In the first 24 hours, most newborns take 2–10 mL of colostrum per feed, rising to 30–60 mL by day 4 with about 8–12 feeds a day.
Colostrum is thick, golden, and packed with antibodies. It comes in small amounts on purpose. Newborn stomachs are tiny, and those first feeds are about practice as much as nutrition. Short, frequent nursing sessions help your milk build while your baby masters latch and swallowing.
So how many milliliters of colostrum does a newborn usually take? Healthy term babies sip small volumes at each feed and come back often. The ranges below match what lactation groups see every day and what clinical guidance suggests for the first four days.
How Many mL Of Colostrum For Newborn – Daily Guide
The intake ranges below mirror the ABM Protocol #3 table of average colostrum intakes for healthy, term babies. Feed responsively and watch your baby’s cues.
| Age (Post-Birth) | Intake Per Feed (mL) | What That Looks Like |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | 2–10 | Small spoonfuls; baby latches often |
| 24–48 hours | 5–15 | A teaspoon or two at a time |
| 48–72 hours | 15–30 | Comfortable short feeds with pauses |
| 72–96 hours | 30–60 | Bigger swallows as milk starts to change |
Plan on roughly 8–12 feeds in 24 hours. That pattern lines up with CDC breastfeeding guidance and helps your supply rise on time.
Feeding Frequency And Cues
Newborns thrive on frequent contact with the breast. Many wake to feed every 1–3 hours, then stretch a bit longer at times. Look for early hunger cues: stirring, hand-to-mouth, mouth opening, soft murmurs. Crying is late. Offer the breast then, not on a rigid clock.
During the colostrum days, a good rhythm is “feed, burp, brief cuddle, back to rest.” Some feeds will be short; a few will bunch together. That cluster is common and often shows up in the evening. Let baby set the pace, and swap sides when the suck slows.
What If You’re Hand-Expressing Colostrum?
Hand expression works well in the first days. Many parents can express a few milliliters at a time into a clean spoon or small cup. That tiny volume is normal. Offer it right away so baby doesn’t need to work for long while still learning to latch.
Spoon, Cup, Or Syringe
Any of these can work. Hold your baby upright and touch the lip with the liquid so your baby sips at their own pace. Keep sessions gentle and brief.
Paced Bottle For Colostrum
If you use a bottle, go with a slow flow and a horizontal hold so baby pauses between swallows. Stop when you see relaxed hands, a loose jaw, and no more active sucking.
How Much Expressed Colostrum To Offer
Use the per-feed ranges in the table. Start on the lower end, then follow your baby’s cues. If baby still shows strong hunger signs after a few minutes, add another small portion from the current range.
Why Tiny Volumes Are Normal
Colostrum is dense with protective factors, sodium, and protein. It coats the gut, primes the immune system, and clears meconium. A small stomach plus slow, steady intake keeps things comfortable while latch skills improve. As milk transitions, swallows get bigger and the per-feed range rises on its own.
Adjusting For Baby’s Size And Birth Details
Every baby is a little different. Bigger babies may sit near the higher end of the ranges. Babies born after a long labor, a cesarean birth, or with sleepiness may take smaller, more frequent sips at first. Skin-to-skin contact and frequent attempts help the pattern settle.
If your baby is late-preterm or your care team mentions a medical reason to supplement, you can still use expressed colostrum first when available. Offer small amounts often and keep working on the latch with calm, unhurried sessions.
Diaper Output: The Reality Check
Diapers tell a clear story. Wet and soiled diapers should rise across the first week. Here’s a simple checklist many clinics use during the colostrum days and just after.
| Day Of Life | Wet Diapers (At Least) | Stools & Color |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 1 | Meconium (black, tarry) |
| Day 2 | 2 | Meconium continues |
| Day 3 | 3 | Transitioning green-brown |
| Day 4 | 4–6 | Yellow starting, looser |
| Day 5–7 | 6 or more | Yellow, seedy stools; 3–4 is common |
| After week 1 | 6–8 | Pattern varies; many stool daily |
If output lags behind this pattern or stools stay dark after day 4, reach out to your baby’s clinician or a lactation specialist. A quick check can keep feeds on track.
