How do I know if my baby is getting enough breast milk?

[feeb]

firstly congrats!!!

you sound just like me i never felt full at all and still dont.

You sound like you have a great routine.

The way u know bubs is getting enought is from wet and dirty nappies, and baby settling and sattisfied.

weight gain also is an indicator but dont get caught in the rut if baby doesnt put on as much as health nurse wants.

keep up the good work

[Snacks]

Sounds like Maya's doing great!
It is so hard to tell, isn't it? I used to wonder if Natty was getting enough too, but after I while I just stopped worrying. As Feeb said, if she is gaining weight (even slowly) and weeing then she's getting enough.
IRT the letdown, I didn't feel mine until Natty was a couple of months old. And I didn't feel it every time either.
You're doing awesomely.

[feeb]

i also dont feel let down.
and dont let people tell u to express to see how much u have as some people me included cant express much.

[Sequoia]

Congrats on your new baby! What a beautiful name she has.

I didn't feel letdown until my DS was 11 weeks old. And I was only engorged when he started to sleep through the night. What have her weight gains been like?

Sounds like you are doing a great job!

SG
xo

[~clover~]

Everything sounds perfect to me.
Not everyone feels let down, or gets engorged.
As long as she's settled after each feed & has wet & dirty nappies all sounds good.
Congrats!!

[MantaRay]

A couple of things hun. Firstly, what do you mean by 6 feeds in a day? Is that in 24 hours, or do you do night feeds as well as 6 during the day? Because 6 feeds in 24 hours is not a lot. Newborns usually need 8 - 12 feeds in 24 hours. Some do manage on 6, but it is not common. Also, you are best off feeding from the same side until it seems empty. Often babies only take one side per feed. It is fine to offer the second side, in fact you should offer the second side, but make sure she's finished the first side first.

Otherwise the things you are talking about sound normal. Wet nappies are the best sign of enough milk. How many wet nappies would she have in 24 hours - and are they cloth or disposable? IF there are plenty of wet and dirty nappies then I don't think you have anything to worry about.

[Moi]

Maya hasn't been weighed since I left hospital last Tuesday so I have no idea if she is putting on weight or not. I'm still waiting to be contacted by the child health nurse! Knowing she's putting on weight would probably help me to relax about feeds.

MantaRay - I have been doing a total of 6 feeds in 24 hours.. but yesterday she had 7 feeds, so maybe it is ramping up now? I don't know how to tell if my breast feels empty. Is there a way to tell? At the moment I feed her on one side until she won't take it any more and then swap to the other side after a nappy change. I'm not sure how many wet nappies in total because she tends to wee when I have her nappy off! At least 6 wees and poos a day though.