How much milk does a woman produce per day

How much milk does my baby need?

Table of Contents Show

How much milk can a mother produce per day?
How much breastmilk does a woman produce?
How much milk should you produce in one day?
How much milk can a woman produce in 24 hours in Litre?

Breastfed babies from one to six months take an average of 25-35 ounces per 24 hour day. (Breastfed babies take 20% of their overall calories at night!)
Research found that formula fed babies take on average 33% more milk per day than breastfed babies because breastfed babies digest breast milk more efficiently than formula. Formula fed babies need more calories just to maintain normal function because they are almost twofold less efficient at digesting nonhuman milk.
One breast or two? Depends on your breast storage capacity and your baby's volume needs. Some mothers can store 4-5 ounces per breast, so baby would only need to eat from one at each feeding. Other moms can store 1-2 ounces and baby would need to feed from both breasts. Storage capacity is not indicated by breast size, but by glandular tissue in the breast. You will get to know your breast storage capacity as you get know your breasts and your baby.
Breast fullness between feedings only lasts the first two to three weeks as childbirth hormones are still active in the body. Breasts will begin to feel normal around one month and feeling of fullness will only happen if you have an unusually large milk production, miss a feeding or two, or go very long between feedings.
Research indicates that on average, babies take about 67% of the milk in their mothers breasts at each feeding, leaving on average 33% of milk behind in the breast. If a mother wants to increase her rate of milk production, she can increase the number of feedings or drain the breasts more fully.
Breastfed babies will take different amounts throughout the day.
Breasts are not supposed to stay engorged forever. When milk transitions around day 3-5 after birth, extra blood and fluid fill the breast to help support making milk. These go away around 6-8 weeks postpartum. So for the first few weeks, your breasts may feel full between feedings and then soft after feeding or pumping. That sensation is SUPPOSED to go away over time as your body becomes more efficient at making milk. No longer feeling full between feedings is not an indication that you're losing supply. Your body is more efficient. This coincides with baby becoming more efficient at taking feedings (may only feed for a few minutes) and growth spurts.
Milk expression is a learned skill. One study found that 10% of moms whose babies were doing very well at the breast were unable to pump milk effectively. Pumping volumes do not indicate the volumes your baby can get at the breast.

Baby's age	Average ounces per feeding
Three days	1 ounce
One week	1.5 ounces
Two weeks	2-2.5 ounces
One month	3-4 ounces

The first week: By the end of your baby's first week of frequent breastfeeding, milk production increases from 1 ounce per day on day one to 10-12 ounces per day by day five to seven. Baby's stomach expands from the size of a large marble to the size of a chicken egg. Baby can take 1 ounce per feeding.

The second and third weeks: Baby can now hold 2-3 ounces at a feeding and takes 20-25 ounces per 24 hour period. Babies often increase the number and length of feedings due to growth spurts.

The fourth week: Baby can now take 3-4 ounces for a total of 25-35 ounces per day. Amazingly, at around one month you are producing just about as much milk each feeding as your baby will ever need.

One month and on: At around one month, a breastfed baby reaches her peak daily milk intake of 25-35 ounces per 24 hour period. This stays roughly the same through six months of age until she begins solid foods at six months.

Achieving a good latch DO’S:

Nose to nipple
Head tilted slightly back
Chin goes to breast first

Achieving a good latch DONT’S:

Don't apply pressure to the back of baby's head
Don't allow the soles of baby's feet to push against any hard surface
Don't leave open spaces between you and your baby

By Jacque Ordner BSN, RN, IBCLC, RLC

Moms want what is best for their babies and are often concerned they won’t make adequate milk throughout the breastfeeding process. Couple that concern with daily social media posts about huge freezer stashes and 10+ oz. pumping sessions and moms can get full on anxiety about whether their production is “normal”. Don’t worry mamas! We’re here to let you know what a full milk supply looks like and to hopefully calm your fears about just how much milk you’re likely going to need.

