Your breasts are already making the perfect first food when your baby is born. It is the early milk called colostrum. Still, most new moms are anxious to start producing mature milk. They often ask me what helps breast milk come in.

You can definitely do things in those early days after birth that can help your milk come in faster. There are also things you want to avoid, if possible, that could make it take longer.

Your breasts start making colostrum around the 16th week of pregnancy. You may even begin leaking some in your third trimester.

While producing colostrum is reassuring, it is not a predictor of a mom’s milk supply. Leaking colostrum also is not an indicator of how quickly your milk will come in after your baby is born.

Your body will start making the transition from producing colostrum to making mature milk, typically between 48 and 72 hours after birth.

Colostrum is high in protein, fats, and antibodies. It can be yellow or even clear. It tends to be thick and sticky. Colostrum has a laxative effect that helps your baby pass the meconium that is in their bowels at birth. It also helps establish good bacteria in their gut. It’s called liquid gold because it gives your baby’s immune system a giant boost.

As your breasts start making more milk, there is a period of about two weeks when you make transitional milk. It has more calories than colostrum and is produced in greater volumes. It is often a deep yellow color and may have a slightly thicker consistency than mature milk. Think half and half.

By two weeks, your milk is considered mature and will often look white but may change colors depending on the time of day or when you pump. Other things can affect the color of your milk also.

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The main thing that tells your body it is time to switch from making colostrum to transitional and mature milk is the shift in hormones that occurs when your placenta is delivered. Estrogen and progesterone levels decrease dramatically, and prolactin levels increase.

These fluctuations in hormone levels cause the milk to come in. That is why a woman who never breastfeeds will still make milk initially. 

What happens to your breasts after birth will affect how quickly you shift from making colostrum to transitional and then mature milk, as well as how much milk you produce.

It is actually relatively easy for a nursing mom to help with this process. Breastfeeding early and often are two key things that will get your milk flowing. 

Start by doing skin to skin right after your baby is born. It helps your baby adjust to his new environment outside of the womb.

He won’t want to breastfeed immediately after birth. You will want to watch for his cues that tell you he is ready to breastfeed. We call those feeding or hunger cues. When he shows those cues, he may self-attach to your breast if he is in a good position. Or, you can reposition him and help him onto the breast

Feed your baby whenever you see those early feeding cues. 

Continue doing skin to skin. It helps stimulate the hormones that make milk.

 

Skin-to-skin contact with your new baby is the best thing you can do right after birth. It is so important that it is one of the Ten Steps To Successful Breastfeeding in the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.

Research has also shown that it helps a mom produce more milk which indicates that it stimulates prolactin (Source).

Skin to skin is also associated with increased oxytocin levels (Source). 

A good latch does three things.

• It helps ensure that breastfeeding is comfortable for you.
• Your baby will get more colostrum/milk out when he is properly latched.
• A good latch provides optimum stimulation of the milk-making and milk-giving hormones prolactin and oxytocin.

There is often a period in the early days when breastfeeding may cause some nipple tenderness for many moms. It should not be toe-curling pain. 

• Any discomfort should only happen when you first latch your baby.
• Discomfort should only last 2-30 seconds.
• It should not be intense discomfort.
• Sucking should feel like a tugging sensation. It should not feel like it is pinching.
• Your nipple should be round when your baby comes off your breast. It is not normal for it to be flattened, creased, or lipstick-shaped.

If you are experiencing discomfort that is more than what I described, or even if you are wondering if what you are feeling is within the range of what is expected, then I encourage you to talk to a lactation consultant.

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This is probably the easiest way to get your milk to come. How much your baby feeds tells your body how much milk it should make.

If you have a baby who is showing feeding cues at least every three hours, you should nurse on demand. If your baby is sleepy, you may need to encourage more frequent feeding. 

When you are in the hospital, you should keep your baby in your room all of the time. The exception would be if you are under the influence of pain medication that results in you being unable to respond to your baby, and you have no one to stay with you and help.

When you go home, you want to keep your baby close by most of the time so you can respond to his signs of hunger. If a baby gets to the point where he is crying from hunger, he has reached a state where he is disorganized and will have a difficult time latching. He may not feed as well if crying has tired him out.

Staying hydrated is essential for making enough milk. 

One of my favorite tips for moms is always to have a water bottle next to them. Easy access will make it more convenient to drink plenty of water. 

Because your arms will often be full with your baby, you will want to place water bottles all over the house. Make this part of your daily routine. Prepare them the first thing in the morning. Put them in the places where you breastfeed. 

The Hydracy Water Bottle makes it super easy to see how much you are drinking as the day goes on.

If you are not a fan of drinking plain water, you can add lemon or cucumber, or fruit to it. Adding an electrolyte solution is another way to make drinking water more enticing.

I put Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier in my water. It has made a huge difference in helping me drink more.

Certain foods have a reputation for supporting a good milk supply.

• Oatmeal
• Barley
• Fennel

If you are craving a sweet treat, lactation cookies can satisfy that craving and may help your milk supply. You can buy them pre-made or make your own to minimize sugar.

The Milkmakers Lactation Cookie Bites are very popular with moms. They have over 21,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5 out of 5 star rating.

Counting diapers is a good way to know that your baby is getting enough to eat in the early days of breastfeeding.

For the first three days, your baby should have as many wet diapers as days old she is and at least one bowel movement each day until the milk comes in.

If your milk is not in by the third day, your little one should have a wet diaper every eight hours until the milk comes in. A baby who is not having an adequate number of diapers needs to be supplemented.

When your milk volume increases, the number of diapers will increase also.

 

If you have no signs of your milk coming in by the fourth day, you should add some pumping sessions into your feeding routine and contact a lactation consultant.

The milk is said to be delayed if it is not in by the fifth day.

If your baby is of average size and eating frequently, you don’t need to pump unless you have a risk factor for a low milk supply.

However, there are situations when doing hand expression and using a breast pump will help your milk come in and encourage an abundant milk supply.

• Premature baby – start pumping as soon as possible. Research shows your first pumping session should be within one hour of birth (Source).
• A sleepy baby who is not eating frequently enough or long enough.
• Your baby is small. Little babies sometimes stimulate little milk supplies. I advise moms to pump 4-6 times a day right after breastfeeding if their baby weighs less than 6 # 8 ounces.
• History of low milk supply with a previous child
• Delay in baby starting to breastfeed. If your baby is healthy and average weight but hasn’t started breastfeeding by 12 hours, it is a good idea to start pumping every 2-3 hours until your baby is feeding regularly. 

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Moms who combine hand expression with pumping produce more milk (Source). Doing hand expression in addition to breastfeeding or pumping may encourage your milk to come in.

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Once your milk does come in, take steps to minimize engorgement. Breasts that get hard with no relief every few hours can put your milk supply in jeopardy.

