When your baby is born, their stomach is the smallest it will be for their entire life! In fact, their stomach will slowly stretch over the first couple weeks of breastfeeding.
Still, you may feel like your breasts aren’t producing a lot of milk. Or, you may feel like that your baby isn’t getting enough milk in the first few days after birth. Truth be told, you’re not alone. But don’t worry!
In the video below, Sarah Trinajstich talks about the development your baby’s stomach size and how to know if they’re getting enough milk.
If you don’t like the video or want more information, continue reading.
Below is exactly what you need to know about your newborn’s stomach size
Day 1
At first, your baby’s stomach can hold about a teaspoon of breast milk or about the size of a large marble.
This is when your breasts produce a very small amount of colostrum – a golden substance, concentrated with the perfect nutrition to be your baby’s first meals.
Day 3
A few days in, your baby’s stomach will be able to hold about an ounce of breast milk or about the size of a ping-pong ball.
The amount of milk you make is increasing as your baby’s tummy grows and the milk begins to transition to mature milk.
Day 10
Your baby’s stomach will be able to hold approximately 2 ounces of breast milk or about the size of a small egg.
By this time, your milk will be at full volume and fully transitioned from colostrum to mature milk. This brings comfort to most moms!
RELATED: Breast Engorgement: How To Prevent (and Survive) This Painful Condition
After 2 weeks of exclusive breastfeeding
Around this time your baby will go through a growth spurt and may seem hungry all the time! This does not mean that you are not making enough milk or that there is something wrong with your baby. Just keep putting your baby to the breast whenever they are showing hunger cues and you will make it through your baby’s first growth spurt.
Is your baby getting enough milk?
It is completely normal to wonder if your baby is getting enough milk. For reference, your baby should have at least 1 pee and poop diaper per a day of life during the first 5 days of life. After that, make sure your baby is having 6-8 wet diapers per a day that are light yellow without a strong smell.
Having 3-5 poop diapers is normal, however, an exclusively breastfed baby can go several days without pooping. By about day 7, your baby’s poop should have transitioned to a mustard or golden yellow with little white pieces in it.
You will also notice your baby growing! Keep their tummy size in mind and have confidence that your body is built to give your baby exactly what it needs!
RELATED: 4 Signs Your Baby Is Hungry (and Needs To Be Fed)!
If you don’t hear your baby swallowing milk when breastfeeding or you cannot express milk from your breast, contact a certified lactation consultant.
