• Follow your baby's hunger cues. Watch for these signs of hunger and feed your baby, even if they have just finished feeding. 
  

• Feed your baby when they are awake in a quiet alert state. If your baby is crying or fussy, calm them with cuddling, rocking or burping, and then try feeding.
• Offer both breasts at each feeding. As you get to know your baby, you may find your baby only needs the milk from one breast in one feeding.
• Feed your baby more frequently if your baby is fussing after feeding. Seek help if your baby does not seem satisfied with more milk.
• As long as you continue to feed your baby effectively, your breasts should make the right amount of milk for your baby.
  
  
  

Videos


• Baby's sleep and readiness to breastfeed
  
• Baby's feeding cues and behaviors
  

Burping can help bring up air bubbles and prevent your baby from spitting up after feeding. Burping can be helpful but it’s not necessary. If your baby seems content after feeding, you may not need to burp them.

How to burp your baby

1. Allow your baby to finish feeding.
2. Lay your baby on your lap on their tummy, or hold your baby with their head peering over your shoulder (remember to support their head), or support your baby to sit upright on your lap and gently rub their back.
3. Gently rub or pat your baby’s back (not too hard so your baby doesn’t spit up all the milk they just drank).
   

If your baby doesn’t burp after a minute or two and is content, your baby likely doesn’t need to burp.

If your baby is content after feeding, alert and active at other times and growing well, your baby is likely getting enough milk.

Signs to look for

• You can see and hear your baby swallowing. 

• Your baby feeds at least 8 times in 24 hours.

• Your breasts are full before feedings and softer after feedings.

• Your baby starts to gain weight. Your baby may lose some weight in the first few days (7-10% of their birth weight). As your milk comes in, your baby may start to gain weight (120 -240 grams each week).

Count the number of wet and soiled diapers (pees and poops) they have. The number of wet diapers your baby has during the first week should match how many days old your baby is. 

• Day 1: 1 or more wet diapers(pale yellow pee) and 1-2 dirty diapers (black or dark green poops)
• Day 3: Three wet diapers or more (pale yellow pee) and 2-3 soiled diapers (brown, greenish or yellow poops). 
• Day 5 to Week 3 and beyond: Five to 6 wet diapers (pale yellow pee) and 1-3 soiled diapers (1 large poop or 3 smaller poops golden yellow in colour).
  

The PSBC Breastfeeding chart may help you determine  if your baby is getting enough breast milk.

If you had a caesarean birth with IV fluids during labour and delivery, ask your healthcare provider about expected weight loss and pees and poops.

You can build your milk supply by:

• holding your baby skin-to-skin;
• breastfeeding your baby frequently, at least 8 times or more in 24 hours, including at night;
• using both breasts at each feeding;
• hand-expressing after each feeding and giving your baby the expressed milk.

If your baby is unable to breastfeed or is not sucking well on your breast, express your milk to help build your milk supply. Give your baby any milk you express. 

Sometimes medications and herbs are used to increase milk production. Not all herbal preparations are safe to take while breastfeeding. Discuss your options with your healthcare provider to increase your milk supply. 

If you are worried that your baby isn't getting enough milk, or your baby loses more than 10% of their weight in the first few days, talk to your healthcare provider or call Healthlink BC at 8-1-1 for help.