How to Safely and Accurately Meet a Newborn’s Breastmilk Needs with Hegen
In the first days after giving birth, many mothers experience anxiety, especially when their newborn only nurses briefly. This often raises questions about whether the baby’s breastmilk needs are truly being met or if the intake is insufficient. These concerns are completely normal, particularly for first-time mothers, as a sleepy baby or one who unlatches quickly may appear satisfied, even though that may not always be the case.
The uncertainty grows because mothers cannot clearly see how much milk their baby is consuming. Some worry that their milk supply isn’t enough, while others fear the baby may take in too much, considering how tiny a newborn’s stomach still is. Understanding a newborn’s realistic breastmilk needs can help ease these worries.
Using bottles with accurate measurements during pumping or when feeding expressed milk can also help mothers monitor daily intake more confidently. With the right knowledge and tools, the breastfeeding journey can feel calmer, clearer, and more reassuring. Explore the full guide below!
Understanding Newborn Breastmilk Needs
To support and optimize feeding, it’s important for mothers to understand how a newborn’s stomach develops and what normal consumption looks like in the first days of life. Here’s what to expect:
1. Days 1–3: 5–10 ml per session
At this stage, a newborn’s stomach is only the size of a marble, so their breastmilk needs are still minimal. Thick, nutrient-rich colostrum is already sufficient to support immunity and nutrition. Although feeding may occur 8–12 times per day, each session involves only a small amount of milk.
2. Week 1: Around 30 ml per session
By days 4–7, the baby’s stomach grows rapidly. At this point, feeding may become more frequent, which is entirely normal. Newborns at this stage can typically consume around 30 ml per feeding session.
3. Week 2 to 1 Month: 60–90 ml every 2–3 hours
Breastmilk intake significantly increases as the baby grows. On average, newborns nurse every 2–3 hours and require approximately 60–90 ml per session. Understanding this pattern helps mothers plan pumping schedules or expressed milk feedings more effectively.
It’s essential to remember that every baby has unique needs. However, understanding the general range of newborn milk requirements can help mothers recognize signs of adequate intake, such as steady urine output, healthy weight gain, and a calm, satisfied baby after feeding.
Lactation consultants emphasize that mothers do not need to measure obsessively. What matters is staying within a healthy range and maintaining a consistent nursing or pumping rhythm.
Also read: When Breastmilk First Appears & How to Breastfeed a Newborn
The Challenge for New Mothers: Measuring Milk Intake Accurately
Many new mothers eventually begin searching for ways to measure their newborn’s breastmilk intake more accurately, especially when feeding expressed milk. However, several challenges often appear in practice, such as the following:
1. Bottles Without Clear Measurement Indicators
Some feeding bottles have faded or unclear measurement lines that gradually disappear after repeated washing or sterilization. As a result, mothers struggle to determine how much milk their baby has consumed. This situation increases the risk of underfeeding or overfeeding.
2. Inaccurate Measuring
When a newborn’s milk intake isn’t measured properly, babies may spit up due to excess volume or become irritable because they are still hungry. This can heighten a mother’s stress and reduce her confidence in her breastfeeding abilities.
3. Unpredictable Pumping Results
Breastmilk volume can vary with each pumping session. When bottle markers are not precise, it becomes difficult to accurately assess how much milk is produced. Monitoring output closely is essential to ensure the baby’s daily needs are consistently met.
This is where containers and feeding bottles with precise, durable measurement markings become essential. They help support daily breastfeeding routines by offering clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
Also read: 5 Pumping Strategies to Increase Supply for Working Moms
Hegen: More Than Just a Bottle, A Precise and Safe Expression of Care
Hegen is designed as a solution that supports a newborn’s breastmilk needs with accuracy, safety, and convenience. With its revolutionary pump-store-feed system, Hegen ensures that every drop of breastmilk is used to its fullest potential.
