Congratulations on making the decision to breastfeed your newborn, Mama! We know you’ll have a lot of questions as you become adjusted to life with a little one, and we’re here to help you ease into it all. We try to make feeding as simple and straightforward as possible, but that’s not always easy. Every baby is different and, in most cases, there isn’t a specific intake amount that an infant must meet each day. Here are a few guidelines for what to expect:
- Your number of breastfeeding sessions per day may be anywhere from 4 – 13, depending on his or her appetite and how much milk is removed from the breast during each session.
- A single breastfeeding session can express anywhere from 54 – 234 mL of milk.
- Boys typically drink about 831 mL daily while girls usually drink about 755 mL each day.
1. The Initiation Phase
The first five days after birth, while your body learns to make larger quantities of milk and your baby learns to feed, are extremely important in setting up the rest of your breastfeeding journey – but don’t expect your supply to be plentiful immediately.
In addition to the nutritional and wellness benefits of colostrum for your baby, removing it by pumping or feeding tells your body that your baby will be getting hungry soon, so larger volumes of milk must be produced to meet your baby’s growing needs. By day 3, the amount of breast milk that a baby drinks will have increased exponentially in just a short time, with their tummy now able to hold between 22 – 27 ml per feeding. Feeding your newborn at least 8 – 10 times per day in the first week after birth helps to promote a healthy and ample milk supply going forward.
Do not hesitate to seek help from a healthcare provider if you experience any difficulties with latching your baby onto your breast. Breastfeeding your baby exclusively during the first four weeks will help to build up your milk supply.
2. The Secretory Activation (or Building) Phase
This phase happens when your body releases more mature milk to meet the needs of your newborn. This typically occurs in the 24 – 120-hour range after birth. However, it can take longer for some moms, in which case you should work with your healthcare provider to ensure your newborn is receiving the correct amount of nutrition until your milk volume increases.
Often by the end of the first week, mothers are producing about 500 mLs of milk per 24 hours. Also around the 1 week mark, your baby’s stomach will have the capability of holding around 45 – 60 mL of milk.
By about 2 weeks old, babies will generally be back up to their birth weight and will typically have at least 6 wet diapers and 3 or more diapers with bowel movements per 24 hours. Also around this time, your baby’s stomach has grown and can now hold between 80 – 150 mL per feeding.
3. The Maintenance Phase
From the 4-week mark through to the time that additional foods are introduced into your baby’s diet at about 6 months of age, your milk supply won’t change much if your feeding and pumping routine remains consistent. Because new foods will eventually replace some of the breast milk in your baby’s diet starting around 6 months old, your supply may start to gradually decrease at this point unless you’re pumping to build a stash.
It is important to remember that breastfed infants take fewer but longer feeds as they get older, though their daily consumption remains about the same. This means that your little one may have less nursing sessions through the day, but will typically nurse for a longer period when they do. During the 3 – 6-month-old period, babies start to grow more slowly, so they don’t need a lot more milk at this time.The amount of milk that a baby drinks from a single breast ranges anywhere from 30 – 135mL, though the average volume is about 75 ml.
Rejoice Pregnancy’s Breastfeeding Support and Postpartum Recovery Programme will ensure your baby has sufficient colostrum and quality milk supply. Our Lactation Specialists will work with you to ensure your baby is latching on correctly and ensure a stable and constant milk supply.
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