Reading the hospital feeding sheet
Hospitals use a standard feeding sheet to track everything your baby eats, outputs and medical checks. Here’s what each column means and what to look for.
The columns
Date and Time
When the event happened. This is one of the most important details because it helps everyone understand the feeding pattern and gaps between feeds.
L Breast / R Breast (minutes or attempts)
How long your baby was at the left and right breast, or how many times they tried. Some sheets use minutes, others just count attempts. Ask your nurse which your hospital uses.
Pumped (mL)
The amount of breast milk you expressed by pump in milliliters. This helps your nurses and doctor see how much milk your body is making.
Formula (mL)
The amount of formula given in milliliters. This includes formula from a bottle or any other source.
Urine (Wet diapers)
The number of wet diapers. This is tracked because it’s a key sign that your baby is getting enough liquid.
Stool (color and amount)
The number of stools and sometimes the color or amount. The color tells a story in the first few days (see the diaper guide for details).
Blood sugar and tester
The blood glucose reading (if checked) and which staff member did the test. Not every baby needs routine blood sugar checks, but if yours does, this column tracks the results.
Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) Key
A number (#1 through #5) that describes your baby’s feeding method during the stay. This is filled in by hospital staff.
Staff signature
The nurse who logged this entry signs it. This is a legal part of the medical record.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Key (#1–#5)
This code tells you and any future doctors what your baby’s feeding method was during the hospital stay. Your nurses will fill this in based on what’s actually happening.
Your baby received only milk from the breast, no formula or pumped milk.
Your baby breastfed and also received pumped breast milk by bottle or tube.
Your baby was transferred to a higher level of care (NICU). This code is used when the feeding type changes because the baby moved units.
Your baby received formula because of a medical reason (low blood sugar, weight loss, dehydration, etc.), as recommended by your nurses or pediatrician.
Your baby received formula because the parent chose to, not for a medical reason. This might be because breastfeeding isn’t working well for your family, you want to share feeds with a partner, or for any other reason.
Understanding patterns
As you look at your baby’s sheet over a few days, patterns emerge:
- •Feeding frequency: Are feeds getting longer? Further apart? This shows your baby is improving.
- •Output: Are wet and stool diapers increasing? This is a sign your baby is getting enough.
- •Supplementation: If formula was needed early, is it going down as breastfeeding improves? Or stable? Your team will discuss what’s right.
Questions for your nurses
Every baby and family is different. Ask your nurses or pediatrician:
- •"How does [my baby’s name]’s feeding look for day [number of life]?"
- •"What should I look for as a sign of good feeding?"
- •"Is there anything on the sheet I should be concerned about?"
- •"What should I focus on for the next feeding?"