Breastmilk volumes over time
The following information is adapted from the Institute for the Advancement of Breastfeeding Learning and Education.
| Day of Life | Milk volume 30mL = 30cc = 1oz | Milk volume |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 Day 1 Day 2 | ~1oz per day | ~5 - 10mL per feeding |
| Day 3 Day 4 | ~8oz per day | ~1oz per feeding |
| Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 | ~12 - 20oz per day | ~2 - 2.5oz per feeding |
| Day 8-14 | ~20 - 24oz per day | ~2 - 3oz every 2-3 hrs |
| Through 6 months | ~24 - 32oz per day | ~3 - 5oz per feeding |
| After 6 months | ~20 - 24oz per day plus foods high in iron, calcium and protein. | A bit less milk is OK when more food is consumed |
| 24oz per day= 1oz per hour. If baby ate 3 hrs ago, he'll need ~3oz now. |
As your baby sleeps for longer stretches over night, he'll have fewer hours in the day to drink all the milk.
Thus, he'll drink more milk at each feeding session.
The chart above helps you decide how much milk to put in bottles if you need to supplement.
You can’t measure how much your baby nurses from the breast, nor do you need to.
- He’s getting enough if weight loss is within the normal range (7-10%) while waiting for your milk to come in.
- He's getting enough if he starts gaining weight by around day 4.
Get weight checks!
Milk Removal Drives Your Milk Supply
Within a couple days after birth, your breasts should start to feel full, tingly and tender.
- If your baby latches and removes milk well as it comes in, your milk supply might sneak in without you realizing it’s in.
- But, some moms experience dramatic fullness over just a few hours.
A baby ideally suckles every 2-3 hours to stimulate milk production. If not, pump or hand express and feed your baby the drops of colostrum with a cup or syringe. As your milk comes in, the colostrum will change from yellow to white.
- In the first 24-48 hours, you’ll produce about 1ounce (30mL) of colostrum per day.
- Each feeding is about 5-10mL
- Between days 2-4, you’ll produce about 8 ounces in 24 hours (ideally).
- Each feeding is about 1 ounce every 2-3 hours or about 8-12 times per day.
~ Day 5-7
Between days 5-7, your supply will gradually increase to about 12-20 ounces in 24 hours (ideally).
- Each feeding is about 2 – 2½ ounces (60-75mL) every 2-3 hours.
~ Day 8-14
Between days 8-14, your supply will gradually increase to about 20-24 ounces in 24 hours (ideally).
- Each feeding is about 2-3 ounces (60-90mL) every 2-3 hours.
~ 3 Weeks to 6 Months
During this time, your supply will settle at around 24-32 ounces per day. Some babies need more, others less. Your supply doesn't need to keep increasing forever.
- Each feeding is about 3-5 ounces per feeding.
- If your baby sleeps longer stretches at night, he’ll need to drink more during the day. Thus, each feeding will be bigger.
Late Milk
or Too Little Milk
As you can see, milk supply goes from 1ounce per day to around 24 ounces per day, over the first 2 to 3 weeks, ideally. For some, it may take 6 weeks to get to a full supply. Sometimes a mother’s milk supply doesn’t keep pace with what her baby needs in the first couple weeks. With persistent milk removal, hopefully your supply will catch up to meet your baby’s needs. Until then, you must fill the gap with supplemental milk (donor milk or formula) until your milk supply increases.
After 6 Months
At 6 months, it’s OK for your baby to drink a bit less milk, because you’ll start feeding him other calcium and protein rich foods. Keep nursing through 1 year of age, and as long thereafter as is mutually desired by you and your baby.
Kay Anderson MD, IBCLC
5/23