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 Image credit: jcgoforth on flickr The First WeekHow often should baby be nursing?Frequent nursing encourages good milk supply and reduces engorgement. Aim for nursing at least 10 – 12 times per day (24 hours). You CAN’T nurse too often–you CAN nurse too little. Nurse at the first signs of hunger (stirring, rooting, hands in mouth)–don’t wait until baby is crying. Allow baby unlimited time at the breast when sucking actively, then offer the second breast. Some newborns are excessively sleepy at first–wake baby to nurse if 2 hours (during the day) or 4 hours (at night) have passed without nursing.
Now infants can getall their vitamin Dfrom their mothers’ milk;no drops needed withour sponsor's TheraNatal Lactation Complete by THERALOGIX. Use PRC code “KELLY” for a special discount! Is baby getting enough milk?Weight gain: Normal newborns may lose up to 7% of birth weight in the first few days. After mom’s milk comes in, the average breastfed baby gains 6 oz/week (170 g/week). Take baby for a weight check at the end of the first week or beginning of the second week. Consult with baby’s doctor and your lactation consultant if baby is not gaining as expected. Dirty diapers: In the early days, baby typically has one dirty diaper for each day of life (1 on day one, 2 on day two…). After day 4, stools should be yellow and baby should have at least 3-4 stools daily that are the size of a US quarter (2.5 cm) or larger. Some babies stool every time they nurse, or even more often–this is normal, too. The normal stool of a breastfed baby is loose (soft to runny) and may be seedy or curdy. Wet diapers: In the early days, baby typically has one wet diaper for each day of life (1 on day one, 2 on day two…). Once mom’s milk comes in, expect 5-6+ wet diapers every 24 hours. To feel what a sufficiently wet diaper is like, pour 3 tablespoons (45 mL) of water into a clean diaper. A piece of tissue in a disposable diaper will help you determine if the diaper is wet. Breast changesYour milk should start to “come in” (increase in quantity and change from colostrum to mature milk) between days 2 and 5. To minimize engorgement: nurse often, don’t skip feedings (even at night), ensure good latch/positioning, and let baby finish the first breast before offering the other side. To decrease discomfort from engorgement, use cold and/or cabbage leaf compresses between feedings. If baby is having trouble latching due to engorgement, use reverse pressure softening or express milk until the nipple is soft, then try latching again.
Weeks two through sixHow often should baby be nursing?Frequent nursing in the early weeks is important for establishing a good milk supply. Most newborns need to nurse 8 – 12+ times per day (24 hours). You CAN’T nurse too often—you CAN nurse too little. Nurse at the first signs of hunger (stirring, rooting, hands in mouth)—don’t wait until baby is crying. Allow baby unlimited time at the breast when sucking actively, then offer the second breast. Some newborns are excessively sleepy—wake baby to nurse if 2 hours (during the day) or 4 hours (at night) have passed without nursing. Once baby has established a good weight gain pattern, you can stop waking baby and nurse on baby’s cues alone. The following things are normal:
Is baby getting enough milk?Weight gain: The average breastfed newborn gains 6 ounces/week (170 grams/week). Consult with baby’s doctor and your lactation consultant if baby is not gaining as expected. Dirty diapers: Expect 3-4+ stools daily that are the size of a US quarter (2.5 cm) or larger. Some babies stool every time they nurse, or even more often–this is normal, too. The normal stool of a breastfed baby is yellow and loose (soft to runny) and may be seedy or curdy. After 4 – 6 weeks, some babies stool less frequently, with stools as infrequent as one every 7-10 days. As long as baby is gaining well, this is normal. Wet diapers: Expect 5-6+ wet diapers every 24 hours. To feel what a sufficiently wet diaper is like, pour 3 tablespoons (45 mL) of water into a clean diaper. A piece of tissue in a disposable diaper will help you determine if the diaper is wet. After 6 weeks, wet diapers may drop to 4-5/day but amount of urine will increase to 4-6+ tablespoons (60-90+ mL) as baby’s bladder capacity grows. Milk supply?Some moms worry about milk supply. As long as baby is gaining well on mom’s milk alone, then milk supply is good. Between weight checks, a sufficient number of wet and dirty diapers will indicate that baby is getting enough milk. This information is also found as part of the professional Breastfeeding