How to measure when breast feeding..?

Question

Hi, how does one measure how much the baby is eating when one breast feeds?

Answer 1

There is no need to measure the baby's milk. You definitely don't pump and measure! You could NEVER pump out milk as efficiently as a baby can nurse. I've nursed two babies, and I never could get a pump to get very much milk out. How much you can pump is just a fraction of what baby can suck. And a mom shouldn't ever HAVE to pump at all, unless she is going to be away from baby.

You judge baby's intake by feeding times and diaper changes.

As long as your baby is eating on demand, or at least at regular intervals and until satisfied, he or she should be fine.

If you are concerned for some reason, you can tell how much baby is drinking by their diapers. As long as baby has regular wet diapers, and a "poopy" one every two or three days, then baby is being fed plenty. (Remember, exclusively breastfed babies don't poop as often as formula or solid-feeding babies.)

The regular wellbaby visits include weighing the baby as another measure of baby's normal growth.

Measuring is just not something nursing moms have to worry about. Babies are very naturally self-regulating. You offer regularly, and let them eat until full. Pretty much the same as any living thing!

Answer 2

You really don't know how much a baby is gettting when you breast feed. My son would breast feed on each side for like 30 mins. My daughter would nurse for 10-15 mins on each side.

It isn't real acurate because you really never "empty" your breast with pumping but try to pump and see what you get out in volume that way. I was told that if you pump 6 oz they are getting 6-8 oz.

Usually though the ped Dr will ask how long the baby eats for and how often.
Breast feeding can be tricky and a little confusing and you will always wonder if you are producing enough.

If your baby eats and still acts hungry after feedings try to increase you fluid intake and eat small frequent meals instead of 3 big meals. and you should be resting. That should help production. also if this doesn't work you could always suppliment with a little formula. I had to with both of my children after 4 months because they would want 8-10 oz of breast and I was only producing around 7 oz and just gave a 4 oz bottle after they were done. after like a month and a half I started producing enough milk.

Answer 3

DON'T MEASURE WITH WHAT A BREASTPUMP CAN SHOW YOU!!!!!!! This is a totally non-effective method and will leave you full of doubt.

THE BEST METHOD is to go by "What goes in must come out". Your healthy fullterm newborn should be wetting at least 6-8 diapers a day and have nice yellow poops about 3-4 times a day....for the first 2 weeks or so. Then it's normal for the poops for regulate out to about once a day or more and will vary in size. The color is important more so then frequency.....seedy and yellow means baby is getting lots of the fatty hindmilk that comes near the end of a good feed. This shows baby is taking in adequate milk for their body.
The first 24hrs after birth can be different too as baby will be excreting meconium from their bowels and the urine may only be once or twice.

Otherwise, breastfeeding is based on trust and working together. The biggest mistake a nursing mom can make is to put her baby on a "schedule". We have to allow our babies to tell us when they are hungry and this can be very frequently sometimes. Nursing babies can take different amounts at each feed depending on their level of hunger so we have to follow their cues, not some book or doctors advice.

Answer 4

So long as the baby is healthy and not losing weight, there's no real need to measure it.

You're just making extra work for yourself by pumping and measuring etc. not to mention multiplying the risk of bacteria entering the milk during the exercise.

If your breast are appearing to become fully replenished after each feeding, and baby seems content, just relax and know that you're doing a fine job.

If your breasts don't seem to be replenishing the supply as much as you think they should be, have a word with your doctor or nurse.

Measuring the amount physically by using a pump etc is very dependant on too many factors and therefore unreliable in itself. i.e How old the baby is, how much the baby weighed at birth, how much milk he/she tends to burp up, and how often you feed.

If all seems well, be easy on yourself. If not, consult your healthcare worker.

Answer 5

You dont. You just feed until the baby is done. No need to worry about any kind of measuring. Not necessary.

Answer 6

I was really worried about this but as long as your baby's gaining weight, has plenty of wet and dirty nappies and is sleeping well you shouldn't really worry. I've got a breast pump which measures if you are still worried.

Answer 7

I have never breastfed but everyone else I know does and I ask that same question. They said that they use a breast pump to measure the amount and that they do this about once a week to see how much more the baby is taking.

Answer 8

You can keep track of their weight usually they have a first doctors appt after a week or so to make sure their wieght is ok. it is normal for a baby to drop weight when they are first born but they should be back up to birth weight within a week or so

Answer 9

Use a breast pump for the same amount of time you breastfeed. My daughter is 10 wks and she drinks 3-4 oz every 3 hours. When I pump that is how much comes out, sometimes more and sometimes less.

Answer 10

by how many wet diapers you have to change, at first it should be about six to eight a day