by Roos Hondelink

Created on: December 14, 2009   Last Updated: December 15, 2009

Oh, if only breasts had tick marks, the baby would say: “I'd like some food” and the sun would always shine! Wouldn't that make life so much easier?

Unfortunately, your breasts have no way of accurately measuring the amount of milk your baby has drunk, the baby only says: “whewhewhewhe” and it rains way too often...

So life with your newborn is not always easy and knowing if your baby has had enough breast milk isn't too. To avoid worrying (or worrying even more than you already do when you have just had a baby) there are some things you can keep in mind.

Many new mothers become insecure when they feel the baby wants to feed too often. Especially when people around you make comments like: “Are you feeding her again? She's just been fed!” or when another mother says: “My baby always sleeps three hours after I've fed her.” This can make you think you feed too often or maybe even do not have enough milk. But did you know the stomach of a newborn is no larger than a walnut? Combine that with the fact that breast milk is very easily digestible and you understand better why your baby might want to feed more often than you think is 'normal'.

There are many people who say you shouldn't feed more than every three to four hours. But just ask those people: “Do you eat and drink nothing in the three to four hours after you had breakfast, lunch or supper? Not even a cup of tea, some juice or even a sip of water when you went to the toilet? No fruit, biscuit or anything?” Chances are they suddenly realise they do. Then why shouldn't your baby get a little 'snack'?

Also, the first couple of weeks after being born, your baby needs to feed regularly, at least every four hours, even during the night. It might be required to wake your child up, because some children do not wake up of their own accord. Only after your baby starts growing well, you can let your child sleep longer. Otherwise it might cause lower milk production and your baby can become too weak to show her hunger.

When you are worried about her intake, keep an eye on her diapers. After the first three days the dark, sticky stuff should be replaced by that lovely smelling, yellow-green baby poop. Normally, she should produce around two or more full diapers each day for the first couple of weeks. Consult your doctor when she doesn't for more than a day. Keep in mind though that from around three to four weeks some babies don't have any poop for a couple of

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