Logs. Additional information@ Breastfeeding Logs Hunger Cues – When do I feed baby? Resources: Is Baby Getting Enough Milk? Normal Growth of Breastfed Babies Breastfeeding Basics Information is Your Ally in preparing to breastfeed: 10 Tips for Success by Eva Lyford Tips for juggling a newborn and toddler Frequent Nursing Worried about milk supply?How does milk production work? Is your milk supply really low? My breasts feel empty! Has my milk supply decreased? How can I find help for my breastfeeding problem? @ other websitesThe Importance of Colostrum by Paula Yount Baby Explains- Normal Newborn Behavior by Diana Cassar-Uhl, IBCLC It’s Not Just About Breastfeeding by Danielle Rigg, JD CLC What is Normal? by Paula Yount Breastfeeding as Baby Grows by Becky Flora, IBCLC Bringing home a new baby is a very exciting, but also challenging time for new parents. One of the most common things breastfeeding mothers worry about is if they have enough breast milk to feed their baby. While you can’t see exactly how much milk your baby is drinking from the breast, there are some signs to guide you. As a general rule, your baby will be getting enough milk if they:
Your baby’s first 5 days and beyondChecking your newborn’s wet and dirty nappies can help you to see if they are getting enough milk. While there can be a wide variation in babies’ nappies in a 24-hour period, typically your newborn will have:
How much feeding is ‘normal’?It is normal for babies to feed between 8-12 times in a 24-hour period. Your baby should be bright-eyed, alert and reasonably content between feeds. Your baby’s behaviour when feeding will vary depending on their need for comfort, hunger or thirst. At first, your baby will have a few rapid sucks and then as your milk flow increases the sucks will be slower and deeper. At intervals throughout the feed, your baby will pause and then start sucking again. The number of bowel motions of breastfed infants tends to decrease between 6 weeks and 3-months-of-age. Intervals of several days or more between bowel motions are common as long as your baby is well. Trust that your body is able to meet the feeding needs of your baby, follow your baby’s cues for feeding, comfort and connection. You may wish to check your baby’s growth regularly and record it on the growth chart in your baby’s Personal Health Record (the ‘red book). The fact that your baby’s growth consistently follows a curve on the growth chart may be reassuring for you. A judgement on your baby’s growth is best made only after a series of measurements rather than a one-off measurement. It’s ideal to use the same baby scales where possible and always weigh your baby without clothes or a nappy. If you have concerns about your baby’s feeding habits, please discuss these with a child health nurse, a lactation consultant or your GP. What should my newborn’s wet nappies look like?In their first few days of life, a newborn’s urine may be a pink/orange colour. This is known as ‘urates’. If you still see urates after day 3, you should phone 13 HEALTH (and ask to speak to a child health nurse) or visit your local child health nurse or GP as this can be a sign your baby is not feeding well. After day 4, your baby’s urine should be pale in colour and not strong smelling. Many disposable nappies have a helpful coloured stripe down the front of the nappy which will change colour when the nappy is wet. Please note, every baby is different and the above information should be used as a guideline only. Always seek medical advice if you are concerned or have any questions. What should my newborn’s dirty nappies look like?A newborn’s poo will range from being sticky and green-black in colour on the first day to a yellow-mustard colour on the fifth day and beyond. The pictures below show the colour of a newborn’s poo in their first few days of life. If your baby still has green-black poo by day 5, you should phone 13 HEALTH (and ask to speak to a child health nurse) or visit your GP or child health nurse as this is a sign that your baby is not feeding well. Please note, formula-fed babies or babies receiving a mix of breast milk and formula feeding can have different coloured transitional poo. Important Babies may lose up to 10 per cent of their birth weight in their first few days after birth, but will start to regain weight by days 4 to 6. Babies should regain their birth weight by 2-weeks-of-age. Key points to remember
For more informationQueensland Health fact sheet: | Breastfeeding and your baby |
What should the nurse expect for a newborns full weight during the first few days of life?
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