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• 1st 24 hours – about 1 ounce (30 ml). Baby will get 1/2 teaspoon to 2 teaspoons at each feeding
• 2nd 24 hours – 1 teaspoon to 1/2 ounce
• 3rd 24 hours – 1/2 – 1 ounce

A mom’s milk usually comes in between 48 to 72 hours. Her milk production will rapidly increase over the next few days. By the end of the first week, most moms are producing about 10 to 20 ounces each day. 

Your baby may not need as much as you are producing at first. Over the next couple of weeks, the amount of milk you make will adjust to what your baby needs.

It’s common for new moms to worry they aren’t making enough in those first few days. But the small amount of colostrum is the perfect amount for your baby’s tiny tummy. 

Babies nurse frequently in the days before your milk comes in. This can make a mom worry that her baby wants to eat so often because he is not getting full.

Breastfeeding is more than just a way for babies to get food. It provides comfort and helps a baby feel safe as they adapt to their new environment.

Another common reason moms think they don’t have enough milk is they may not see a lot if they are pumping in the first few days.

When a mom pumps during the colostrum phase, she may only see a few drops. Babies tend to be more efficient at getting milk out than pumps, especially colostrum, which is thick and sticky.

Comparing your baby’s feeding behavior to an older baby who goes longer between feeds is bound to cause anxiety.

These signs are reassuring that your baby is getting what she needs from breastfeeding before your milk comes in:

• Baby is eating at least eight times every 24-hours.
• You can hear or see your baby swallowing at least every 4-5 sucks.
• Your baby is having the minimum number of wet and dirty diapers.
• Your baby’s mouth is moist.
• Her temperature is normal.

Breast milk supply generally works on a supply and demand basis. The more stimulation your breasts get, the more milk they will make. While there are certainly exceptions to this, it is usually true.

Anything that decreases the amount of time your baby spends at the breast can result in a reduced supply.

Unless medically indicated, you should not give your baby formula. Formula takes longer for a baby to digest, and not only will you miss that feeding, but it will take longer for your baby to want to feed again. 

Some moms worry when their little one wants to eat very frequently, it is a sign that they are not getting enough from breastfeeding. Frequent feeding is normal, healthy behavior in the days before your milk comes in. We like to say your baby is putting in her order.

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When you breastfeed, let your baby decide how long a nursing session should last. If he is sucking vigorously, don’t take him off.

He does not need to spend an equal amount of time on both breasts. Offer the second side when he is finished with the first side. If he has fallen asleep, you can try changing his diaper.

It’s okay if he doesn’t want the second side, but it’s good to offer it in the early days. Sometimes, a baby will seem sleepy, but they perk up and latch on when they are put next to the breast.

If there is a medical indication to supplement, you should use a breast pump any time your baby is supplemented.

You also should avoid pacifiers. If your baby wants to suck, you should let her breastfeed. The more stimulation your breasts get, the sooner your milk will come in.

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Your breasts need a lot of stimulation in the early days. Most babies do an excellent job of encouraging breast milk production by wanting to nurse very, very often.

It is something to be happy about if you feel like your baby wants to be on your breast all the time.

You will avoid supply problems by keeping your baby close by and feeding whenever you see feeding cues. 

Most breastfeeding moms do not need to take any special supplements in order to make enough milk.

You can be confident that your body and your baby will do what is going to help your milk come in. With these tips, you can encourage it. The good news is that the things that help your milk come in are the same things that support a good milk supply.

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The first few days after a baby is born is a whirlwind. Moms are expected to learn all sorts of new things when they are running on little sleep and high levels of adrenaline. Establishing breastfeeding will be a priority.

If you give birth in a hospital, you will be asked how often your baby is breastfeeding. The nurses will want to know how long the feedings last. Is he swallowing?

If you are there long enough they will ask if your milk is coming in.

There will be questions about how many diapers and what’s in them.

It’s enough to make any new mom feel like she’s taking a test that she doesn’t want to fail.

Take a deep breath and focus on these things that will help you with establishing breastfeeding.

I tell moms that breastfeeding is established when the following criteria are met:

• Baby is back to birth weight.
• Baby is solely breastfeeding and gaining an average of one ounce a day.
• Mom is maintaining her supply by breastfeeding only.
• Mom has no nipple pain or trauma.
• Engorgement has resolved.
• Mom is breastfeeding without thinking about the details.

I want to elaborate on that last one.

In the very early days of breastfeeding, you are thinking about every little thing.

Is my baby hungry? Is my baby swallowing? Am I having any pain? Is my baby having enough diapers? Are my breasts sore from engorgement? Am I holding my baby the right way for a pain-free latch?

Then one day, you are just doing it. You don’t think about it. You just do it.

In this post, I will take you from, “I haven’t got a clue” to “I’ve got this!”

Let’s get started!

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Moms sometimes make the breastfeeding mistake of thinking they should only do skin to skin right after birth.

But you should do lots of skin-to-skin in those early days. You can’t do too much of it. But it is important to know how to do skin to skin safely.

Skin to skin is so valuable for so many reasons (Source).

• Helps baby stabilize their body temperature
• Helps a cold baby get warm
• Stabilizes heart rate and breathing
• Helps regulate blood sugar
• Babies cry less
• Provides pain relief
  • Do skin to skin if your baby needs a heel stick for a blood test
• Increased weight gain for premies

Skin to skin is also valuable for breastfeeding.

• Encourages baby to start breastfeeding
• Babies breastfeed sooner
• Babies exclusively breastfeed for longer (Source)
• Babies breastfeed more frequently
• More babies exclusively breastfeed (Source).

Sometimes it is not possible to do skin to skin right after birth because the baby or mom requires medical attention. That’s okay. Do skin to skin as soon as you can.

Do skin to skin:

• As soon as you can
• As long as you can
• As frequently as you can

Skin to skin will help your baby start breastfeeding. Rooming-in round the clock will help with breastfeeding frequently.

Frequent breastfeeding helps in establishing breastfeeding because of these many advantages:

• Your milk comes in sooner.
• Baby will lose less weight
• Baby will have fewer problems with jaundice.

Your baby will tell you when he wants to eat by showing feeding cues. Learn them and watch for them. Feed your baby whenever you see her feeding cues.

Another common breastfeeding mistake is to send the baby to the nursery. It’s better to room in all the time. The exception would be if you were going to take a shower and no family member or friend is there to watch her. In that case it is fine to have the nurses watch her for that short period of time.

Keeping your baby in your room all the time helps you to learn her feeding cues.

Babies are easier to latch when they are offered the breast when they first start showing signs of hunger.

If a baby is not offered the breast when she is showing early feeding cues, two things can happen.

• She may fall back to sleep and not be interested in eating again for a few hours.
  • Remember, more frequent feeding results in the milk coming in sooner, less weight loss, and fewer problems with jaundice.
• She may start crying. Crying is a late sign of hunger, and babies are harder to latch when they are crying.

How To Tell When Your Baby Is Hungry

You don’t want to make the breastfeeding mistake of waiting until your baby is crying to feed him. While crying is a sign of hunger, it is considered a late sign. Your baby will be easier to latch if you offer your breast when you see early signs. of hunger.

Your baby is hungry when you see him do these things.