THE AVERAGE BREASTMILK INTAKE FOR A BABY FROM 1 MONTH TO 6 MONTHS IS 25oz. PER DAY. Research tells us that the range is from about 19oz to 30oz. per day. Milk production usually peaks at around 40 days postpartum as well. Medically speaking, a full milk supply ranges from 750ml –1035ml per day. It’s also normal for this amount to fluctuate from day to day. It’s normal to see pumping output fluctuate from session to session as well.

FOR MOMS WHO ARE PRIMARILY DIRECTLY NURSING THEIR INFANTS, TYPICAL PUMPING OUTPUT CAN RANGE FROM 0.5 oz to 2 oz. PER SESSION. We talk to so many moms whose babies have been growing and thriving while nursing at the breast, but then mom becomes concerned when her first pumping session only yields about an ounce from both breasts combined. We can literally hear the relief in their voices when we tell them that THIS IS NORMAL! Mamas, you don’t have to be pumping 5-10 oz per session to be successful at breastfeeding! The amount you can pump is not necessarily an indicator of the amount your body is making. Pumping is a learned skill that takes time to develop for many moms. Take cues from your baby….if they’re growing well and making adequate wet and dirty diapers, chances are you’re making the perfect amount of milk for them.

EXCLUSIVELY PUMPING MOMS TYPICALLY SEE A PUMPING OUTPUT OF 2oz. – 4oz. EVERY 2-3 HOURS. Pumping is a learned skill and can take some time to get used to. The above output range is for moms whose supply is established (after 40 days postpartum). Unfortunately, some moms have been told that exclusive pumping will not allow them to make a full milk supply. This is just not true, mamas! With a high-quality, hospital strength pump, a consistent pumping schedule, and well fitted flanges, moms can make a full milk supply (and more) with exclusive pumping.

While it’s true that most women can make a full milk supply, it’s also true that a small percentage cannot. If you suspect you have low milk supply or just need reassurance that things are going well, don’t hesitate to reach out to an IBCLC. Our Spectra Baby USA IBCLCs are here to help with free virtual consultations. Click HERE to schedule. We can also help via email at Happy pumping, mamas!

Sources:

Bonyata, K. (2018, January 02). Exclusive Pumping • KellyMom.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020, from https://kellymom.com/mother2mother/exclusive-pumping/

Bonyata, K. (2018, January 16). I’m not pumping enough milk. What can I do? • KellyMom.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020, from https://kellymom.com/hot-topics/pumping_decrease/

Lawrence, R. A., & Lawrence, R. M. (2016). Breastfeeding: A guide for the medical profession. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

Mohrbacher, N. (2012, November 27). How Much Milk Should You Expect to Pump? Retrieved July 27, 2020, from http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/articles/2012/11/27/how-much-milk-should-you-expect-to-pump.html

How much milk can a mother produce per day?

Mothers who exclusively breastfeed twins or triplets can produce 2,000 to 3,000 g/day, although this involves nursing an average of 15 or more times per day (Saint et al., 1986). Women who express surplus milk for a milk bank have been shown to produce as much as 3,000 g/day (Macy et al., 1930).

How much breastmilk does a woman produce?

After the first couple weeks, you should expect to produce more milk per session, about 2 to 4 oz., and may be able to stretch out some of the overnight feedings (maybe to 4 to 5 hours between feedings). In total, you should expect to average around 8 to 10 sessions per day.

How much milk should you produce in one day?

Current research indicates that breast milk intake DOES NOT change with baby's age or weight between one and six months. Expect to pump an average of 3-4 ounces every 3-4 hours. (or about 24-34 ounces each day). Aim to pump at least 24 ounces every 24 hours.

How much milk can a woman produce in 24 hours in Litre?

Frost produces so much breast milk that she has donated nearly 1000 pints (around 470 litres) of it to feed other babies. She produces approximately 90oz (three litres) of breast milk each day, and only a part of it is consumed by her daughter Cleo.