1. What is coming out
Nappies tell the truth. From about day five, we are looking for at least five heavy wet nappies in twenty-four hours, and soft, mustardy poos — often several a day in the early weeks, though this can space out later.
A baby who is weeing and pooing well is a baby who is getting milk. This is the single most reassuring thing you can check yourself at 3am.
2. Weight over time, not one number
Most babies lose a little in the first days and are back to birth weight by around two weeks, then gain steadily. What matters is the trend across weeks, not a single reading on a single set of scales.
I weigh at home so we can look at that trend together, and so nobody is comparing your baby with a chart they do not understand.
3. How the feed feels and sounds
A feed that is working sounds like swallowing, not clicking. It feels like a strong tug, not a pinch or a burn. Your baby comes off softer and calmer than they went on.
Pain is information. It usually means positioning or attachment needs a small adjustment — not that you cannot do this.
What is not a reliable sign
Soft breasts. A baby who feeds often. A baby who feeds for a long time, or a short time. Waking at night. What you can or cannot express with a pump. None of these tell us much on their own.
If you are worried, do not sit with it for a fortnight. One visit, one watched feed, and we can usually replace the worry with a plan.
— Penny