How Much Breastmilk Should A Newborn Eat – Infant Feeding Guidelines

I still remember breastfeeding my first child Alice for the very first time, it is a stressful period as she keeps crying after feeds and you are worried whether she is having enough. That is when I try to find out how much breastmilk should a newborn eat to resolve this worry.

Infant feeding guidelines

Most newborns will feed every 2-3 hours at around 8 – 12 feedings a day. As they grow bigger, their milk intake will gradually increase accordingly. The most drastic change will most likely take place in the first 7 days, 2weeks and 1 month. Their intake on day 1 will be around 6-8 mL( 0.2 – 0.26 ounces) feeding on colostrum. At day 3, they will drink around 29 mL(1 ounce) per feeding. At day 7, it will increase to around 30 – 60mL(1 – 2 ounce) per feeding. Their feeding amount should reach 60mL-90mL(2-3 ounces) by 2 weeks and 90-120mL(3-4 ounces) on the 1st month.

How many ounces of breastmilk for a 2 month old

At 2 months old, their milk intake will increase from 1 month old and usually will take 120 – 150mL(4-5 ounces) per feed every 3 to 4 hours

3 – 4 month old baby feeding amount

During this period of time, a baby usually will take in 120 – 180mL(4-6 ounces)  per feed every 3 to 4 hours. Growth spurt may also occur at this stage.

How much milk does a 6 month old need

At this point of time, their consumption will be around 180mL – 240mL(6-8 ounces) per feed. They should only need 4 -5 feedings per day at this point in time. This is also the period where you can start introducing solid foods which will reduce the amount of milk intake. There are chances of a growth spurt during the 6 month mark.

How to tell if baby is still hungry after breastfeeding

Signs that show your baby is still hungry

1. Waking up and looks restless
2. Crying and screaming for food
3. Opening his/her mouth while feeding
4. Turning his/her head away
5. Sucking rapidly
6. Appearing overly lethargic

Can a breastfed baby be overfed?

Yes. A breastfed baby will show symptoms like gaining large amounts of weight, excessive gas, tummy pains, greenish stools. He/she may also spit out large amounts of breast milk which may be caused by too frequent feeds.

Stomach capacity of newborn infant

Depending on the size and weight of your newborn infant, their stomach capacity may have some slight difference. Most newborns will eat every 2-3 hours or around 8-12 feedings a day. It is crucial to understand that all babies are different. Some may like to feed frequently while others may feed more at one go and drag longer till the next feeding time.

1st Day – On day 1, a newborn’s baby wall is firm and will not stretch. The size is around the same as a grape.  Baby stomach holds 6-8 mil at this point of time. The mother will also produce about 36-37ml of milk/colostrum in the first 24hours. Colostrum described as liquid cold and yellow in color contains lots of nutrients and helps the newborn to build their immune system and fight against infections. (Source)   

3rd day – At this point of time, the newborn stomach size will be like a ping pong ball. This is the period when the stomach starts to expand to hold more milk and mothers also start to produce more milk volume.

7th day – On the 7th day, the newborn stomach size will be like an egg. with frequent feedings, milk production increases to about 300 -570 ml (10-19 ounces) per day. Baby’s stomach can now hold 30-60 ml ( 1 -2 ounces) at feeding by the end of the week. (Source)

Breastfeeding and bottle feeding expressed milk

There is a difference between breastfeeding and bottle feeding expressed milk. Breastfeeding is the process of letting your newborn latch on to your breast and feed directly.(Check out also Does Breast Size Affect Breastfeeding?)  Bottle feeding expressed milk is expressing milk from breast pump fill into milk bottles to feed the newborn. 

Pros and cons of breastfeeding

Pro:

1. More bonding – latching directly and cuddling together often helps to build a strong bonding between mummy and child
2. Convenient – You can feed anywhere at any time without any preparation needed
3. Soothe the baby – there are studies done that show breastfeeding help soothe the baby after receiving vaccinations(Source)
4. Save some money as breastfeeding is free compared to paying for milk formula

Cons

1. Less control of feeding time – you cannot outsource the task of feeding the baby
2. More tiring – You cannot enjoy uninterrupted sleep when you baby wakes up every 2-3 hours
3. Sore nipples or other ailments – You may suffer from sore nipples or even bleed when breastfeeding. There are instances where your newborn may bite you when they start to grow baby teeth.
4. Worry about breast milk supply – you may not know whether your milk supply output is sufficent for your baby intake.

Pros and cons for bottle feeding expressed milk

Pros

1. More control of feeding time – You can pump out the milk and let someone else feed the baby
2. Better quality sleep – You can enjoy uninterrupted sleep 
3. Able to donate excess – If you are exclusively pumping, your excess milk can be donated to other mummies who need it
4. Easier to estimate – You will know exactly how much breastmilk supply you are expressing out as compared to breastfeeding

Cons

1. Less bonding time- You will enjoy less bonding time with the baby as compared to latching on directly
2. More expensive – you may need to spend more money on supplies needed for breastfeeding
3. Need more storage space – You will need to cater for storage space in freezer to store the expressed milk for later use

Formula feeding a newborn baby

There may be some differences when feeding a newborn with formula milk and breastmilk. The nutrients from breastmilk and formula milk will also differ.

A general guide for formula-fed newborn

Formula-fed babies need around 150-210mL(5 – 7 ounces) of formula per kilogram of body weight per day until three months old, then 120 mL( 4 ounces) per kilogram of body weight. 

For example, a 2 weeks old baby who weighs 3 kg might have 450 – 630 mL( 15 – 21 ounces) of formula a day or a 3 month old baby who weighs 5kg might have 600 ml( 20 ounces) of formula a day.

Formula fed babies commonly have 5 – 7 feeds every 24 hours, but this may vary between each baby and the length of feeds. Feed your baby whenever he/she is hungry.

You can also follow the guidelines on the formula tin. However, do note that they serve as a guide and you can adjust accordingly to your baby needs.

Some babies may never drink the correct amount for their age and size while others need more. Wet nappies, consistent healthy weight gains and an active baby are signs that he/she is feeding well on formula.

To Summarise How Much Breastmilk Should A Newborn Eat

It is useful to know how much breastmilk should a newborn eat. Nevertheless, always check with your lactation consultant to get the best tips on breastfeeding your baby.  You may also keen to find out when can I start pumping if I’m breastfeeding and How Fast Does Food Affect Breast Milk. Drop a comment below if you have any questions and would like to share some of your personal experience.