Diane Oakland, IBCLC Family Education and Support Coordinator, Lactation Consultant

February 01, 2007

Yes! A new mother’s body is designed to provide milk for her baby. Although there are conditions and situations that may require additional support from a lactation consultant, for most new mothers, staying with your baby to allow the breastfeeding relationship to develop as nature has intended is all that is needed.

A mother’s body naturally regulates the flow of milk according to her baby’s need for it. When a mother responds to her baby’s hunger feeding cues by putting baby to breast, the baby takes more milk and the mother’s body responds by making more milk. For example, mother’s milk comes in small amounts in the first few days as baby learns to suck, swallow and breathe. And babies are born with extra fluid reserves to carry them through those early days. Amazing! If allowed to frequently take the small amounts of remarkable colostrum as designed, the newborn will be well fed and satisfied until the “milk comes in.”

Some new mothers worry that their baby is getting enough milk because breastfeed babies often linger at the breast and also usually nurse more frequently than bottle-fed babies. However, there are more reliable indications that you can observe to know your breastfeeding is successful:

• A good latch that does not hurt during the feeding
• Hearing swallows as baby nurses
• 8 to 12 feedings in 24 hours
• Weight gain, after an initial loss up to 7% in the first 2 to 3 days
• Frequent wet and soiled diapers

A baby can be expected to have at least the number of wet and soiled diapers as the number of days old, for example, day 1= 1 wet and soiled diaper; day 2 = 2 wet and soiled diapers, and so on, until day 6 and beyond, when you can expect at least 6 wet and 4 soiled diapers.

If your baby is not reaching these minimum measures in 24 hours, call your doctor and a breastfeeding specialist. Baby may need to be encouraged to nurse more frequently, or you may need some help with latching baby on the breast to feed more efficiently. If you have any concerns, a quick office visit to ensure baby is gaining weight will help to calm your fears or get the help needed to continue to breastfeed your baby. If you have a question or any concerns, do not hesitate to call your doctor.