Is My Breastfed Baby Getting Enough Milk?
How to Become a Confident Milk Detective Without Weighing, Pumping, or Losing Your Mind
You’re staring at your baby again, analyzing every sound, movement, and breath. Are they swallowing? Are they full? Why are they rooting 20 minutes after a feed?
Welcome to the new mom brain spiral: “Am I making enough milk?”
It’s one of the most asked questions among breastfeeding parents and one of the hardest to answer without bottles and numbers. But here’s the truth no one tells you in the hospital: There are patterns, signs, and clues your baby gives you, if you know how to spot them.
Think of this as your crash course in becoming a milk detective.
Clue #1: The Pattern of Suck-Swallow-Breathe
Newborns are surprisingly rhythmic feeders once you know what to listen for.
During a milk flow, baby’s suck pattern changes from quick "getting things going" sucks to longer, slower sucks with audible swallows. These swallowing sounds (think soft “kuh” or “ka”) mean milk is being transferred.
If baby is just flutter sucking or popping off and on constantly, without that rhythmic pattern, your latch may need a little adjusting. (We break that down in the guide.)
Clue #2: Baby’s Behaviors Are Telling You a Story
Babies know how to communicated…clenched fists, fussy cries and increased movements are hunger cues followed by slowly relaxing as they feed.
Before a good feed: fists may be tight, head is turning side to side, and whining commences
After a full feed: hands loosen, fingers uncurl, and their body looks like they just had a full Thanksgiving dinner.
Continued rooting and tight fists may be a sign that baby isn’t quite done . Especially if baby is still fussy. Sometimes just a few more minutes at the breast is all they need (We like to call these little extra feeds “dessert”).
Clue #3: The Diaper Diaries Don’t Lie
We get it. Diaper counting isn’t glamorous. But your baby’s output is one of the most consistent indicators of intake.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
Day 1: 1 wet diaper (+ 1 dirty diaper)
Day 2: 2 wet diapers (+ 2 dirty diapers)
By Day 5: 6+ wet diapers daily (and soft yellow poops at least 3–4 times/day)
If you're weeks in and not seeing this? Time to reassess latch and transfer. That’s not to panic you…it’s to empower you to make small changes that have a big impact.
Clue #4: Baby’s Behavior After the Feed
You will have cluster feeds, growth spurts and random fussiness. But consistently fussy behavior after every feed, especially if paired with:
Short feeds under 5 mins
No visible milk transfer
Baby trying to nurse again instantly
...could point to inefficient latching or low transfer.
The FREE Latch Breakdown Guide shows you how to check your latch without relying on guesswork or pressure. Just clear, gentle steps that actually help.
Clue #5: Your Intuition Matters (But Needs Support)
We know you’ve heard “trust your instincts.” And that’s not wrong. But instincts thrive on information. When your body is sore, your baby is fussy, and Google has you panicking, it’s hard to hear that inner voice.
That’s why the right kind of education (simple, visual, real-life-tested) makes all the difference.
So What If It Still Feels Unclear?
You’re not failing. You’re not broken. You’re just missing a few tools and clues most people aren’t shown unless they ask a lactation consultant.
That’s why we created the free Latch Breakdown Guide.
We walk you through:
Getting a deep, effective latch that actually removes milk
Positioning tips that work for your body and baby
Fixing the most common latch mistakes (with simple visuals)
Knowing what’s normal vs. what’s not—so you can skip the midnight doom scroll
Download the free guide here and start feeding your baby with more confidence, clarity, and calm.