How To Tell When Your Baby Is Full

Just as important as learning how to tell your baby is hungry is learning how to tell your baby is full.

When your baby first starts feeding, he will have his hands clenched by his face. As his tummy gets full, he will unclench his hands, and his arm will become relaxed.

COLOSTRUM – BABY’S FIRST MILK

Moms know that it takes a few days for their milk to come in. Many new moms worry that their baby will have nothing to eat before that happens.

A mom might make the breastfeeding mistake of supplementing with formula before her milk comes in because she thinks her baby isn’t getting anything when breastfeeding.

Don’t worry. Mother nature has provided well for your baby.

During pregnancy, your breasts start making a special milk called colostrum. It is full of antibodies. It has a lot of protein and carbohydrates and is low in fat.

Your colostrum is exactly what your baby needs in the first days of life in exactly the right amount.

Colostrum is made in tiny amounts because your baby’s tummy is tiny. It is about the size of a cherry when your baby is born. It will stretch in the first few days and be able to hold more each day.

If your baby needs to be supplemented with formula for a medical indication the health care team should explain what the problem is and why formula is needed.

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The answer to this question will change often in the first few days.

Another breastfeeding mistake is thinking a newborn baby should eat eight times a day. They may not eat that frequently the first day. And they almost always eat much more frequently for a few days before your milk comes in.

In the first 24 hours, a baby may eat only a few times. It’s possible he may not eat at all. On the other hand, he may want to eat every couple of hours.

In the second 24 hours, a baby should be eating a minimum of eight times.

Because cluster feeding is common during a baby’s second night, there may be more than eight feedings. Many more. That is fine.

In the first 6-8 weeks, most babies will need to eat at least 8-10 times in 24 hours to gain an average amount of weight.

• This will be every two to three hours.
  • The frequency of feeding is measured from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next feeding.
• Periods of cluster feeding are normal.
• One four hour stretch between feedings is okay.

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Yet another breastfeeding mistake is thinking a baby is eating for too long or not long enough.

The length of feedings is another thing that can vary a lot in the early days. A baby may feed for only a few minutes or a feeding can last an hour. If a baby breastfeeds for less than ten minutes, it shouldn’t be counted as a full feeding.

An average feeding is about 30-40 minutes of active feeding. Active feeding is when the baby is sucking vigorously and swallowing at least every 2-3 sucks. A baby can be on the breast and comfort sucking, but not really eating.

Comfort sucking is fine but should not be counted feeding.

If most feedings are taking longer than one hour you should have a visit with a lactation consultant. She may be able to help you make feedings more efficient. She can also determine if there is a problem that is causing feedings to be so long.

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This is a top concern for a new breastfeeding mom. You want to know that your baby is getting enough to eat from breastfeeding. The main answer to this question will come from your baby’s diapers and the scale.

In the first 2-4 days before your milk comes in, you will look for signs that your baby is staying well hydrated. Her mouth should be moist. A baby with a mouth that feels dry and sticky may be dehydrated. Don’t check your baby’s mouth for moistness after he has been crying because it will almost certainly feel dry.

This is something that will change every day for almost the first week. The number of both poops and pees are important.

Another potential breastfeeding mistake is thinking it is okay for your breastfed baby to not have lots of dirty diapers.

Once your milk is in your, your baby should have at least six wet diapers and four dirty diapers of moderate quantity. These are considered reassuring signs that your baby is getting enough to eat.

A bowel movement needs to be the size of a quarter (25¢) to count. Anything smaller than that doesn’t go toward the daily total.

It is normal for a baby to lose weight in the first few days after birth. This is true whether they are breastfed or formula-fed.

• Up to 10% of weight loss is considered normal.
• Once your milk comes in, your baby should start gaining an ounce a day.
• A breastfed baby needs to be seen for a weight check within 48 hours of leaving the hospital or at 3-5 days of age.
• A baby should be back to birth weight by two weeks of age.

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These are two things that are critical to your baby getting enough milk and your comfort.

Using the correct latching technique is key to breastfeeding going well.

Watch this video for a demo of how to properly position and latch baby for breastfeeding.

Important things to remember are:

• Support baby’s neck and shoulders
  • Keep your hand off the back of baby’s head
• Tummy to tummy
• Nose to nipple
• Wait for a wide root
• Quickly bring the baby to the breast.
  • Do not move your breast to the baby.

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For the vast majority of women, milk supply is going to depend on supply and demand. The more you tell your body to make milk by breastfeeding and/or pumping, the more milk you will make.

I often get asked by moms if they should pump to help the milk come in faster. Most moms should focus on breastfeeding in the early weeks. This will allow your baby to tell your breasts how much milk to make.

Pumping when you have a baby who is breastfeeding an average amount can result in an oversupply of breast milk. Too much milk can cause problems.

 There are times when a baby may not stimulate a good milk supply. In these cases, a mom should pump in addition to breastfeeding.

• Baby born before 38 weeks
• Baby weighs less than 6 ½ pounds
• Baby is not eating at least eight times a day

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A mom’s milk comes in between 48 to 72 hours after giving birth.

It can come in after that but we say that it is delayed.

If you are 72 hours past the birth and do not feel like your milk is coming in you should start pumping after feedings and call a lactation consultant.

In the first few weeks, most moms feel like they are making more milk than their baby needs. This usually gets better by the end of the third week.

Your milk supply is usually established by eight weeks. Before that, you should not miss any feedings. That means if your baby gets a bottle instead of you breastfeeding, then you should pump. This is true even if the bottle is your pumped milk.

Once your supply is established, many moms will say they don’t feel as full. That is normal. As long as your baby is gaining enough weight, you are making enough milk.

When your milk comes in, there will probably be a moment when you look in the mirror and say, “Whose breasts are those because mine have never looked like this before?”

Most women experience some degree of breast swelling when their milk comes in. This is called breast engorgement — the tissue around the milk-producing glands swell.

The most important thing to remember is to keep the milk moving. Breastfeed frequently when your breasts are engorged. If your baby does not nurse enough to soften your breasts, then you should pump.

It is a breastfeeding mistake to worry that pumping will make engorgement worse by creating an oversupply. If your breasts get and stay hard this can damage the milk producing cells and result in a decreased milk supply.

If you are careful about pumping for engorgement it should not cause an oversupply.

• You don’t need to pump if your baby can soften your breasts with breastfeeding.
• Pump only if you get milk out
• Pump only until your breasts are softer
  • Pumping frequently until your breasts are empty can cause an oversupply problem

Ice packs or chilled green cabbage leaves can help decrease swelling (Source).

Ice packs can be left on for up to twenty minutes. There should be at least a twenty-minute break before reapplying.

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HOW TO USE CABBAGE FOR BREAST ENGORGEMENT

I am not sure who the first person was that suggested cabbage for engorgement. But it does work to decrease swelling.

