Nursing newborn how long

How Much and How Often to Breastfeed. Minus Related Pages. Did You Know? Some newborns may be sleepy and not interested in feeding. Top of Page. To receive email updates about this topic, enter your email address.

Email Address. What's this? It's good to find out as much as you can about breastfeeding before you have your baby. It may help you feel more confident when you start breastfeeding your baby. Antenatal classes usually cover the most important aspects of breastfeeding, such as positioning and attachment , expressing , and how to tackle common breastfeeding problems. Find antenatal classes near you.

You can find out about breastfeeding from your midwife, family and friends, and useful helplines and websites. There are lots of groups and drop-ins, some specially designed for pregnant women who want to know more about breastfeeding. You can find out more by asking your midwife, health visitor, local peer supporter or GP. Or visit your local Children's Centre. Having skin-to-skin contact with your baby straight after giving birth will help to keep them warm and calm and steady their breathing.

Skin-to-skin means holding your baby naked or dressed only in a nappy against your skin, usually under your top or under a blanket. Skin-to-skin time can be a bonding experience for you and your baby. It's also a great time to have your first breastfeed. If you need any help, your midwife will support you with positioning and attachment. Skin-to-skin contact is good at any time. It will help to comfort you and your baby over the first few days and weeks as you get to know each other.

It also helps your baby attach to your breast using their natural crawling and latching-on reflexes. You'll still be able to bond with and breastfeed your baby if skin-to-skin contact is delayed for some reason, for example if your baby needs to spend some time in special care. If necessary, your midwife will show you how to express your breast milk until your baby is ready to breastfeed.

They can also help you have skin-to-skin contact with your baby as soon as it's possible. If your baby is delivered by caesarean, you should still be able to have skin-to-skin contact with your baby straight after delivery. The fluid your breasts produce in the first few days after birth is called colostrum. It's thick and usually a golden yellow colour. It's a very concentrated food, so your baby will only need a small amount, about a teaspoonful, at each feed.

Your baby may want to feed quite often, perhaps every hour to begin with. They'll begin to have fewer, but longer feeds once your breasts start to produce more "mature" milk after a few days. The more you breastfeed, the more your baby's sucking will stimulate your supply and the more milk you'll make. Your baby's sucking causes muscles in your breasts to squeeze milk towards your nipples. This is called the let-down reflex.

You'll see your baby respond when your milk lets down. Their quick sucks will change to deep rhythmic swallows as the milk begins to flow. Babies often pause after the initial quick sucks while they wait for more milk to be delivered. Typically, the stools are loose and change from black to brown to mustard-yellow in color in the first five days. Breastfed babies vary in stool patterns, but by their third day of life, they will usually have at least 2 to 3 stools in a 24 hour period.

At five days old, most breastfed babies have at least four yellow, seedy stools per day. Older babies vary. Some have a bowel movement every day, while other babies have bowel movements every few days.

After your milk increases, the urine will soak the diaper. Your baby's urine is pale in color. You can hear your baby swallowing the milk. Your baby is calm and relaxed after eating. Your baby is gaining weight. Many babies may lose up to 7 to 10 percent of their birth weight during their first days of life.

Babies are born with fat reserves and usually regain the weight by two weeks of age. Frequent around-the-clock feedings will help prevent a major drop in weight. Your breasts feel softer after feeding. When a Baby is Unable to Breastfeed Occasionally, there may be times where your baby is not able to breastfeed for a while. Breastfeeding Twins or Triplets Caring for more than one baby is a challenge that requires a lot of time, energy and patience.

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