Welcome to the world of parenting. Here you can learn about your newborn’s development week by week and get ideas about toys and activities to share with your new baby. We have advice on the best way to keep your baby safe , as well as tried and tested tips for soothing a fussy baby
How often newborns need to breastfeed
How often do babies need to eat?
Around two hours after birth, babies usually become very sleepy and want to take a recovery nap. During the first day after birth, offer the breast anytime your baby shows interest in feeding. If your baby is sleepy, put your baby skin-to-skin against your chest, every two to three hours for fifteen to twenty minutes before trying to waken her for a feeding.
Tip: Skin-to-skin seems to have ‘magic power’. Your baby gets warm against your chest and begins to move down toward the breast. This is a perfect time to slip a pillow under your baby and go for a latch.
Over the next 24 to 48 hours, babies begin to increase their hunger so they are having eight to twelve feedings per 24 hours during the first months of life. In terms of breastfeeding, this is a new partnership between you and your baby. Remember to ‘watch the baby, not the clock’. In other words, breastfeed when your baby appears hungry. When your baby finishes the first breast, offer the second side. Your baby may or may not desire more milk at this feeding. At the next feeding, begin on the side that was not nursed first at the last feeding. This pattern continues over the next few weeks as the baby is growing rapidly and establishing a feeding rhythm to life.
Tip: Ask your baby’s healthcare physician to show and explain your baby’s growth chart to you at each office visit.
By Linda Yandell Smith RN, MSN, IBCLC Co-author of Caring for your newborn: How to enjoy the first 60 days as a new mom.
The first three weeks
Right after birth, most babies are awake and very interested in their first lesson of life: learning how to eat. The first feeding helps with imprinting, which allows babies to remember the sequence and sucking behaviors needed for successful breastfeeding.Around two hours after birth, babies usually become very sleepy and want to take a recovery nap. During the first day after birth, offer the breast anytime your baby shows interest in feeding. If your baby is sleepy, put your baby skin-to-skin against your chest, every two to three hours for fifteen to twenty minutes before trying to waken her for a feeding.
Tip: Skin-to-skin seems to have ‘magic power’. Your baby gets warm against your chest and begins to move down toward the breast. This is a perfect time to slip a pillow under your baby and go for a latch.
Over the next 24 to 48 hours, babies begin to increase their hunger so they are having eight to twelve feedings per 24 hours during the first months of life. In terms of breastfeeding, this is a new partnership between you and your baby. Remember to ‘watch the baby, not the clock’. In other words, breastfeed when your baby appears hungry. When your baby finishes the first breast, offer the second side. Your baby may or may not desire more milk at this feeding. At the next feeding, begin on the side that was not nursed first at the last feeding. This pattern continues over the next few weeks as the baby is growing rapidly and establishing a feeding rhythm to life.
One through three months
During the first three months, babies spend a lot of time growing, feeding, sleeping, and having increased alert times. As the baby gains weight, the stomach grows allowing more milk intake during each breastfeeding. This increased intake allows spacing to naturally occur between each feeding. The baby should continue to gain appropriate weight at each healthcare visit and should appear content between feedings. Most babies gain 0.7 to 1.2 ounces (20 to 35 grams) a day.Tip: Ask your baby’s healthcare physician to show and explain your baby’s growth chart to you at each office visit.
By Linda Yandell Smith RN, MSN, IBCLC Co-author of Caring for your newborn: How to enjoy the first 60 days as a new mom.
You may also be interested in...
- Breastfeeding – breast milk basics (newborn)
- Your milk contains everything your baby needs to grow strong and healthy.
- more
Comments
Cassaundra
Pretty good piece! one tip to help breastfeeding moms is to make sure their doctor is using the growth chart for BREASTFED babies, NOT the one for formula fed infants. this can make the difference between success and failure because formula fed infants gain MUCH faster than breastfed babies. A normal weight for a breastfed baby may be interpreted as underweight if the wrong chart is used. Many doctors are not aware of this and Mum will need to educate them!
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