A newborn\’s tummy is very small, especially in the early days. Once breastfeeding is established, exclusively breastfed babies who are 1 to 6 months old take in between 19 and 30 ounces of breastmilk each day. If you breastfeed your baby eight times a day, your baby will get around 3 ounces per feeding. But every baby is different.
The Newborn Tummy
At birth, the baby\’s stomach can comfortably digest what would fit in a hazelnut (about 1 to 2 teaspoons). By around 10 days, the baby\’s stomach grows to hold about 2 ounces, or what would fit in a walnut.
![\"Hazelnut\"](\"https://www.womenshealth.gov/files/assets/images/breastfeeding/hazelnut.jpg\")
![\"Walnut\"](\"https://www.womenshealth.gov/files/assets/images/breastfeeding/walnut.jpg\")
Typical number of wet diapers and bowel movements in a baby\’s first week (it is fine if your baby has more) 1 day = 24 hours*
| Baby\’s age | Number of wet diapers | Number of bowel movements | Texture and color of bowel movements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (first 24 hours after birth) | 1-2 | The first bowel movement usually occurs within 8 hours after birth | Thick, tarry, and black |
| Day 2 | 2 | 3 | Thick, tarry, and black |
| Day 3 | 5-6 disposable, 6-8 cloth |
3 | Looser and greenish to yellow (color may vary) |
| Day 4 | 6 | 3 | Soft, watery, and yellow |
| Day 5 | 6 | 3 | Loose, seedy, and yellow |
| Day 6 | 6 | 3 | Loose, seedy, and yellow |
| Day 7 | 6 | 3 | Larger amounts of loose, seedy, and yellow |
Keep in mind that, if using disposable diapers, the absorbency may make it harder to tell if the diaper is wet. Use this chart as a guide, but talk to your child\’s doctor if you are concerned about your child not getting enough milk.
*Source: American Academy of Pediatrics