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Trusting the Flow: Reassurance That Your Breastfed Baby is Thriving

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Trusting the Flow: Reassurance That Your Breastfed Baby is Thriving

Is my baby getting enough milk?

“Is my baby getting enough milk?” It’s a question that echoes in the minds of so many breastfeeding mums, especially in those early days and weeks. Without the millilitre markings of a bottle, it’s natural to wonder. But please know, you’re not alone in this feeling, and your body and baby often give us wonderful clues!

At The Baby Element Clinic, we understand these anxieties. We’re here to help you tune into your baby and your own instincts, building your confidence on this amazing feeding journey. So, let’s explore the reliable signs that your little one is getting just what they need.

Your Baby’s Nappies – The Telltale Signs

One of the most reliable ways to know your baby is getting enough milk is by looking at what comes out – yes, we’re talking about nappies!

  • Wet Nappies:
    • First Few Days: In the first 48 hours, your baby might only have 1-2 wet nappies as they get your amazing colostrum (early milk).
    • By Day 3-4: Expect this to increase to around 3 or more good wet nappies.
    • By Day 5-6 Onwards: Your baby should be having at least 6 heavy, wet nappies every 24 hours. These nappies should feel weighty, not just slightly damp. The urine should be pale and odourless – dark or strong-smelling urine can sometimes indicate they need more fluids.
  • Dirty Nappies (Poo):
    • Colostrum Stage: Your baby’s first poos will be meconium – dark green/black and sticky.
    • Milk Coming In: As your milk volume increases (around day 3-5), their poos will transition, becoming greener and then a distinctive mustard yellow. They are often loose, sometimes seedy, and can be quite frequent!
    • After the First Few Weeks: Expect at least 2-3 good-sized yellow poos (bigger than a £2 coin) each day for the first 6-8 weeks. Some babies poo more often, even after every feed, and this is perfectly normal too. After about 6-8 weeks, it can be normal for a breastfed baby’s pooing pattern to change, sometimes going several days between poos, as long as they are soft and plentiful when they do come.

Keeping a mental note of nappy output can be really reassuring.

Watching Your Baby – Cues, Contentment, and Growth

Beyond nappies, your baby themselves will give you lots of positive signs:

  • Effective Feeding: You should see and hear your baby swallowing milk during feeds, especially after your milk “comes in.” Initially, they might have quick sucks followed by longer, rhythmic sucks with pauses for swallowing. You might see their jaw drop deeply.
  • Contentment After Feeds: A baby who has had a good feed will often seem settled, relaxed, and content. They might come off the breast on their own, looking sleepy and satisfied (sometimes called ‘milk drunk’!).
  • Alertness and Activity: When awake, your baby should be reasonably alert and active for their age.
  • Skin Tone and Muscle Tone: Your baby should have good skin colour and muscle tone.
  • Weight Gain (The Bigger Picture): While it’s natural to focus on weight, try not to get fixated on daily weigh-ins at home.
    • It’s normal for babies to lose a little weight in the first few days after birth (up to 7-10% of birth weight).
    • Most babies regain their birth weight by around 2 weeks of age.
    • After that, steady weight gain, following their own centile curve on the growth chart, is a key indicator. Your health visitor will monitor this with you.

Remember, every baby is an individual, and there’s a wide range of ‘normal’.

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Trusting the Flow: Reassurance That Your Breastfed Baby is Thriving

Common Worries That Aren't Always a Sign of Low Supply

It’s easy to misinterpret certain baby behaviours or changes in your body as signs of low milk supply, when often they are perfectly normal parts of the breastfeeding journey:

  • Frequent Feeding (Cluster Feeding): Babies, especially newborns, have tiny tummies and breast milk digests easily. They often want to feed very frequently (8-12 times or more in 24 hours), and may “cluster feed” – feeding very often for several hours, especially in the evenings. This is normal and helps to build your supply.
  • Fussiness: Babies can be fussy for many reasons – tiredness, needing a cuddle, wind, or just a developmental phase. It doesn’t automatically mean they’re hungry.
  • Your Breasts Feeling Softer: After the initial engorgement period passes (usually in the first few weeks), it’s normal for your breasts to feel softer. This doesn’t mean your milk has disappeared! It means your body is cleverly regulating your supply to match your baby’s needs.
  • Baby Taking a Bottle Easily After a Breastfeed: Many babies will take milk from a bottle even if they are full, due to the faster flow.
  • Not Being Able to Pump Much Milk: The amount you can pump is not an indicator of your milk supply. Your baby is far more efficient at removing milk than a pump. Some mums with plentiful supplies struggle to pump much at all.

Trusting these less reliable signs can cause unnecessary anxiety. Focus on the reliable ones above!

Trusting the Flow: Reassurance That Your Breastfed Baby is Thriving

More Than Checking The Latch

When to Seek Support & How We Can Help You

While the signs above are great indicators, if you have persistent concerns about your baby’s feeding, weight gain, or your milk supply, please don’t hesitate to seek skilled support. It’s always best to get reassurance or help sooner rather than later.

At The Baby Element Clinic in Wilmslow, our International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Nikki Mather, is here to help with the following:

  • A Full Feeding Assessment: We can observe a feed, check your baby’s latch and positioning, and assess milk transfer.
  • Personalised Advice: We’ll listen to your concerns and provide tailored strategies and support.
  • Change as Baby Grows: Adaptable support as your baby grows.
  • Weight Checks and Monitoring: We can help you understand your baby’s growth.
  • Care Plans: If needed, we can work with you to create a plan to address any feeding challenges.
  • A Safe Space: Sometimes, just talking things through with an expert can make all the difference to your confidence.

Your breastfeeding journey is unique, and we’re here to provide compassionate, evidence-based support every step of the way.

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Book an appointment or schedule a free 10-minute call to discover how The Baby Element Clinic can support you and your family. Take the next step in your journey of parenthood today.

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