1. Clear and Precise Volume Indicators
The measurement lines on Hegen bottles are permanently printed using advanced technology, ensuring they remain sharp and visible even after hundreds of sterilization cycles. With both milliliter and ounce markings, mothers can easily monitor their newborn’s intake. Every pumping session can be tracked accurately, eliminating any guesswork when measuring how much milk the baby consumes.
2. Stable and Easy-to-Hold Square Bottle Design
Hegen’s signature square-shaped bottle offers better stability than traditional round bottles, reducing the risk of spills—especially during busy or rushed moments. The square design also allows for efficient organization in the refrigerator or freezer, ensuring stored milk is neatly arranged according to the baby’s feeding needs.
3. Pump-Store-Feed in One Container
With Hegen, mothers can pump directly into the storage container, store it safely, and feed the baby using the same bottle, without transferring the milk. This minimizes contamination risks and maintains precise volume. For mothers who prioritize accuracy in meeting their newborn’s breastmilk needs, this system ensures that no milk is lost in the process.
4. Made from Safe, BPA-Free PPSU Material
PPSU is a premium material known for its durability, resistance to extreme temperatures, and ability to remain odor-free. Hegen’s PPSU bottles help preserve breastmilk quality, ensuring newborns receive clean, safe nourishment. The material is also BPA-free, BPS-free, and free from harmful toxins.
With Hegen, mothers can breastfeed with clarity instead of uncertainty. Every drop can be measured, stored, and fed with confidence and precision. The system is thoughtfully designed to support a newborn’s breastmilk needs with maximum efficiency and peace of mind.
Also read: Ideal Breastmilk Storage Duration: A Complete Guide
How to Measure Breastmilk Based on Newborn Needs
After understanding newborn milk patterns, potential challenges, and how Hegen supports accurate feeding, mothers are encouraged to apply the following practices:
1. Monitor Baby’s Age and Weight
Age affects feeding volume. Tracking age and weight gain helps mothers understand how breastmilk needs naturally increase over time.
2. Use Hegen Bottles to Monitor Volume Per Session
The precise measurement lines on Hegen bottles allow mothers to see exactly how much milk is consumed per feeding, especially helpful for working mothers or those combining direct breastfeeding with pumping.
3. Track Daily Intake
By recording daily feeding patterns, mothers can ensure newborn needs are consistently met and decide when to increase pumping sessions.
Measuring milk isn’t simply about numbers, it’s a way to understand your baby’s rhythm. When mothers recognize these patterns, confidence grows, and the breastfeeding journey becomes more joyful and reassuring.
Also read: 8+ Power Pumping Tips for Comfortable Sessions & Increased Supply
Modern Breastfeeding Made Easier
Hegen offers meaningful support for mothers who want to meet their newborn’s breastmilk needs with precision. Its modular system ensures every component remains compatible—from the newborn stage to the complementary feeding phase. This adaptability is especially helpful for mothers who combine direct latching with pumping, as well as for parents who want to track expressed milk supply more systematically.
Hegen also allows fathers or caregivers to participate in feeding without the fear of incorrect measurements. With Hegen, every step of the feeding process becomes structured, traceable, and easier to manage.
Every milliliter of breastmilk represents time, effort, and a mother’s deep love. For that reason, the tools that help preserve and measure a newborn’s intake are more than functional items, they become part of a mother’s emotional journey. Hegen serves as an extension of that care, ensuring babies receive optimal nutrition measured with accuracy.
With this support, mothers can focus on bonding moments, without constantly worrying whether the milk volume is sufficient.
Also read: Breastfeeding Challenges & Five Ways to Ensure Newborn Milk Needs Are Met
In a newborn’s early days, every milliliter matters. Understanding milk requirements and offering breastmilk with accurate measurement helps support optimal growth and development.
Hegen is here to help mothers measure with precision, store safely, and feed with confidence and love.
Discover Hegen bottles and ensure your newborn’s breastmilk needs are fulfilled accurately, comfortably, and without compromise by visiting the Official Hegen Indonesia website today!
