Evaluating Breastfeeding for Your Newborn Baby
Positive signs
Breastfeeding is going well if:
- Your baby is breastfeeding at least eight times in 24 hours.
- Your baby has at least six wet diapers every 24 hours.
- Your baby has at least three yellow bowel movements every 24 hours.
- Your breasts feel softer after a feeding.
- Your nipples are not painful.
- Breastfeeding is an enjoyable experience.
When to ask for help
Call your baby’s doctor or a lactation specialist if:
- Your baby is having fewer than six wet diapers a day.
- Your baby is having fewer than three or four yellow stools a day.
- Your milk is in but you don’t hear your baby gulping or swallowing frequently during breastfeeding.
- Your nipples are painful throughout the feeding.
- Your baby seems to be breastfeeding “all the time."
- You don’t feel as if your milk has come in by the fifth day after birth.
Contact us
For more information or to schedule a consultation with a CHOP lactation specialist, call 215-590-4442 or contact us online.
Reviewed by: Diane L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN
Date: June 2010
Contact Us
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