A 3-day-old baby’s stomach holds roughly 22 to 27 ml at a time, which is less than one ounce. That’s about the size of a walnut. Your baby needs to eat 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, which works out to a feeding every two to three hours around the clock.
How Much Per Feeding
Because the stomach is so small at this age, each feeding is tiny by adult standards. Whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, your baby only needs about 15 to 27 ml (roughly half an ounce to just under one ounce) per feeding on day three. That amount will increase quickly over the coming days and weeks as the stomach stretches, but right now, frequent small feedings are exactly what your baby is designed for.
If you’re breastfeeding, you don’t need to measure. Your baby will take what they need at each session and stop when they’re full. Some feedings will be long, others surprisingly short. Both are normal. If you’re formula feeding, offering about half an ounce to one ounce per bottle and letting your baby guide you is a good starting point.
What’s Happening With Your Milk on Day 3
If you’re breastfeeding, day three is a turning point. Your body is shifting from producing colostrum, the thick, concentrated first milk, to making transitional milk. This changeover typically happens between days 2 and 5 and continues for about two weeks. You may notice your breasts feeling fuller and warmer, and the milk itself gradually shifting to a thinner, bluish-white color. The volume of milk you produce is increasing to match your baby’s growing appetite.
This transition can also bring engorgement, which sometimes makes latching harder. Feeding frequently helps relieve the pressure and signals your body to keep producing milk at the right pace.
Weight Loss Is Normal
Almost all newborns lose weight in the first few days. By day three, healthy full-term breastfed babies have typically lost 7% to 8% of their birth weight. So if your baby weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces at birth, a loss of about 8 to 10 ounces by day three is within the expected range.
Some breastfed newborns lose 10% or more, which is the point where most pediatricians want to take a closer look at how feedings are going. A weight check at the first pediatric visit (usually around days 3 to 5) will confirm whether your baby is on track to start regaining weight, which typically begins by days 4 to 5.
How to Tell Your Baby Is Hungry
Crying is actually a late hunger signal. Your baby will show you they’re ready to eat well before that point. Early cues to watch for include:
- Fists moving to mouth
- Head turning as if searching for the breast
- Becoming more alert and active after being still
- Sucking on hands or lip smacking
- Opening and closing their mouth
Feeding at these early cues makes latching easier and keeps your baby calmer during the feeding. A baby who has escalated to full crying often needs to be soothed first before they can latch or take a bottle effectively.
How to Tell Your Baby Has Had Enough
A satisfied newborn gives clear signals too. Their fists, which were clenched when hungry, relax and open. They release the breast or bottle nipple on their own, their body goes limp and relaxed, and they may fall asleep. If your baby pulls away but still seems alert and calm, the feeding is likely done. Resist the urge to push them to finish a set amount, since overfeeding a stomach this small just leads to spit-up.
Tracking Diapers as a Feeding Check
Since you can’t measure how much a breastfed baby takes in, diapers are your best daily feedback tool. On days 3 and 4, you should see 3 to 4 wet diapers and at least 3 poopy diapers in a 24-hour period. The stools are shifting from the dark, tarry meconium of the first two days to a greenish-brown transitional stool, and eventually to the yellow, seedy stools that indicate your baby is getting plenty of milk.
Fewer wet diapers than expected, especially combined with a very sleepy baby who is hard to wake for feedings, is worth a call to your pediatrician. On the other hand, if you’re hitting those diaper counts and your baby seems content between feedings, things are going well, even if each feeding feels small.