Feeding Cues
Your newborn baby should breastfeed 8 to 12 times within 24 hours.
Tune into your baby's early feeding cues.
 Nuzzling and open mouth movements
Tense appearance
Grunting or other sounds
Kicking and waving of arms
Hand-to-mouth activity
Crying
 Some feedings may be
close together, perhaps every hour or so. These are called "cluster
feedings." Other feedings will be less frequent, every 2 to 3 hours.
Feedings do not need to be evenly spaced and often are not with newborn
babies. Wake your baby if he doesn't awaken to feed within 3 hours of the
last feeding during the day. Nighttime feedings can be less frequent but
should still take place.
If your baby nurses very frequently around the clock, he may not be
nursing effectively, thereby getting hungry again quickly. Review the
signs of a good latch-on below. Contact a Board Certified Lactation
Consultant or other knowledgeable health care provider for more
advice.
Signs of a Good Latch-On
The angle of your baby's lips while at your breast is
greater than 140 degrees.
Most of your areola is in your baby's mouth (1 - 11/2" from
the base of your nipple, more near your baby's lower lip).
Both upper and lower lips are flanged (rolled out).
You feel a deep pulling sensation as your baby breastfeeds.
It should not be a sharp pain or last more than a moment following the
latch-on.
Listen for swallowing every 3 to 5 sucks.
Infant Output Guidelines
Count the number of wet diapers and stools that your baby has after your
third or fourth day of breastfeeding. Six to eight wet diapers per day
with pale yellow urine indicates an adequate intake. Your baby should
also have several stools per day. Older babies may urinate and stool
less. However, the urine should always be a light yellow color and the
stool should be soft.
Example:
| Day 1 |
1 wet diaper |
1 meconium stool (black, tarry) |
| Day 2 |
2 wet diapers |
1 meconium stool (black, tarry) |
| Day 3 |
3 wet diapers |
2-3 transitional stools (greenish) |
| Day 4 |
4 wet diapers |
3-4 yellow stools |
| Day 5-6+ |
6 wet diapers |
3-4 yellow stools |
 When keeping track of baby's output is important, the
seca 851 Digital Diaper Scale will keep tabs on
everything in baby's diaper down to seven grams. The seca 851 Digital
Diaper Scale features a lightning quick digital readout which helps keep
the weighing process down to a minimum amount of time. Learn more ...
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Babies generally lose a little weight (up to 10% of their
birth weight) during the first several days after birth and then begin
to regain weight. Babies generally regain their birth weight within 2
weeks of birth. This is a standard pattern. Have your baby's weight
checked a couple of times during the first 2 weeks, especially if you
are concerned that your baby is not consuming enough of your breast
milk. A check of his weight is the only reliable way to determine
adequate intake.
You need to see your baby's health care provider or a Board Certified
Lactation Consultant if:
1. Your baby loses more than 10% of his birth weight,
or
2. Your baby has not begun to regain weight by his
fifth day after birth, or
3. Your baby has not regained his birth weight by two
weeks, or
4. Your baby is not urinating at least 6 to 8 times
per day at five to six days old, or
5. Your baby is not having several stools per day
after the fourth day of breastfeeding.
These signs can indicate inadequate feedings and can become a serious
concern if not corrected quickly. You may wish to keep a written record
of when your baby urinates, stools and feeds for several days so you
can accurately report this to your baby's health care provider. Please
seek help if your problem does not resolve quickly.
Signs of a Good Feeding
Hearing swallowing
Your breasts are softer after feedings
6 to 8 wet diapers per day by Day 5 or Day 6
Feeling a strong, deep, "pulling", suckling at your
breasts
Seeing milk in your baby's mouth
Leaking from your other breast or feeling a
"let-down"
15 to 20 minutes of vigorous suckling on each breast or
20 to 30 minutes on one breast
Signs That Your Baby is Full
Drowsiness, sleepiness, difficulty arousing baby
Baby releases from your breast spontaneously
Relaxed appearance
Limp arms and hands
Does Your Baby Need a Bottle?
Avoid bottle nipples for about the first 4 to 6 weeks of breastfeeding.
There may be special situations that warrant giving your baby a
supplemental feeding of infant formula, but there aren't many. If your
health care provider recommends a supplemental feeding, it can be given
in several ways other than with a bottle nipple. Small cups, spoons,
eye droppers or specialized syringes can be used very successfully with
newborns. Most babies who are given unlimited access to the breast do
not need extra feedings.
If giving supplemental feedings become medically necessary, you will
probably also need to use a hospital grade breast pump such as the
Ameda Elite or Ameda Lact-e to establish or maintain your milk supply.
Consult with a Board Certified Lactation Consultant other knowledgeable
health care provider about your situation.
The Dangers of Casual Supplementation
Giving an occasional bottle may seem harmless, but during the first
4-6 weeks of breastfeeding, it can create more problems than it solves.
Consider these possible issues and decide if there is a better
option.
Nipple confusion
Engorgement (short term)
Reduced Milk Supply (long term)
Sore Nipples
Shortened duration of breastfeeding
Incorrect sucking patterns and ineffective suckling
Exposure to potential allergens in formula
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