Baby’s Belly Size

Before you start stressing about how much milk you will make, remember that newborns stomach’s do not hold much. The first few days they only need a teaspoon to fill them up, a teaspoon!! And in those first few hours and days your body is making a superfood for babies: colostrum (thick, yellow substance). A teaspoon of colostrum helps strengthen their immune system, promotes gut health by coating their stomachs to protect it from harmful bacteria, is easy for them to digest and is a natural laxative to help them easily pass meconium (babies first stool which is sticky, thick, dark green, almost black, made up of materials ingested during the time the infant spends in the uterus.) After a couple of days the colostrum transitions to traditional breastmilk to support your baby and their needs. Breastmilk most commonly comes in around days 3-5.

{Some women may experience delayed onset of breastmilk and may see more significant weight loss in their baby. A healthy newborn is expected to lose 7%-10% of their birth weight. If your baby reaches that 10% threshold, you need to be working with a Lactation Specialist and your Pediatrician to work on ways to get more calories into your baby-usually by supplementation. Pediatricians expect baby’s to return to their birth weight in the first 2 weeks of life.}

Here’s the breakdown of a newborns stomach size from Day 1 to Month 1.

Day 1-2: Size of a CHERRY: 5mL-7mL or 1-1.4 teaspoons

Day 3-4: Size of a Walnut: 22mL-27mL or 0.75oz-1oz

Day 5-7: Size of an Apricot: 45mL-60mL or 1.5oz-2oz

1 Month: Size of an Egg: 80mL-150mL or 2.5oz-5oz

For all my visual learners: Take out some measuring spoons & cups and measure out these volumes with water…. Remember, your body will make enough milk to support your newborn as long as you are bringing them to breast frequently. Your Breastmilk factory works on “supply and demand”….the more you breastfeed your baby the more milk your body will make. If you are struggling with complications, or think you might have a supply issue, lactation specialists are here to help!

It it important to take a breastfeeding class, so you are equipped with the proper tools for success before you even start breastfeeding.

With prenatal breastfeeding education you are setting yourself up for postnatal breastfeeding success!!