• Use green cabbage
• Chill the leaves
  • Make the treatment more effective
  • Cold leaves are soothing to the inflamed breast.
• Rinse the leaves thoroughly to minimize the risk of bacteria that is occasionally found on fresh produce.
• Crush the leaves to makes them easier to mold to the breast.
• Wear a bra or tank top to hold them in place.
• Cover the breast with the leaves.
• Leave the nipple exposed.
• Leave them on until they wilt, usually 20-30 minutes.
• Can reapply fresh leaves for up to one hour of continuous application.
  • More extended periods of continuous use have resulted in decreased milk supply for some moms.
• Take a break for at least a couple of hours before reapplying.

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Essential Steps to Have a Good Milk Supply

I like to say in the first week it is like you get a new baby every 12-24 hours because they change so much.

After the first week, most moms and babies start to settle into a breastfeeding routine.

To encourage your baby to sleep at night, do not let her sleep longer than two to three hours during the day.

Most babies will have their days and nights mixed up in the early weeks of breastfeeding. This tends to get better after three weeks.

Early sleep training can be a major breastfeeding mistake. The milk-making hormone, Prolactin is highest during the nighttime hours. Regular stimulation in the early months is important for a good milk supply.

Babies go through a growth spurt at three weeks. They will all of a sudden want to eat very frequently. Moms often worry that they are losing their milk. The frequent feeding is normal and lasts for 24-48 hours.

In the first week, your priorities should be:

• Feed your baby
• Feed yourself
• Rest as much as possible
• Limit visitors

I know your friends and family are going to want to see the baby. But a baby who is being held by someone other than mom or dad often will not show feeding cues. They get overstimulated and check out by sleeping through all the visitors. This can be counterproductive to getting breastfeeding established.

After the first week wearing your baby will allow you to keep her close while you get things done. My baby wrap was my favorite baby accessory when my kids were first born. It is something that I highly recommend to new moms.

The Baby K’Taan is a super easy to use baby wrap.

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Sore nipples are a very common complaint in the early days of breastfeeding. It is usually the worst between the second and fourth day after you start breastfeeding.

Gel pads were one of the best things invented. I have recommended Ameda ComfortGel for over twenty years. Have a couple of pairs so that you can wear one pair and put one pair in the fridge. That way, you will always have a cold pair ready.

A breastfeeding mistake moms can make is thinking that breastfeeding pain is normal, and even nipple damage is normal and they just have to tough it out.

I have seen some mamas with badly damaged nipples. When I asked them why they waited so long to get help they say they thought it was normal. It’s important to know what is normal and what you should call for help about.

Nipple pain is considered “okay” if the following things are true:

• Pain is with initial latch
• Goes away after 30 seconds
• The is no trauma (cracks, bruises, bleeding, blisters)
• Is much better by the end of the first week
• Is entirely gone by the end of the second week

If the pain is severe or there is trauma, then you should call a lactation consultant ASAP for a consult. If you do not have a lactation consultant nearby, you can have an online consult.

I want to emphasize that nipple damage is never normal.

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If you are struggling with any aspect of breastfeeding, contact a lactation consultant ASAP. Most problems are much easier to resolve when they first start to occur.

Breastfeeding will be a journey. There will be ups and downs. But the first few weeks is usually the most intense.

Following these tips will help you feel confident sooner. Before you know it, you will be “just doing it” and not thinking about the details.

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Most moms don’t expect to have a cesarean. However, many women have a good chance of needing these tips for breastfeeding after c section. The cesarean rate in the US is 32% (Source). That means that almost one in three moms will birth her baby surgically.

My first baby was born by c section. I can tell you first-hand that recovering from cesarean and breastfeeding presents unique challenges.

I have also had the privilege of helping thousands of moms address the concerns that come with nursing after a c section. Keep reading for the information and tips you need to rock breastfeeding after cesarean.

Some moms know they are going to give birth by cesarean section. However, most c sections are unexpected.

These tips will help both the mom who is having a planned cesarean and the mom who is caught by surprise be successful breastfeeding after c section.

Read on so you won’t be caught off guard by an unexpected turn in your birth plans.

The mom who is having a planned c section and will be breastfeeding has time to prepare while she is still pregnant.

If you know you are having a cesaean head of time, make a checklist of all the things you need to be ready.

A mom who is recovering from birth, and simultaneously recovering from surgery, and taking care of her newborn will need some extra help.

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Warning: When you read about how having a cesarean can affect breastfeeding, you may feel discouraged. However, forewarned is forearmed.

• Fewer women who have had a scheduled repeat c section breastfeed (Source).
• Moms who have a cesarean do not breastfeed as long (Source).
• These mamas experience more breastfeeding difficulties (Source).
• The first breastfeeding is delayed (Source).
• C-section mom’s milk takes longer to come in (Source).
• Cesarean born babies lose more weight (Source).

Knowing what common breastfeeding difficulties are will help moms prepare. That will help them meet their breastfeeding goals.

The good news is that help is available if you have challenges with breastfeeding. If it does take a bit of time to get breastfeeding going, patience and persistence will be your best friends.

Take a Tour of the Hospital

• Can you room-in with your baby right away?
• Can you have a support person stay overnight with you?
• Are there lactation consultants available to help you?
  • What days and times are they available?
• Do moms who deliver by cesarean get any extra breastfeeding support?

Skin-to-Skin Contact After Cesarean Delivery

Skin-to-skin contact has tremendous benefits for both mothers and their babies (Source). It is something that should be experienced by all new moms and babies.

Having a cesarean may mean a delay in this important practice. Even if you are not able to do skin-to-skin right away, be sure to do it as soon as possible.

Continue to cuddle with your baby skin-to-skin throughout the early days.

Skin-to-skin is becoming a standard practice at an increasing number of hospitals.

• Find out if you can have skin-to-skin contact with your baby in the operating room.
• If skin-to-skin in the OR is not routine, ask that an exception be made for you.
• Call other hospitals to find out if they do it.
• They may be able to provide you with references to support your request.

Breastfeeding after surgery will look a little different than after a vaginal birth.

• You will be recovering from surgery.
• You will be recovering from anesthesia.
• You will be learning how to take care of your baby.
• You will be learning how to breastfeed.
• You will be doing all of these things at the same time!

Having a c section often means a delayed start to breastfeeding. But that doesn’t mean your baby won’t breastfeed.

To help encourage your baby to breastfeed you can:

• Place your baby skin-to-skin as soon as you can have contact with your baby.
• Watch for feeding cues, so you will know when your baby is ready to breastfeed.
• Ask the nurse to help you get positioned to ensure that your baby is not pressing against your incision. (More on positioning in a minute!)
• Your nurse can also help you with latching.
• Room in with your baby. This will make it easier to respond quickly to her feeding cues, which makes latching easier.

 

One benefit of having a cesarean is a longer stay in the hospital. Take advantage of the help available from the lactation consultants and nurses. They are there to help you get a good start with breastfeeding.

Having a surgical birth will require some kind of anesthesia. Rest assured that it is safe to breastfeed after any type of anesthesia (Source).

Types of anesthesia for c section:

• General (you go to sleep)
• Epidural
• Spinal
• Local – they numb the area where they make the incision. This would only be used for extreme emergencies, if other types of anesthesia are not available. This is incredibly rare.

