When your baby nurses, listen or watch for swallowing. When she first latches, her sucks will be quick and she will not swallow much. After a few seconds to a few minutes, milk will begin to flow and she will suck more slowly, about 1 suck per second, and you may see or hear swallowing. You may hear gulping or a soft breath sound when she is swallowing or you may just notice a brief pause in her sucking rhythm and her jaw will drop lower when she swallows. If she swallows every 1-2 sucks, for 10-20 minutes during a feed, then she is getting plenty of milk.
If she is swallowing less than every 1-3 sucks, you can try breast compressions to increase swallowing. Squeeze and hold your breast while baby is sucking and hold the squeeze until her swallows slow again. When compressions do not increase swallows, switch to the other breast, even if she has been nursing only a couple of minutes. When her swallows slow on the second side, compress your breast. When the compression does not increase swallowing, switch sides again. You can switch back and forth several times during a nursing session.
The following link shows how to use breast compressions. Only use compressions when baby is sucking but not swallowing. Release compression when baby stops sucking. Babies need to take pauses during feeding.
http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=vid-4dayold
A baby who is getting enough milk will have plenty of wet and dirty diapers.
Day 1–1 bowel movement and 1 wet diaper
Day 2–3 bowel movements and 2 wet diapers
Day 3–3 bowel movements and 3 wet diapers
Day 4 3-4 bowel movements (changing to green/yellow) 6 wet diapers
Day 5 3-5 yellow bowel movements the size of an American quarter and 6 wet diapers
A wet diaper is about the equivalent of 3 tablespoons of water.
A baby who is breastfeeding well will begin gaining by the 5th day of life, will regain birth-weight by 10 days, and gain about 1 ounce a day for the first 3-4 months.