How to Tell Baby is Getting Enough Breast Milk

Many parents wonder if their baby is getting enough to eat. The best way to know is by tracking your baby's weight and growth. Your health care provider will do this during your baby’s first few checkups.

It's normal for your baby to lose a small amount of weight in the first few days of life. If your baby seems happy after feedings and is steadily gaining weight, you're doing great.

Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough

• Is alert and active when awake
• Swallows during feedings (you can see or hear this)
• Seems satisfied after feedings with relaxed hands and feet
• Has clear or pale yellow pee
• Has several wet and poopy diapers each day

If you're concerned your baby isn't getting enough milk or gaining enough weight, speak to your baby's health care provider.

What Your Baby’s Diapers Should Look Like

Breastfed baby poop looks different from formula-fed baby poop or even adult poop. It's normal for babies to strain before and during pooping.

Normal breastfed baby poop

• Soft or runny
• Bright yellow or gold
• May have small white chunks

Diarrhea

• Large watery circle on the diaper with little solid content

Constipation

• Hard and pellet-like (rare in breastfed babies)

How Often Babies Poop and Pee

Day 1

• 1-2 poopy diapers (black or dark green)
• 1-2 wet diapers

Days 2-3

• 2-3 poopy diapers (dark green or brown)
• 2-4 wet diapers

Days 4-5

• 3-4 poopy diapers (yellow or green)
• 4-6 wet diapers

Days 6 and beyond

• 3-4+ poopy diapers (yellow)
• 6-8+ wet diapers

Remember, your baby is just now learning to poop. Contact WIC staff, a lactation consultant, or your health care provider if you have concerns about your baby's poop or pee.

Increasing Your Milk Supply

Feeding your baby from the breast can be challenging, and sometimes parents may need help to increase their milk supply to meet their baby’s needs.

What can affect milk supply?

Mom’s habits

• Not feeding on demand or following a strict schedule
• Giving formula or stored milk instead of breastfeeding
• Some birth control methods
• Drinking alcohol, smoking, or taking certain medications
• High stress

Baby’s feeding

• Poor latch
• Tongue tie or lip tie
• Sleeping too much
• Not feeding often enough

How to increase your milk supply

• Breastfeed or pump 8-12 times every 24 hours.
• Offer both breasts at each feeding.
• Pump or hand express between feedings. Store this milk in the freezer.
• If you give formula or stored milk, pump both breasts to replace that feeding. Store the milk in the freezer.
• Take care of yourself. Get enough rest, drink plenty of water, and eat healthy foods.

As long as your baby is happy, healthy, and growing you should not be worried about your milk supply.

If you want more tips on breast milk storage, check out Safe Storage for Breast Milk.

Talk with your baby’s health care provider, WIC staff, or your lactation consultant if you have questions or concerns about your baby’s milk intake or health.