Is my baby getting enough milk?
Newborn babies feed frequently. Early feeding cues include; opening their mouth, stirring and sucking their hands. On day one, some babies feed many times, others as few as four to five times. From day two, healthy babies feed a minimum of eight to 12 times in 24 hours.
If a baby is feeding at least eight to 12 times in 24 hours and producing plenty of wet and dirty nappies, it is likely the baby is also gaining weight well. More information can be found here.
Lots of mothers worry they are not producing enough milk and this is not usually the case. If you want to continue breastfeeding, avoid giving your baby formula, unless advised by your health care provider, as this can decrease milk supply. Speak to your midwife, health visitor or call Newham Baby Feeding Helpline on 07534249611 for support and reliable information, including how to increase your milk supply.
Your midwife, and later, after day 14, your health visitor will assess how feeding is going, using the breastfeeding assessment form, bottle feeding assessment form, or both if mixed feeding.
Sometimes parents are advised by their midwife, health visitor, breastfeeding specialist or doctor to give baby more milk than breastfeeding alone. This is called supplementation or top up feeds and should be part of a feeding plan, with support to maximise her milk supply. Supplements can be Expressed breast milk (EBM) or formula milk.
EBM can be stored in the fridge or freezer. EBM can be warmed in a basin of warm water (never microwave)
For more information on bottle feeding see section Formula Milk and Bottle Feeding.
Breastfeeding assessment form (PDF)
Bottle feeding assessment form (PDF)