Mom Hack: How to figure out exactly how much breastmilk your newborn is getting

As a new mom there are so many things we worry about with our little ones. Perhaps one of the biggest concerns I had as a breastfeeding mom was making sure my son, Grant, was getting enough to eat. Here’s the hack I used to find out: I weighed him before and after each feed! Yep, I learned this hack during a breastfeeding class at the hospital.

In the beginning, when Grant was a newborn, I stressed so much about him getting enough milk. I remember the lactation consultant warned us that we would likely feel this way. She said just count the diapers (poo/pee). So we counted. According to the diapers, he was getting enough, and the pediatrician said he was gaining enough weight. But Grant was fussy, and my mom kept telling me he was hungry. How could he be hungry?! I was feeding him 24/7. Maybe he wasn't getting enough milk?

So, I remembered what the lactation consultant said about using the scale. So, I scheduled a meeting with her. She sat with us while I nursed, and then we weighed him before and after. He was 2.5 ounces heavier afterward!

I immediately went home and ordered a scale off of Amazon (it cost around $50). I used it morning and night. I figured out how much he was getting in a day (a lot in the morning!) Exclusively breastfed babies take in an average of 25 oz (750 mL) per day between the age of one to six months, but it can range from 19-30 oz per day (570-900 mL per day).

My lactation consultant also brought the scale to the monthly breastfeeding support groups at the hospital so anyone could use it. Check with your local support groups if you're interested! :)

 We found several baby scales on Amazon, some starting at $35.