Know That My Baby is Getting Enough to Eat?

You cannot see how much your baby is eating so how do you know that your baby is getting enough to eat? Look for these signs that your baby is getting enough:

Your baby is feeding at least 8 times a day. Frequent feeds are necessary in the early days. If your baby is cluster feeding, you may be feeding up to 12 times a day.
The latch feels comfortable, like a gentle tug. A pinching sensation is a sign of a poor latch or other factors that need to be addressed. Please reach out for help from a local lactation consultant. Getting help early is a good idea so that you can get help and things don’t get worse.
You are hearing more and more frequent swallows. When your baby is first born, you may not hear the swallows yet and this is okay. Your milk supply increases significantly around day 3-5 so more frequent swallows should be heard around this time.
Your baby is having adequate poop and pee diapers. A baby should have one poop diaper per day of life until day 4 and continue with several poop diapers each day after this. There should also be at least one pee diaper per day of life until day 6, and at least 6 wet diapers per 24 hours after that. If you have any immediate concerns about how many diapers your baby is having, contact your pediatrician for further assessment.
Your baby will lose weight in the beginning, but your baby needs to be back at birth weight by 2 weeks of age. Weight gain should continue at a predictable rate after this. It is best to follow-up with your pediatrician as instructed to monitor your baby’s growth.
Your baby is satisfied after feedings. When your baby is hungry, he/she be showing hunger cues, such as moving the head to the side and opening the mouth. After the feeding is finished, a baby will appear relaxed and no longer show hunger cues.

How Much Should A Baby Eat from a Bottle?

Typical Amounts a Baby Will Eat

Day 1: 5-10 ml

Day 2: 10-15 ml (around ½ oz.)

Day 3-7: 30-60 ml (1-2 oz.)

After 2 weeks: 60-90 ml (2-3 oz.)

When bottle feeding, it is important to feed your baby at a comfortable pace and watch his/her cues. Paced bottle feeding is helpful in the beginning to help your baby feed at a comfortable pace and avoid overfeeding. LA Lactation has a video available to demonstrate this technique.

Common Worries Parents Have:

My baby eats frequently. Is that normal? Babies have tiny bellies and need to eat often in the beginning. If you have concerns about your baby’s feedings then reach out to a lactation consultant to further assess your situation. Your intuition about your baby is very important so reach out if you need help!’
My baby falls asleep while feeding. Is this okay?

If your baby is going to sleep very quickly (within 5-10 minutes) of starting a feeding then further assessment is needed because if a baby is not getting enough to eat then they will often go to sleep. However, as a baby gets full, he/she will often relax and go to sleep at the breast. As always, look for signs that your baby is getting enough to eat (as stated above). If you are still unsure, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

When to Get Extra Breastfeeding Support

If your baby is losing too much weight (typically more than 10% of birth weight), or your baby is not gaining weight appropriately then it is a good idea to reach out to a lactation consultant for more help.

Breastfeeding should not be painful so if you are experiencing pain, you should reach out to a lactation consultant to get breastfeeding help. There are many reasons for pain occurring so finding the reason is important.

If your baby is unable to latch at all then getting help early is important. It is much easier to help you get back on track when problems are caught early.