For the worried new parent

How do you know they're getting enough?

The question every new parent carries — and a clear, practical way to answer it.

Here's the truth: the supply you're worried about is almost always working. And the way to know is not ounces in a bottle, pump output, or how full your breasts feel.

It comes down to three things you can actually watch: the latch, your baby, and what they do after the feed. Diapers and weight finish the picture. That's the whole puzzle — and this guide walks you through it.

A note from — Jess

If anything here doesn't feel right — please ask. There may be a small fix, or nothing wrong at all. Either way, a little support is the right next step. No question is too small.— J

Inside
01The latch — deep vs. shallow
02Read your baby, not the pump
03What a full baby looks like
04Diapers + weight: the proof
The Baby Feeding Collective
Getting Enough · A free guide
01 / 04
01.
The foundation

It starts with the latch.

A deep latch moves milk efficiently and comfortably. A shallow one tires your baby out and hurts you — and it's the most common reason a feed isn't working.

What you want

A deep latch.

  • Mouth wide open — chin pressed into the breast
  • More areola visible above the upper lip than below
  • Lips flanged outward, not tucked in
  • Rhythmic suck-swallow-breathe pattern
  • No clicking, smacking, or sliding off
  • Comfortable beyond the first 30 seconds
  • Softer breast after the feed
A sign to adjust

A shallow latch.

  • Only the nipple in the mouth, not the areola
  • Lips tucked or pursed, "sucked in"
  • Clicking or smacking sounds — losing the seal
  • Pinching, pain, or a lipstick-shaped nipple after
  • Sliding off, or long stretches with no swallow
  • Falling asleep quickly, never satisfied
  • Slow weight gain despite long, frequent feeds
A note from — Jess

A shallow latch is fixable — usually with small changes to positioning and how you bring baby to the breast. If it hurts every feed or won't deepen, that's exactly what I help with. Send me a short video.— J

The Baby Feeding Collective
Getting Enough · A free guide
02 / 04
02.
Read your baby first

Your baby is the best measure — not the pump.

Babies extract far more milk than any pump can. A low pump number tells you almost nothing about your supply. Watch the feed, then watch what your baby does after it.

During the feed

Is milk transferring?

  • Baby stays latched and actively engaged
  • You see or hear swallowing — a soft "kah" sound
  • A steady suck-swallow-breathe rhythm, with pauses
  • Early on, hand express or compress to boost flow and keep them drinking
  • Don't judge supply by pump output — your baby is a far better extractor
After the feed

What a full baby looks like.

  • Relaxed body, open and unclenched hands
  • Sleepy, calm, and satisfied — they let go on their own
  • Generally content for about 2–2.5 hours before the next feed
  • Some babies cluster feed — closer feeds that build your supply are normal, not a red flag
If you take one thing from this guide

Watch your baby — not the clock, the bottle line, or the pump.

When they're hungry, you feed. When they show you they're done — slowing, releasing, relaxing — you end the feed. Don't push volume. A baby who feeds well and settles afterward is telling you it's working.

The Baby Feeding Collective
Getting Enough · A free guide
03 / 04
03.
The proof, after the fact

Diapers + weight finish the puzzle.

What goes in comes out, and shows up on the scale. These are your steady, reassuring checks once the feed itself looks good.

Wet diapers, day by day.

Day 1 = first 24 hours of life
Day 1
1
wet
Day 2
2
wets
Day 3
3
wets
Day 4
4
wets
Day 5
5
wets
Day 6
6+
wets
Day 7
6+
wets
Stool, day by day

Color is the signal.

  • Days 1–2 · meconium — black, tarry
  • Days 3–4 · transitional — greenish-brown
  • Day 5+ · yellow + seedy (breast) or pastier (bottle)
  • Expect 3+ stools per day by day 5, at least quarter-sized
Weight gain

A wider window than you think.

  • Up to 7–10% birth-weight loss in the first 5 days is typical
  • Birth weight regained by day 10–14
  • 4–7 oz per week through the first few months
  • Trust the pediatrician's growth curve, not a home scale
A last note from — Jess

If something doesn't feel right at any time, please ask. There may be a simple fix waiting, or you may just need someone to tell you it's okay out loud. Either way, support is always the right answer — and I'm here. You're doing harder work than anyone is telling you, and you're doing it well.— J

— Jess Giametta
M.S. CCC-SLP, CLC · Feeding specialist