When Baby Seems Hungry Right After A Feed
Try a short skin-to-skin reset and offer the other breast. If baby still cues strongly, a tiny top-up of expressed colostrum within the day’s range is fine. In the first 24 hours that may mean another 2–5 mL. By days 3–4, many babies are comfortable with an extra 10–20 mL when they ask.
Watch your baby, not the clock. Soft hands, a relaxed body, and drifting to sleep are green lights to stop. A tight fist, active rooting, or frustrated grunts say your baby wants more time at the breast or a small extra portion.
When To Seek Help
- Fewer than 8 feeds in 24 hours on most days.
- Fewer than 3 poops and fewer than 6 pees by day 5.
- Hard latch, shallow latch pain, or clicking sounds that don’t ease after position changes.
- Sleepy baby who won’t stay awake to feed for more than a few minutes.
- Dark urine or brick-dust color after day 3, or dry mouth and lips.
- Ongoing jaundice signs with low diaper counts.
- Weight not rebounding toward birth weight by the second week.
Help early makes a big difference. Ask for a hands-on latch check and a weighed feed if you can. Bring your expressed colostrum to those visits so your baby eats while you learn together.
Practical Tips That Make Colostrum Feeds Smoother
- Start skin-to-skin soon and often; it sparks feeding cues.
- Offer the breast at the first stir, not after crying starts.
- Hold the neck and shoulders, not the back of the head, so baby can tip the chin and open wide.
- Compress the breast during active sucking to help transfer.
- If separated, express at least 8 times in 24 hours and save every drop in clean, tiny containers.
- Keep nipples comfortable with air-dry time and a gentle, scent-free routine.
- Share diaper counts with your care team; bring a simple log.
These first days bring lots of learning for both of you. Frequent, calm practice plus the intake ranges above will carry you into full milk with confidence. You and your baby are learning together.
A Gentle 24-Hour Pattern You Can Use
Think of the first days as a repeating cycle. Many families find a simple pattern helps: feed on early cues, burp, cuddle, rest, repeat. Here is a loose sketch that respects baby-led timing.
- Early morning: Wake baby if three hours have passed. Offer both sides. If baby dozes after a minute, try a diaper change and relatch.
- Late morning: Shorter feed, then skin-to-skin on your chest while you sip water and snack.
- Afternoon: Two feeds a couple of hours apart. Ask a partner to help with burping and logging diaper counts.
- Evening: Many babies cluster feed. Settle in with pillows, switch sides as the suck slows, and let baby drift when hands open.
- Overnight: One longer stretch can happen. If you reach three hours, wake gently and nurse in a side-lying position for comfort.
This sketch still lands near 8–12 feeds in a day. Your version may look different, and that is fine. Calm repetition keeps milk moving and babies content.
Position And Latch Basics That Protect Intake
Bring your baby to you, not the other way around. Tummy-to-tummy, nose to nipple, and a wide mouth over the areola set up a deep latch. Wait for the big gape, then hug baby in close so the chin leads. You should hear steady swallows with short pauses. If you hear clicking or feel pinching, break the suction with a finger, reset, and try again.
During active sucking, gentle breast compressions can add a little flow without changing position. When the suck slows, switch sides gently. If baby still shows strong cues after both sides, offer a small expressed portion within the current age range, then try the breast again.
If A Supplement Is Suggested
Sometimes a clinician will suggest adding small amounts after feeds while latch and transfer improve. Use your own expressed colostrum first when you can. The age-based ranges near the top give a safe window. In the first day, that often means 2–10 mL total per feed. By days 3–4, many babies take 15–60 mL per feed with the breast plus any extras.
Methods that keep baby close to the breast can help skills grow. A small tube at the nipple, a cup, or a syringe all work. Keep each session to about 20–30 minutes so baby doesn’t tire. Save any leftover colostrum for the next feed.
Night Feeds Matter Too
Prolactin levels are higher at night, and many babies love short night feeds. Side-lying nursing with safe positioning lets you rest while baby eats. If you pump, try one brief session after a night feed.
Pumping And Handling Tiny Volumes
If you’re pumping in the colostrum window, expect small totals. A few milliliters per session can be a win. Use tiny containers so drops don’t get lost on the sides. Label each with the date and time. Feed the freshest first. If you’re away from baby, pump about as often as your baby would feed.