This guide has been created to help you understand when breastfeeding is going well and when you might want to talk to a professionals.

Allow breastfeeding to become established before you consider introducing a dummy and/or formula or expressing with a pump. Being responsive to your baby’s need to breastfeed for food, drink, comfort and security will ensure you have a good milk supply, and a secure and happy baby.

At feeding time

Breastfeeding is going well if...
Speak to a professional if...

Your baby has 8 feeds or more in 24 hours.

Your baby is feeding for between 5 and 40 minutes at each feed.

Your baby comes off the breast spontaneously or is offered the second breast if still showing signs to feed.

Your baby is sleepy and has less than 8 feeds in 24 hours.

Your baby consistently feeds for 5 minutes or less at each feed. Your baby consistently feeds for longer than 40 minutes at each feed.

Your baby always appears to be too sleepy to feed.

Your baby

Breastfeeding is going well if...
Speak to a professional if...

Your baby has normal skin colour and is alert and waking for feeds.

Your baby is generally calm and relaxed whilst feeding and is content after most feeds.

Your baby appears jaundiced (yellow discolouration of the skin and whites of the eyes) after day 14 (for a full term baby) or day 21 (for a preterm baby).

Your baby comes on and off the breast frequently during the feed or refuses to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is going well if...
Speak to a professional if...

Breastfeeding is comfortable.

When your baby is 3-4 days old and beyond you should notice a sucking rhythm, with pauses for swallowing.

You are having pain in your breasts or nipples, which does not disappear after the baby’s first few sucks.

Your nipple comes out of baby’s mouth looking pinched or flattened on one side.

You are unsure if your baby is swallowing any milk, when they are beyond 3-4 days old.

Dirty nappies

Breastfeeding is going well if...
Speak to a professional if...

Your baby has wet and dirty nappies (see chart below).

Your baby is not having the wet and dirty nappies (see chart below).

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What are urates?

Click here to find out

urates are a dark pink/red substance that many babies pass in the first couple of days. At this age they are not a problem, however if they go beyond the first couple of days you should tell your midwife as that may be a sign that your baby is not getting enough milk.

Who can help?

If you’re worried about your child, a health professional in our team will be able to offer advice and support. You can Call Us on 0300 029 50 50 or Text Us on 07520 649887 to start a conversation. **Monday to Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm excluding bank holidays**

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Delivering excellence in Children and Young People’s Services:
a partnership between Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
Funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council

Breastfeeding assessment tool