Newborn Feeding: A Guide for New Parents – Part 1

Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA.

How Often Should I Feed my Newborn?

Ideally, breastfeeding should begin within the first hour of a newborn’s life. Placing your newborn in direct skin-to-skin contact, with the baby lying on your bare chest, is highly beneficial. This practice not only aids in initiating breastfeeding but also helps your baby regulate their body temperature and naturally seek your breast. 

Typically, if there are no significant medical interventions, newborns breastfeed at least eight to 12 times within the first 24 hours. Without supplemental feeding, this frequency usually results in approximately three urinations and three to four bowel movements. However, these numbers can vary. The presence of one to two wet diapers and stools during this period is generally a positive indicator of effective breastfeeding.

Understanding Colostrum

During the initial feedings, your baby will consume small amounts of colostrum, often referred to as “first milk”. This thick, yellowish or orangish substance, ranging from a few drops to about 5ml per feeding, is vital for initiating your baby’s digestive system. Colostrum is rich in antibodies and immune-boosting components, providing essential protection against various diseases.

This small amount of colostrum is beneficial, as it allows your baby to coordinate swallowing, breathing, and suckling. As your baby becomes more efficient at breastfeeding, they stimulate your body to produce more colostrum.

Colostrum plays a crucial role in clearing the baby’s digestive tract of meconium and aiding in the elimination of excess bilirubin, which is associated with jaundice. Therefore, colostrum serves as a significant preventive measure against jaundice. Its high concentration of nutrients and ease of digestion also prepare your baby’s digestive system for mature milk and stabilize glucose levels, preventing hypoglycaemia.

The Initial Feedings

These initial feedings are essential for triggering the second stage of lactogenesis, leading to milk production. Over the following days to weeks, the colostrum will gradually transition to mature milk, indicated by a change in colour from yellow or orange to a whiter or whitish-blue hue.

From the second day after birth, aim to breastfeed your baby about 8 to 12 times within a 24-hour period, including feedings at both daytime and nighttime. This frequent nursing is crucial for:

• Stimulating Milk Production: Regular nursing in these early days is key to establishing a robust milk supply.

• Baby’s Weight Gain: Frequent feedings help your baby regain the weight naturally lost after birth.

• Preventing and Treating Jaundice: Nursing often can also protect against jaundice.

This recommendation to nurse 8 to 12 times in 24 hours is supported by extensive research and endorsed by major health organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and organizations in the UK.

For an effective routine, consider nursing your baby every one and a half to two hours during the day and at least every three hours at night. This schedule helps establish your milk supply and ensures that your baby receives adequate nourishment for healthy weight gain. With frequent and effective nursing in the first week, milk production can increase significantly.

By maintaining this pattern of frequent nursing during the initial days, you establish a solid foundation for successful breastfeeding.

Should I put my baby on a schedule?

It is generally advised against placing exclusively breastfed newborns on a strict feeding schedule, particularly in the first six weeks. Scheduling feedings during this period has been linked to slower weight gain and can lead to early weaning. Scheduled feedings can reduce milk production, causing engorgement and signalling the body to decrease milk supply, which may necessitate supplementation.

Newborns are often sleepy in the first 24 to 48 hours after birth. While waking babies frequently for feedings was once common, recent research suggests this may contribute to greater weight loss, especially after interventions like IV fluids during labour. If your baby remains excessively sleepy beyond 48 hours, wake them for feedings and consult a healthcare provider.

Will feeding on demand and carrying my baby too much spoil them? 

No. To understand when your baby is hungry, observe their hunger cues. Early signs include fluttering eyelids, mouth movements, and bringing hands to the mouth. As hunger increases, cues become more obvious, like whimpering or crying. Responding to early cues facilitates easier feeding.

In the first week, the baby’s stomach capacity increases, requiring more milk. Initially, the stomach holds about 30 to 60ml per feeding. By the fourth day, they may need 295 to 590ml of milk per day. Due to the rapid digestion of breast milk, babies may feel hungry soon after feeding.

Observe and respond to your baby’s hunger cues rather than adhering to a rigid schedule to ensure adequate feeding and weight gain.

After the First Week

In the initial weeks, breastfeed your baby whenever they show signs of hunger. As they grow, their nutritional needs increase. During the first month to six weeks, your body establishes full milk production. Milk consumption increases most significantly in the first three weeks. Respond to hunger signals to boost milk production.

Babies commonly experience periods of increased nursing frequency, often referred to as “growth spurts” or “wonder weeks”. This increased frequency stimulates milk production and soothes the baby.

By two to three weeks, babies typically consume 60 to 90ml of milk per feeding, totalling 445 to 740ml daily. After three weeks, the rate of milk consumption may slow slightly, but overall intake continues to increase.

Towards the end of the first month, babies typically consume 570 to 900ml daily, including nighttime feedings. Many babies nurse most frequently between 9.00 pm to 3.00 am, consuming about 20% of their daily caloric needs during these hours. Between one and six months, babies typically consume 90 to 150ml per feeding, varying by time of day.

How often should I feed after my milk supply is established?

Once your milk supply is established, breastfeeding frequency varies. Some mothers with larger milk storage capacities may feed less often. On average, exclusively breastfed infants nurse about eight times a day, ranging from four to 13 sessions. As babies grow and become more efficient, feeding frequency may decrease. Let your baby guide you, as nursing fulfils physical and emotional needs.

Adapted from article written by Joanna Goy, 

Founder, Singapore Lactation Bakes

Read original article here: https://slb.sg/how-often-should-i-feed-my-newborn/