• Epidural and spinal anesthesia are the most common types of anesthesia for a cesarean birth.
• These kinds of anesthesia cause numbness in the lower half of your body.
• You will be awake and conscious with an epidural or spinal.
• You will need extra help moving around and getting into a comfortable position to breastfeed.
• The medication is given one time with a spinal.
• Spinal anesthesia wears off after about two hours.
• With epidural anesthesia, they leave a small tube in your back throughout the surgery and can give more medication if needed. The numbness from an epidural usually wears off after about two hours from the last dose.
• The narcotic fentanyl may be added to the medication that is used for a spinal or epidural. This may result in your baby being sleepy in the first day or two after birth.

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Feeding a Sleepy Baby

• General anesthesia makes you unconscious.
• You will have a period of feeling sleepy and feeling like you are “out of it” as you come out of general anesthesia.
• You may not remember things that happen when you first start to wake up from general anesthesia.
• As a safety precaution, have someone standing next to you when you breastfeed the first time if you are still feeling groggy.

A concern many moms have if they have a cesarean is finding the best breastfeeding positions after c section.

You will want to use c section breastfeeding positions that minimize pressure from your baby on your incision.

• The football hold is a popular breastfeeding position after c section. The baby is nowhere near your incision.
• The side-lying position is another popular choice.
  • Some cesarean moms say this position pulls on their incision, so see how it feels for you.
  • Your baby may kick his feet and could kick against your incision. If this is a problem, you can swaddle the lower half of his body.
• If you want to try the cross-cradle hold, lean back far enough, so there is no pressure on your tender incision.

Using a nursing pillow can help protect your tummy when breastfeeding.

I really love the Boppy Best Latch Breastfeeding Pillow.

What makes it perfect for a mom who has had a cesarean is the firm side for newborns. The firmness helps prevent the baby from rolling into what I call the Bobby black hole. With the regular Boppy, there is often a space between the nursing pillow and your tummy. Babies often slide down into this space.

Another great feature of the Boppy Best Latch Pillow is the adjustable belt that will prevent the pillow from sliding away. I love that the belt is detachable so that if you find you don’t need it later on, you can remove it.

The Boppy Best Latch gets excellent reviews from moms on Amazon.

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Best Breastfeeding Pillow In 14 Different Categories

• Finding a comfortable place at home to breastfeed after c section will involve trial and error.
• If you planned to nurse in a rocker or glider, it is possible that initially, it may be uncomfortable to get in and out of.
• Experiment and choose a spot that allows you to feel comfortable and relaxed. A pillow behind your back can make a wood rocking chair more post-cesarean friendly.
• A nursing stool will help you avoid the dreaded breastfeeding hunch that causes back discomfort for so many mamas.
• Avoid having to get up frequently by using a breastfeeding basket. These portable nursing stations are a great way to keep the things you might need during a nursing session close at hand.
•  Take advantage of offers to help. Let your friends and family cook your meals, run errands, and even do chores around your house.
• Take advantage of grocery delivery services.
• Don’t lift heavy things. The recommendation is that you don’t lift anything heavier than your baby.

You should feel better with each day that passes.

Your breasts started making colostrum sometime around the beginning of the second trimester of your pregnancy. Colostrum is your baby’s first food.

Your body will make the amount of food your baby needs. In the beginning, your baby has a tiny tummy, so you only make small amounts of colostrum.

When Does Breast Milk Come in After C-Section?

A new mom’s milk typically starts to come in between 48-72 hours after the birth. When a woman has had a cesarean the milk often takes 3-5 days to come in.

If you are breastfeeding frequently your baby should be okay. Watch her closely to make sure she is staying well hydrated.

• Normal temperature
• Mouth is moist
• Having enough wet diapers. She should have at least as many wet diapers as days old she is.

Make sure she is seen by her health care provider within 2-3 days after going home from the hospital. They will do a weight check to make sure she is not losing too much weight.

Related Post

How to Quit Obsessing About Breastfed Baby Weight and Growth Charts

The best practice to encourage a good milk supply is to breastfeed early and frequently.

You may have a lot of people who want to visit you after your baby is born. You need to prioritize your time in the early days after giving birth.

• Breastfeeding your baby
• Feeding yourself so you can make milk and recover from the surgery and birth.
• Resting

Related Post

Essential Steps to Have a Good Milk Supply

Baby Weight Loss

Babies who are born by cesarean section tend to lose more weight than babies who are born vaginally. (Source).

There could be a couple of reasons for this.

If a mom has a long labor, she is more likely to receive a lot of IV fluids. This is associated with increased weight loss in the first couple of days (Source).

Having a c section birth can delay when a mom’s milk comes in. This is another reason that breastfeeding babies who were born by cesarean section lose more weight compared to babies who were born vaginally.

To maximize how much of your colostrum your baby gets you can do hand expression after breastfeeding. Spoon-feed the expressed drops of colostrum to the baby. You can also catch the drops with your finger and let your baby suck on your finger.

Risk of Thrush Due to Mom Getting Antibiotics

To reduce the risk of infection, moms often receive antibiotics prophylactically when they have a cesarean section (Source).

Antibiotics increased the risk of developing a yeast infection on your nipples. This is also called nipple thrush.

Related Post

Finding the Best Treatment For Thrush While Breastfeeding

Moms who give birth by cesarean experience more breastfeeding challenges. Knowing this enables you to have breastfeeding help lined up ahead of time.

Get the names of at least two or three lactation consultants who you can call if you have questions or have difficulties.

Moms who have had cesareans often take longer to get back to the swing of things. It is a prescription for a good case of cabin fever.

Find out where there are breastfeeding groups near you. Hanging out with other moms who are dealing with the same joys and fears can help you feel less alone and overwhelmed.

Remember that you are recovering from both birth and surgery. You are also making milk for your baby.

You need to take good care of yourself in the weeks after birth to support your body’s healing and milk making.

• Drink lots of water
• Eat foods that help your body heal and help you make milk.
• Rest when your baby sleeps during the day. Even if you can’t nap, lay down and close your eyes for half an hour.

Having a baby is an emotional experience. Having a cesarean often takes it up a few notches.

If you are a mom who had a detailed birth plan and ended up with a surgical birth, you may be experiencing feelings of disappointment.

It can be frustrating that it takes longer to get back to things like exercising and housework. Although, between you and me, I’d work that delayed return to housework for as long as you can.

There is no doubt that a breastfeeding mom post-cesarean has extra challenges. With good support and being informed you have a very good chance of having a great breastfeeding experience.

 

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The post HOW TO ROCK BREASTFEEDING AFTER C-SECTION appeared first on Breastfeeding Confidential.

Birth and breastfeeding are sometimes more complex than you think they will be.

Your baby is born, and he is placed on your chest. He looks up at you, wriggles his way to your breast, latches on and sucks strongly. You feel a rush of emotion that is filled with love and awe and power.

