For expressed breast milk for newborns, aim 5–15 mL per feed on days 1–2, moving toward 60–90 mL by day 5; match amounts to hunger cues.
Expressed Breast Milk For Newborns: mL Per Feed Guide
You’re pumping for a brand-new baby and need clear bottle amounts. Here’s the short path: tiny feeds first, fast climb across the first week, then steady. The numbers below reflect typical ranges seen in healthy term babies. Use them as a starting point, then let your baby’s cues and weight checks steer the day-to-day.
| Age | Per-Feed Volume (mL) | Per 24 Hours (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 5–7 | ~40–80 |
| Day 2 | 10–15 | ~80–180 |
| Day 3 | 20–30 | ~160–360 |
| Day 4 | 30–60 | ~240–600 |
| Days 5–7 | 45–90 | ~360–720 |
| Weeks 2–3 | 60–90 | ~480–900 |
| 1–3 months | 75–120 | ~600–900 |
| 1–6 months (typical) | 75–120 | ~650–950 (avg ~750) |
Why The Numbers Climb Quickly In Week One
Day 1 stomach capacity is tiny, so you’ll see frequent mini-feeds. Colostrum arrives in small volumes and packs dense bioactive goodness. Across days 2–4, milk volume ramps up and feed size grows. By the end of week one, most babies take several dozen milliliters each time, and the pattern settles into 8–12 feeds in 24 hours.
That rise can feel abrupt. If you’re pumping, you might see only teaspoons on day 1, then a jump. Keep sessions regular. Gentle breast compressions can help flow. If baby is nursing sometimes and taking some bottles, match bottle sizes to the last couple of nursing sessions you observed.
How Many ML Of Expressed Breast Milk For Newborn Per Day?
Across the first month, many term babies land near an average of about 750 mL in a full day once supply has come in, with wide normal range. Some will sit lower, some higher. The usual bottle size during months 1–3 sits near 75–120 mL, given every 2–4 hours. If baby strings feeds together, use paced bottle feeding so intake matches comfort and prevents overfilling.
Hunger And Fullness Cues To Watch
Amounts on a chart can’t outvote your baby. Look for early cues: stirring, hand-to-mouth, rooting, lip smacking. Crying is late. Offer then. During the feed, pauses and relaxed hands mean a break. A soft body, open palms, and turning away at the end tell you the feed met the need. If the last sips feel pushed, you can leave them.
Feed Frequency: What’s Normal?
Newborns often eat 8–12 times per day. Spacing isn’t even. Cluster periods, longer naps, and overnight stretches all happen. When you pump for a missed feed, aim for the same rhythm. If baby takes two small bottles close together, that still fits the daily picture.
Safe Storage And Warming, Without Waste
Fresh milk can sit at room temp up to 4 hours, or in the fridge up to 4 days. For long holds, freeze; quality is best by 6 months, with 12 months acceptable. When thawing, skip the microwave. Swirl to mix fat back in; don’t shake hard. If a bottle isn’t finished, you can offer it again within 2 hours after warming; then discard.
You can combine milk from two sessions once both are chilled. Cool the fresher batch in the fridge first, then pour into the older bottle or bag. Label with the earlier date. When warming, use a bowl of warm water, then swirls to mix the fat back in gently.
To cut waste, store in small batches. For the first week, 10–30 mL portions work well. By weeks 2–3, 60–90 mL bags fit most feeds. Later, 90–120 mL portions suit many babies. Label date and time. Keep bags flat in the freezer so they thaw fast in warm water. For detailed time limits and thaw rules, see CDC breast milk storage; for feed counts and nursing norms, see the AAP baby feeding page. See thaw steps there.
Bottle Prep: Age-Based Starting Sizes
Use these starting points when you prep expressed milk. If baby drains the bottle and still shows strong cues, add 10–15 mL more. If 10–15 mL is often left over, step down a size next time. Slow-flow teats and paced feeding help baby set the tempo.
| Age Window | Prep Per Bottle (mL) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | 5–15 | Syringe, cup, or small bottle; frequent offers |
| Days 3–4 | 20–60 | Expect quick increases across sessions |
| Days 5–14 | 60–90 | Paced bottle; watch for pauses |
| Weeks 3–6 | 75–105 | Most babies take 8–12 feeds daily |
| 1–3 months | 90–120 | Growth spurts can add one extra feed |
How To Pace A Bottle Like The Breast
Position And Flow
Hold your baby upright and keep the bottle more horizontal than vertical. Let baby draw the milk, not gravity. Start with a slow-flow teat. Tip only enough to keep milk at the nipple. Pause every few minutes to mimic let-down breaks. Switch sides halfway so baby turns the head both ways.
