Signs that Baby is Getting Enough Milk
First, to ensure a good milk supply:
feed frequently, never limit feeding times, make sure baby is latched on well,
and that you hear swallowing as he suckles. Have lots of skin-to-skin contact
for mom and baby. Avoid supplemental bottles or pacifiers for the first three
to four weeks.
Diaper Counts
In the first five days, expect to see
at least 1 wet or dirty diaper per day old. For example, a three day old
baby would have at least three dirty diapers, as a minimum. Some babies may
have much more, depending on how much meconium they
eliminate in those early days.
After day 5, you should see a total
of 8 – 10 diapers a day, and at least three of those should include stool /
poop. (Newborns may have a bowel movement with every feeding.)
Urine should be clear to pale yellow.
Bowel movements are yellowish and loose: may be the consistency of mustard, may
look seedy, may contain white curds, like cottage
cheese. By 3 months, babies have larger b.m.’s
less often, and may go several days between.
Weight Gain
In the final weeks of pregnancy,
babies stock up on extra fluids to ease their passage through the birth canal,
and to help them through the first few days.
It is normal and expected for
newborns to lose 5 – 7% of their body weight in the first few days as they shed
this extra fluid. If they lose more than 7%, the baby’s doctor may want to
monitor breastfeeding more closely. It generally isn’t necessary to supplement
the breastfeeding.
Babies should regain birth weight by
the end of two weeks, then gain consistently from then
on.
When to Be Concerned
If baby is gaining weight, developing
well, and is peeing and pooping as described above, you can be reassured that
all is well.
However, in the rare circumstance where
you see any of these signs, you should contact baby’s doctor: less than 6
diapers a day, less than one bowel movement a day (after day 5), dark yellow
urine, urine with a reddish “dust” in it, a sunken fontanel, a dry mouth, or
jaundice – a yellow tinge to skin below the chest line, or yellowness in the
“whites” of baby’s eyes. Or if baby seldom seems to be content after feedings,
is lethargic, or uninterested in feeding.
Growth Spurts and Nursing Strikes
Expect your baby to have growth
spurts at around 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. At these times, he
will be unusually fussy, and will nurse longer and more frequently than usual.
Increase the length and frequency of feedings. This will only last a few days.
Nursing strikes: Sometimes babies
will go through periods of not wanting to nurse as often as you’re used to.
Possible causes are teething pain, overstimulation,
reaction to a change in the routine, flavor differences in the breastmilk, or
normal developmental stages. This will typically only last for a short while,
and need not be interpreted as a sign that baby is ready to wean.
c. 2004, Janelle Durham