You just birthed a baby, and now your body will continue to grow him, at your breast! How freaking awesome is that?

Unless things don’t go so smoothly. It doesn’t always happen the way I just described.

• It might be that you are exhausted after days of no sleep.
• Labor had so many false starts, and then 36 hours of labor that was the real deal. It was all you could do to ride those contractions.
• Maybe your baby was pulled out by forceps and is screaming his little head off, almost as if to say, “I want to go back!”

Panic starts to set in when you put him to your breast, and he screams some more. This wasn’t how you read it would be. This isn’t what happened in that movie they showed in your breastfeeding class.

Maybe he was put on your chest, and maybe he did wriggle to your breast, and then he conked out. Then the nurses are saying it is time to move you to your room, and they are wrapping him up, and you are being told to get into a wheelchair.

“But wait,” you want to say, “but, he hasn’t breastfed.”

There is also the scenario where all your birth plans went down the drain when you were told that you needed a c-section.

You got a flash of your baby right after they pulled him out and they held him up over the drape. Your partner went over to the warmer while they dried him off and wrapped him up, burrito style. Your partner held him next to you, and you looked at him, both of you bewildered.

He is deep into his sleep period by the time you are in the recovery room, and he is hard to get close with all those blankets wrapped around him, anyway.

You have no clue how breastfeeding will be go after having a cesarean.

Wait! This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be.

You want a do-over.

 

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One of the first books that I read when I first became interested in birth was Birth without Violence.It is an eloquent description of what a birth should be, and what it should not be.

When you think of it, being born is a pretty intense experience for a baby. One might even say it is overwhelming. Imagine if you were enjoying a nice day in your hot tub, with your 24/7 room service. Even if that hot tub did seem to be shrinking with each passing day.

All of a sudden you are being shoved out of it, naked no less. Then you have these rough towels being rubbed all over your body. I’m talking Motel 6 towels. Let’s face it, no hospital is going to have those super soft towels that the Ritz Carlton has.

You are being poked and prodded, and cold stethoscopes are being put on your body. You try to say, excuse me; we haven’t been introduced. This is so rude!

All that comes out is a wail. It is overwhelming, to say the least.

Michel Odent writes about the connection between childbirth and breastfeeding in Birth and Breastfeeding: Rediscovering the Needs of Women during Pregnancy and Childbirth (Health & Healing)Birth is perhaps one of the most significant things that can affect breastfeeding that gets the least amount of attention.

How was that journey for your baby out from the cozy hot tub?

• If it was a long labor, it wore you out. It probably wore out your little one too.
• Did you have medications that made you sleepy and woozy feeling? It takes your baby longer to clear those drugs and their effects out of his system.
  • I worked with a mom, years ago, whose baby was soooo sleepy. She was an experienced mom, so she knew how breastfeeding worked. Her little dude just wouldn’t wake up or suck on a finger, or really, anything else. She went home without him feeding, even once. I called her the next day, and she said he finally woke up and nursed all night long. I then found out that she had morphine when she was in early labor. It was one of those, “Duh!” moments for me.
• Was the birth by c-section? We know those babies take longer to get going with breastfeeding (Source).
• Epidural? This is another thing that can cause a slow start for breastfeeding (Source).
• Forceps or vacuum-assisted birth? If I had a big old headache with maybe some bruises and swelling to go with it I’m probably not going to be crazy hungry either.
  • This discomfort may feel worse when they try to open wide or suck.

If I had a dollar for every time a mom has said to me, “I thought breastfeeding was natural. I don’t understand why it is so hard.” My response is often, what about this experience has been natural so far?

Think about all the things during birth that are anything but “natural”?

• Stripping of membranes
• Induction of labor with anything: Pitocin, foley bulb, Cytotec
• Artificial rupture of membranes (good-bye hot-tub)
• Pitocin at any time – induction or if labor stalls
• Cesarean birth
• Forceps or vacuum-assisted birth
• Mom being made to stay in bed, either on her side or just sitting up

These things will go a long way to getting you and your baby on the path to a successful breastfeeding relationship.

• Patience
• Skin-to-skin. As much as possible.
• See a lactation consultant.
• Do some hand expression and rub your colostrum drops onto your baby’s gums and tongue.
• Pump to support your milk supply if your lactation consultant recommends it. I’m generally in the school that believes, if in doubt, pump.
• Avoid bottles if you can.
• Avoid formula if you can
  • Both bottles and formula may be necessary for some babies
  • Find out if human donor milk is an option
  • Some moms express some colostrum in the weeks before birth to use if supplementation becomes necessary.
  • There are usually alternatives to bottles like the Supplemental nursing system (SNS) and spoon-feeding
• Patience
• Some more patience

Babies are meant to breastfeed. It may just take some a little longer than others. If you are patient and get help, most moms and healthy babies will be successful.

Did you struggle with breastfeeding in the beginning? Did you have any of these interventions or any others? Leave a comment and share your experience.

 

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Breastfeeding the first week is going to be a whirlwind. You will be getting to know your new baby and learning how to nurse. You’ll also be recovering from childbirth.

As a sleep-deprived new mom, you need tips that are easy to remember. Keep reading to find out the five things that will get you through those first days of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding classes pack a lot of information into a couple of hours. It can be difficult to figure out what to focus on in those early days.

When you are pregnant you are primarily focused on trying to figure out how that baby is going to get out, and wondering when exactly that is going to happen. As a result, books about breastfeeding often don’t seem relevant when you’re still pregnant.

You can find a lot of articles and blog posts that have breastfeeding tips for the first week.  The problem is, most of those lists are long. They have too much information to remember.

You have pregnancy brain as it is. You don’t want to be looking up lists on their phone in the early days after you give birth.

You want some easy to remember tips for surviving the first week of breastfeeding.

You have come to the right place.

The importance of skin-to-skin cannot be overemphasized.

• Do it early.
  • Like, immediately after your baby is born.
• If you can’t do it immediately because of a medical problem with you or your baby, then do it as soon as you can
• If you are giving birth in a hospital and they don’t do skin-to-skin immediately, ask why.

Research studies show that early skin to skin is associated with breastfeeding success.  It is incredibly valuable in other ways as well.

• Babies cry less (Source).
• They have more stable blood sugar levels (Source).
• Their temperature is more stable (Source).
• It promotes brain development (Source).

Skin to skin is often promoted during the first hour after birth. However, we know that it continues to have those same benefits for long after that first hour.

I was a lactation consultant for over 24 years in the hospital. My personal observation was that prolonged skin to skin results in more frequent breastfeeding.

Watch for your baby’s cues. These are the signs that your baby wants to breastfeed.

Frequent breastfeeding the first few days results in:

• Less weight loss in your baby
• Fewer problems with jaundice
• Helps your milk come in sooner
• Stimulates an abundant milk supply long term

Most babies will breastfeed often when they have lots of skin to skin. I call it “keeping them in the kitchen.” I can’t take credit for that quote, but I can’t remember who I heard it from.

It’s also important to understand that breastfeeding is not just about eating for babies.