Session Length
A well-paced bottle often lasts 10–20 minutes. Short, fast feeds from a fast teat can lead to larger volumes than needed and gassy fuss. If a session ends in under 5 minutes, try a slower teat or longer pauses.
Weight Checks, Diapers, And When To Adjust
Steady weight gain across the first month confirms that intake is on track. Your care team may offer a newborn clinic weight check 48–72 hours after discharge, then again at two weeks. Six or more wet diapers and three or more loose stools per day by day 5 suggest intake is adequate. If weight gain stalls or diapers dip, call your clinician and a lactation professional for a plan.
Sample Day For Exclusive Pumping
Here’s a sample rhythm for a term newborn when you’re pumping all feeds. Adjust spacing to your baby’s sleep/wake pattern.
Morning To Noon
06:00 pump and feed 60–75 mL. 08:30 pump and feed 60–90 mL. 11:30 pump and feed 75–90 mL.
Afternoon To Evening
14:30 pump and feed 75–105 mL. 17:30 pump and feed 75–105 mL. 20:30 pump and feed 75–105 mL.
Overnight
23:30 pump and feed 60–90 mL. 03:00 pump and feed 60–90 mL. If baby sleeps a longer stretch, fit a brief pump to protect supply.
Mixed Feeding: Nursing And Bottles Together
Many families mix direct nursing and bottles. If baby nurses well for some sessions, prep smaller bottles for the next one or two. That avoids overfilling after a strong nursing session. When you need to be away, leave two bottle sizes: one smaller (60–75 mL) and one larger (90–120 mL). Caregivers can start small and top up if cues remain.
Weight-Based Math For Bottles (If You Need It)
Some teams set starting amounts with a weight rule after day 4: about 150 mL per kg in 24 hours. To size a bottle, divide that total by the number of feeds. A 3.6 kg newborn → ~540 mL per day. With 10 feeds, plan ~54 mL each time; with 8 feeds, ~68 mL. Treat this as a baseline and fine-tune with cues.
By weeks 2–6, many fully breastfed babies hover near ~750 mL per day. Intake doesn’t track weight perfectly. Cues, diapers, and the weight trend are better guides than math alone.
First-Week Pumping Plan That Works
When you’re exclusive pumping from birth, aim for 8–10 sessions daily in week one. Day 1 can be brief with hand expression; once milk flows, pump 15–20 minutes. Include night sessions. Warmth, a light massage, and skin-to-skin help let-downs. Hands-on pumping—massage while the pump runs, then a minute of hand expression—often boosts output. If flanges rub, try a different size.
Top-Up Strategy Without Overfeeding
Offer your planned bottle. If cues remain, add 10–15 mL, pause, then reassess. Repeat once if needed. This stepwise approach matches belly size and trims waste. If top ups are frequent, bump the base bottle by a small step next time.
Red Flags That Need A Call
Seek in-person care for: fewer than two stools by day 3 or none by day 4; fewer than six wets after day 5; dark “brick dust” urine after day 3; a hard-to-wake baby who won’t wake to feed; fast or labored breathing; green or forceful vomit; or weight loss beyond the range your team set. Trust your gut and call your clinician.
Fortifiers, Preterm Plans, And Medical Needs
Preterm babies and those with medical needs may use human milk fortifier or different volumes. Follow the written plan from your hospital or clinic. The tables above fit healthy term babies using their parent’s milk. If your plan changes, resize bottles and bring a feed/diaper log to your next visit.
Final Notes For Newborn Feeds
Start small on day 1, grow feeds fast through day 5, then settle into steady bottle sizes. Let cues lead. Keep storage simple with right-sized portions. Stay in touch with your clinician for weights and latch checks. If numbers in your home look different but baby gains well and stays content, that’s your right path day by day.