really dumb BF question

giaM28

how do you know if the baby is eating enough or too much? when you bottle feed you know you are giving baby X amount of oz at what time but with BF you only know the time not amount.

heather_09_15_07

Babies have to work harder to get the milk out with bf.

You know they're not getting enough if they still act hungry.

sandy02

They nurse till they are full, if they seem content and happy after the session, chances are they had enough.  It is nerve-wracking at first though!

KKM

You dont.  You just nurse them when they seem hungry and stop when they seem full.  It seems hard and confusing, but you will quickly get to know your baby and how/when/how long they eat.  Brady would nurse much longer in the evening, and cluster feed when he was young to get more. 

staycee

I worried about that a lot too in the beginning.

we were seeing the lactation people once a week for 5 weeks - they would weigh her prior to eating.    And weigh her when she was done to see how much she pulled.

that helped me rest easier that she was getting enough.

idkmybffk8

sandy02:

They nurse till they are full, if they seem content and happy after the session, chances are they had enough.  It is nerve-wracking at first though!

this. especially when they are going through a growth spurt and are constantly eating.

hippotree

They should also have a certain number of dirty and wet diapers per day (I don't know what the number is right now, though).

oh-zysbaby

hippotree:

They should also have a certain number of dirty and wet diapers per day (I don't know what the number is right now, though).

This. It can be really hard to tell, especially before you can read your baby's cries, but if they are peeing and pooping, they are getting enough.

Alex17

Not dumb at all. When I was BF in the beginning it was apparent that my LO wasn't getting enough b/c he was pissed and crying. lol

But, I had supply issues due to prior surgery.

You'll know if they are full or not. They get milk drunk and are all happy and full afterwards.

giaM28

Thanks! im so glad im not the only one that has this concern