Your baby was enjoying that All-Inclusive resort in your womb. He was in the hot tub with the 24-hour room service.

Then his world was rocked.

He started getting this intense massage. All of a sudden the air hits his body for the first time ever. He’s being dried off with towels and blankets. I wonder what THAT feels like?

He is probably getting poked and prodded with thermometers and cold stethoscopes. He may have the cool breeze of an oxygen mask shoved in his face.

Is it any surprise that he finds refuge at his mama’s breast? It is safe and comforting and quickly becomes familiar.

This is where he weans from the womb. (Which is another awesome saying I heard from someone else).

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A lot of rest! Take good care of yourself.

You will be excited. You will want to share the joy of this miraculous new life with your family and friends.

However, caring for your baby and for yourself must always come first.

Babies eat a lot in the early days. Your baby may want to “eat all the time,” this is normal, healthy behavior. This is a good thing! 

Babies also like to eat more frequently at night. When I say more, I mean a lot more. We call this cluster-feeding.

Your baby may want to eat constantly for hours.

Your baby may suck for a few minutes and then fall asleep. When you try to put him down, he’ll wake up and want to eat some more/

What’s a mother to do?

An afternoon nap is your best friend.

If you give birth in a hospital there may be a “quiet time” when no visitors are allowed. (Mom’s partner is never considered a visitor). If your hospital doesn’t have quiet time then you can always make your own.

Put a sign on your hospital door that says, “Mom resting, DO NOT DISTURB!” If you give birth at home or go home soon after birth, you can put that sign on your front door.

Create a greeting on your phone with the important details. Sex, weight, date of birth. Then put your phone on Do Not Disturb.

When people come to visit you at home, make them pay admission. People usually bring gifts for the new baby. Ask them to also bring a meal or do something around the house.

• They can throw in a load of laundry, or fold some. You will be amazed at how much laundry the little person creates.
• They can put dishes in the dishwasher.
• If they are a really good friend, they can clean the toilet.
• Ask them to stop by the grocery store and pick up some groceries for you.

If you are not good enough friends to ask them to do these things, they shouldn’t be visiting you this early!

You can also put a list of the things you need to be done on your front door. Make it cute and clever if you want to. Direct is fine too.

Under no circumstances should visitors expect you to serve them drinks or food!

If you don’t feel comfortable breastfeeding in front of them then you need to feel comfortable enough to ask them to leave.

Taking care of yourself and your baby always needs to come first. I know I said that before, but I think it needs repeating.

If you don’t take out time to rest during the day, you will pay for it later.

Trust me on this. Not only will your baby be crying in the middle of the night, but you might also be as well.

If you hit the wall in the middle of the night, or during the day, you may need to take a break from everything.

Sleep if your baby is sleeping. If your baby is awake, have your partner wrap the baby up and go for a walk. They should go out in the hall or outside or anywhere away from you.

Often an hour of interrupted sleep can make all the difference in the world.

Whoever is taking care of the baby while you take a break should bring him to you if he is showing any feeding cues. Babies should not have feedings put off.

It is also important that you eat regularly and drink lots of fluids. Water, non-caffeinated tea, whatever you like. Just make sure it doesn’t have caffeine or a lot of sugar.

Avoid peppermint tea. It can decrease supply.

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(Substitute: family doctor, nurse practitioner, PA, or whoever is going to be your baby’s health care provider.)

Choose your baby’s healthcare provider before your little one is born. It can be tempting to get recommendations and choose the one that all your friends go to.

I encourage you to interview them so you can find out their approach to breastfeeding.

Don’t just ask what they think of breastfeeding. I can assure you that no health care provider is going to say they don’t support breastfeeding.

What you want to ask is how they will support your decision to breastfeed.

If they answer, “Yes, I support breastfeeding, but…” then they are not supportive of breastfeeding. It doesn’t matter what comes after the “but.” There is no “but.”

Breastfeeding is important. What you want to know is what they are going to do to support you with breastfeeding.

• What do they suggest you do if you experience problems.
  • Would they refer you to a lactation consultant?
  • Do they have a lactation consultant in their office. If so, find out what her reputation is in your community.
  • Find out how long they spend with moms doing lactation consults.
• Under what circumstances would they tell you to supplement with formula?
  • There are valid reasons to supplement. However, some of the reasons I have heard have left me shaking my head.
• For what reasons would they tell you to stop breastfeeding?
  • Unless there is a medical reason, the decision to stop breastfeeding should always be your and yours alone.

Red flags that a doctor is not supportive of breastfeeding:

• Formula in their waiting room.
• Breastfeeding literature published by a formula company.
• If they give you formula “just in case” or say that it is always good to have some formula on hand.
• If they say “breastfeeding isn’t for everyone.”

Medical schools only spend 1-2 hours on breastfeeding. Ask if they have taken any continuing education related to breastfeeding. Do they read articles to keep up to date on research and best practices?

Ask when they will want to see your baby in the office after you have gone home from the hospital

Breastfed babies should be seen at 3-5 days of age. Most people go home from the hospital before this.

One reason for this first visit is to see how breastfeeding is going. How is the baby’s weight? Is there any jaundice? Has your milk come in? Is the baby having enough wet and dirty diapers?

 

Pediatrician Interview Checklist

Make sure your pediatrician is breastfeeding friendly.

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If you have lactation consultants in your community, have a couple of names lined up. The first person recommended might not be available when you need her. My advice is to get at least two names, preferably three.

Interview them.

• Is it important to you to have someone who can come to your home?
• How long have they been in practice?
• What are their credentials
• What was their training?
• How much do they charge?
• What kind of follow-up is included?

Is it important that your insurance covers the cost of a lactation consultant? Check with your insurer to see what kind of consults they cover and if there are any restrictions.

When I wrote this (January 2019) the Affordable Care Act in the USA states that lactation consults are to be covered without a deductible or co-pay. Not all insurance companies have been compliant. Some have so many restrictions it can be difficult to get a consult covered.

One thing I often hear is that the insurance company will cover it if it is preventative, but not if there is a problem. I know, that makes no sense. But we’re talking about insurance companies.

If you don’t have lactation consultants in your community, get a telehealth lactation consultation.

This isn’t a complete list of breastfeeding tips. It should get you through the first week though.

There is a steep learning curve with breastfeeding.

Preparation is important. Keep it simple though.

Take a class. Buy a book or two. It’s ok if you don’t read them until after your baby has arrived.

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You will probably hear and read conflicting information. If the advice you are getting is very rigid, maybe it should be questioned.

Listen first and foremost to your inner voice. You may be a new mom, but moms have good instincts. Trust them.

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How To Get Breastfeeding Help When You Are Struggling

Breastfeeding the First Day – All You Need to Know

How to Safely Survive Second Night Syndrome

Feeding a Sleepy Baby

FOR MORE BREASTFEEDING TIPS THAT TAKE YOU FROM BIRTH TO YOUR BABY’S FIRST BIRTHDAY

 

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The post Breastfeeding the First Week: 5 Easy to Remember Tips appeared first on Breastfeeding Confidential.

