It is a question that every new parent asks, how do I know if my baby is getting enough to eat?  If you are breastfeeding you never know exactly how much the baby is getting and this can lead a mom to wonder if enough milk is getting to the baby.  This can just add to the stress of early breastfeeding, especially if the baby is fussy and others around you are telling you it is because you are not producing enough milk.  Most women will produce enough milk to feed their baby, it very uncommon for a woman to have a milk production problem.

So how do you tell if the baby is getting enough to eat?  Well, luckily there are a few things you can look for that are sure signs the baby is getting plenty to eat.

• The baby is gaining weight.  If the baby is gaining weight she is getting enough to eat.  If you are concerned about weight gain you should talk to your doctor.  Most pediatricians will allow you to stop by the office for a quick weight check if you are worried.
• Plenty of wet and soiled diapers during the day.  A baby who is getting enough to eat will have on average 6-8 wet diapers and 3-4 soiled diapers in a 24 hour period.  If your baby doesn’t seem to be wetting or soiling her diaper very often you should contact your pediatrician.  The number of soiled diapers will decrease as your baby gets older.
• He is satisfied after he has finished a feeding.  There will be times that your baby will go through growth spurts and will seems to need to eat all the time, but generally your baby will give you cues that he is satisfied.

Talk to your pediatrician if you are concerned about whether your baby is getting enough to eat.  Your pediatrician will be able to weigh the baby, will talk to you about how many wet/soiled diapers you see a day, and how often/how long you are feeding for.  Generally most babies get enough to eat, whether breastfed or bottle fed.  It is always important to keep an eye on things, what goes in must come out, and if there is any sign of a problem seek medical attention.