For Parents

• Get an early start: Nursing should begin within an hour after delivery if possible, when the infant is awake and the sucking instinct is strong. Even though the mother won’t be producing milk yet, her breasts contain colostrum, a thin fluid that contains antibodies to disease.

• Proper positioning: The baby’s mouth should be wide open, with the nipple as far back into his or her mouth as possible. This minimizes soreness for the mother. A nurse, midwife, or other knowledgeable person can help her find a comfortable nursing position.  

• Nurse on demand: Newborns need to nurse frequently, about every two hours, and not on any strict schedule. This will stimulate the mother’s breasts to produce plenty of milk. Later, the baby can settle into a more predictable routine. But because breast milk is more easily digested than formula, breast-fed babies often eat more frequently than bottle-fed babies. 

• No supplements: Nursing babies don’t need sugar water or formula supplements. These may interfere with their appetite for nursing, and that can lead to a diminished milk supply. The more the baby nurses, the more milk the mother will produce. 

• Delay artificial nipples: It’s best to wait a week or two before introducing a pacifier, so that the baby doesn’t get confused. Artificial nipples require a different sucking action than real ones. Sucking at a bottle could also confuse some babies in the early days. They, too, are learning how to breast-feed. 

• Air dry: In the early postpartum period or until her nipples toughen, the mother should air dry them after each nursing to prevent them from cracking, which can lead to infection. If her nipples do crack, the mother can coat them with breast milk or other natural moisturizers to help them heal. Vitamin E oil and lanolin are commonly used, although some babies may have allergic reactions to them. Proper positioning at the breast can help prevent sore nipples. If the mother’s very sore, the baby may not have the nipple far enough back in his or her mouth. 

• Watch for infection: Symptoms of breast infection include fever and painful lumps and redness in the breast. These require immediate medical attention. 

• Expect engorgement: A new mother usually produces lots of milk, making her breasts big, hard and painful for a few days. To relieve this engorgement, she should feed the baby frequently and on demand until her body adjusts and produces only what the baby needs. In the meantime, the mother can take over-the-counter pain relievers, apply warm, wet compresses to her breasts, and take warm baths to relieve the pain. 

• Eat right, get rest: To produce plenty of good milk, the nursing mother needs a balanced diet that includes 500 extra calories a day and six to eight glasses of fluid. She should also rest as much as possible to prevent breast infections, which are aggravated by fatigue.

Nutrition is important throughout life. During critical growth periods getting the optimal amount of nutrients is even more important for your baby’s growth and health. Babies grow very rapidly and are developing oral and motor skills. It is crucial to feed your baby based on the development of his or her feeding skills. 

No two babies are alike
Babies eat a lot sometimes like right before a growth spurt
Some days babies don’t eat as much
Your baby knows how much to eat
As your baby grows she will eat more
Your baby will let you know when he is hungry

Babies know when they are hungry or full. Feed your baby every time he or she is hungry. Learn your baby’s feeding cues. During the first few months your baby should only have breastmilk or formula and should eat 8 to 12 times each day. Your baby needs about 55 calories for each pound of body weight. This means that if your baby is 8 pounds he needs about 440 calories (about 22 ounces of expressed breastmilk or formula) each day. If your baby eats 10 times each day this means that he will eat a little over 2 ounces at each feeding. 

Babies don’t always eat the same amount so sometimes she will eat more than 2 ounces and sometimes she will eat less. Remember to watch your baby’s feeding cues. 

In the Table below are some guidelines. These are not hard and fast rules because every baby is different.

*Based on feeding about every 2 to 2 ½ hours or 10 times each day.

References

1. Heird, WC. Nutritional Requirements During Infancy Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. Ninth Edition 1999. Willimas and Wilkins. pages 839-855.
2. Morin, KH. Update on what and how much infants and toddlers eat. AM J Matern Child Nurs 2006;31(4):269.

© Dr. Jimi Francis for Handi-craft Company, 2008.