• Your baby will “actively” feed at the breast in a suckle pattern with some brief pausing (swallow and breathing time).  Babies need to be awake and interested in nursing in order to feed long enough to take a good feeding from the breast.

• Once your milk has 'come in' (usually between around day 2 -4), you will hear your baby occasionally swallow during breastfeeding.  During the feed, your baby’s sucking will produce several ‘let downs’ when the milk comes out faster - your baby will have corresponding swallows that can actually be heard during this let down period.  It might sound like someone drinking liquid quickly from a glass.

• You should feel a strong tugging sensation during breastfeeding without discomfort.  If you have ever used a breast pump, it is a similar sensation.

• Your baby has breastfed for a good length of time and appears content after nursing. Most babies breastfeed for 10-20 minutes on the first breast and then become sleepier.  As the baby’s suck pattern becomes slower and sleepier, give your breast a gentle squeeze.  Some babies will begin nursing again for a few more minutes. Other babies stay sleepy and might even take themselves off the breast.  Offer the second breast unless instructed to do otherwise by a healthcare professional who has observed you breastfeeding your baby.  Many babies need the second side to help the nursing be a full feeding amount.  Some mothers make enough milk on one side, and their babies tend to nurse on one breast only for a full feeding.

• The number of wet and dirty diapers will let you know that the baby is taking in “enough’ milk.  Think of it as “what goes in, must come out”.  So if enough breastmilk is “going in, then the right numbers will come out”.   Breastfed babies who are 3-5 days of age should be having 3 to 8 wet diapers per 24 hours and 3 or more stools ( the color should be changing from black meconium to mustardy yellow color). 

• Healthy newborns can be sleepy during the first 24 hours after birth.  They are recovering from delivery and may not desire to feed very often - you can still offer breastfeeding regularly during this time. They may also have only a couple of wet and dirty diapers in the first 24 hours. By the second and third day of life, healthy newborns become much hungrier and nurse 8-12 times per each 24 hours.   This is very normal change.

• Your baby has missed two feeds.
• Your baby is having only a few or no wet or dirty diapers.
• Your baby’s stools stay dark after day 5.

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