whether your baby has gotten enough breast milk

This is a common question among new breastfeeding moms. After all, you want to make sure that your baby's getting all the nourishment she needs and, well, you can't actually see how much milk your baby's drinking when you're nursing!

While most moms are able to provide their babies with all the milk they need, there are times when babies don't get enough. And when this situation isn't addressed, a baby can suffer from dehydration and failure to thrive, both of which are uncommon but serious.

Signs that your breastfeeding baby is getting enough nourishment:

• Your breasts feel softer after nursing, because your baby has emptied some of the milk that was making them firm.
• After a feeding, your baby seems relaxed and satisfied.
• After gaining back her initial weight loss after birth, your baby continues to gain weight. (Most babies lose between 5 and 9 percent of their birth weight and then regain it by the time they're about 2 weeks old.) A rough guideline: In the first month, your baby should gain 5 to 10 ounces a week; in months 2 and 3, she should gain 5 to 8 ounces a week; in months 3 to 6, she should gain between 2.5 and 4.5 ounces a week; and from 6 to 12 months, she should put on 1 to 3 ounces a week.
• In the first few days, when your baby is getting your thick, valuable colostrum, she may have only one or two wet diapers a day. After your milk comes in, though, your baby will wet six to eight cloth diapers a day, or five or six disposables. (Disposables can hold more liquid than cloth diapers.)
• In the first month, your baby has at least three stools a day, and they lighten to a yellowy mustard color by the fifth day after birth. She may have less frequent bowel movements once she's a month old. In fact, it's not uncommon for breastfed babies to skip a day of bowel movements now and then. Once she's eating solid foods, at about 6 months, she'll probably become quite regular and go back to having at least one bowel movement a day.
• Your baby is continuing to lose weight. If your baby doesn't start regaining her birth weight after five days, or if at any time after that your baby starts losing rather than gaining weight, talk with her doctor.
• Your baby is wetting fewer than eight cloth diapers or six disposable diapers in a 24-hour period after the five days following her birth.
• After her first five days, your baby has small, dark stools.
• Your baby's urine is very dark, like the color of apple juice. (If her urine is pale or clear, she's getting enough liquid; if it's more concentrated, it may be a sign that she's short on fluids.)
• Your baby is fussy or lethargic much of the time. She may fall asleep as soon as you put her to your breast but then fuss when you take her off.
• Feedings consistently take longer than an hour, and your baby just doesn't seem satisfied.
• Your breasts don't feel any softer after nursing.
• You rarely hear your baby swallow while nursing. (Some babies are very quiet feeders, so if all other signs are positive, don't worry about this one!)
• If you're concerned that your baby isn't getting enough milk, don't hesitate to call your baby's doctor or check in with a nurse or lactation consultant. Typically, you'll feed your baby while the consultant observes you and gives you valuable tips for breastfeeding success.