Many moms think that their babies will be ready to breastfeed as soon as they are born. Some babies will do just that and will continue feeding frequently. Everybody will be happy, and no one will worry.

If your baby didn’t get the memo you might be worried, and wondering what are the tricks for feeding a sleepy baby.

The truth is that there are many babies who are more interested in sleeping off their birth hangover than breastfeeding. If your new bundle of joy falls into this category, then he may feel more like a challenging bundle of frustration.

If your new baby is too sleepy to breastfeed it will be less frustrating if you know what to expect and how to handle it.

I’m going to include some pictures of sweet sleeping babies because they are so cute. You will notice that none of them are on their tummies unless they are being held.

Finding photos like this is no small feat. I always want to have pictures on my site that show what I recommend, and I follow the AAP guidelines of always putting your baby to sleep on his back and making sure everyone else does too. This is an important step to take in reducing the risk of SIDS. 

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Breastfeeding and SIDS

Babies are dealing will a lot of new stimulation. Sleeping can be their way of dealing by shutting out all the overwhelming new things they get thrown at them.

Think about it for a minute. First, they go through the intense experience of being born. Birth can really affect breastfeeding.

All of a sudden the lights are brighter; the noises are louder, the air is cold. Their body probably gets rubbed all over with towels or blankets. I can’t even imagine what that must feel like.

It’s not too long before a cold stethoscope is slapped against their chest. Then a thermometer is being stuck under their armpit.

When the world gets to be too much, don’t a lot of us want to just take a nap?

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Many brand new babies are too sleepy to eat. We don’t worry too much that first day.

The newborn too sleepy to breastfeed who is less than 24 hours just needs time, patience, and lots of skin to skin.

If you give birth at a hospital they will monitor your baby’s blood sugar if they are concerned.

Skin to skin helps:

• Babies stabilize their temperature
• Stabilize their blood sugar levels
• It is important for their neurobehavioral development.

Skin to skin is like snake oil, it’s good for everything.

Most babies will wake up and start breastfeeding regularly within the first 24 hours. The nurses will monitor them and make sure that there are no complications from them not eating.

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After the first 24 hours, we do expect babies to start eating regularly. The more frequent, the better.

Continue skin to skin. You can’t do too much skin to skin.

One of the more popular ways to wake a sleepy baby to feed is changing the diaper to wake the baby up. This can work to wake the baby, but they may not stay awake because it is more of that stimulation overload.

Diaper changes make most babies pretty mad. There is lots of crying. I recommend diaper changing only when needed.

Those new diapers are so advanced, they have indicators to let you know when they are wet. How amazing is that?

To check for poop, you have to take a peek. You will learn pretty quickly not to stick a finger in to check, because…well…yuck!

Instead of a diaper change to wake a sleepy baby to feed I recommend a gentler approach.

One excellent way how to get a sleepy newborn to breastfeeding is by first doing some skin-to-skin for about 20-30 minutes. If your baby doesn’t start showing any feeding cues, move on to the next step.

Try these things as the next step.

• Rub baby’s arms and legs.
• Stroke baby’s lips.
• Hand express some colostrum and rub it on baby’s lips, gums and tongue.
  • Often, after you get 10-15 drops into your baby, he will wake up.
  • Wait about 15 minutes to see if this works.

One of the best tricks I have for feeding a sleepy baby is to get in the side-lying position when they are skin to skin. It works at least 75% of the time.

One of the most common mistakes I see is trying to get a sleepy baby to eat for too long.

Don’t try for longer than 15-20 minutes to get your baby to wake up and eat. Long sessions of trying to get a baby to eat usually just result in an even sleepier baby and a frustrated mom.

Let your baby sleep for another hour and then try all those things again, starting with some skin to skin first.

Better yet, just kept him skin to skin to begin with.

 

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After the first 24 hours if your baby hasn’t started eating regularly, then you should be using a breast pump regularly, which would be every 2-4 hours.

Feed your baby everything you are pumping, within reason. Most moms will be getting drops of colostrum or even a few ccs. You can spoon-feed or syringe-feed your baby a few drops at a time. Have the nurse show you how to do it safely.

You may wonder why I don’t recommend using a bottle. The primary reason is that because colostrum tends to be thick. There is usually not very much of it, and if you use a bottle, much of it ends up stuck to the bottle instead of in your baby’s mouth.

Be sure and offer your breast whenever you see feeding cues from your baby. These are smacking his lips, sucking on his hands, and rooting.

By 4-5 days your milk should be in.

What if your baby is still sleepy after your milk comes in?

You may have heard that you should never wake a sleeping baby. That’s another one of those old wives’ tales, although I’m not quite sure why old wives get so much blame. I’m sure old husbands had their share of myths that they passed on.

If a baby is sleeping through feedings, you should wake him up. This means during the night too.

• Continue the routine of skin to skin for 20-30 minutes
• Follow up with massaging your baby’s arms and legs
• When he wakes up, spoon-feed some drops of milk
• That usually works to get him awake enough to breastfeed.

Sometimes it works to give an appetizer of half an ounce to an ounce of your milk.

• Spoon feed or bottle-feed first
• Wait about 10-15 minutes
• Then try at the breast.

Try to avoid bottles, but feeding more than half an ounce can be very time consuming to spoon feed. The most important thing is to feed the baby.

If breastfeeding is not adequate as indicated by poor diaper counts or any signs of dehydration, pumping and bottle-feeding may be needed until your baby gets over this sleepy stage.

You may have heard the advice to never give a bottle because that will hurt breastfeeding. If your baby is not feeding adequately at the breast, he will not have the energy to feed and it becomes a vicious cycle.

The number one rule is FEED THE BABY!

Make sure you are working with your baby’s health care provider and a lactation consultant to ensure that your baby is getting enough to eat.

Your lactation consultant will help you come up with a plan to work on breastfeeding while you make sure that your baby is getting enough to eat.

Breastfeeding a sleepy baby can be one of the challenges of having a newborn. There are many tips and tricks that can help you overcome this challenge.

Do you have a sleepy baby? What has worked for you? Share with me and my readers in the comments sections.

 

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Breastfeeding the first day may not go the way you expect.

The moment you have waited nine months for is finally here. Your brand-new baby has arrived. Now what? 

Breastfeeding is so important to you. You want to make sure you do everything you can to get it right. You are so excited to start breastfeeding your newborn. You may be nervous about it as well.

Be sure to take a moment to enjoy that special time when your little one has just arrived. Look into her eyes and welcome her. Feel the power of this moment. You will always remember it.

There are things about breastfeeding the first day that are important to do. Just as important, there are things you want to avoid doing.

When my first baby was born things didn’t go the way I had planned or expected. And it made me worry that I had made a mistake.

I wanted to do skin to skin, but I’d had a C-section. I didn’t even get to hold my baby until I was in the recovery room. By then, baby Nicholas was bundled up in a couple of blankets, and he was in his sleepy phase. 

I offered him my breast. He just kept right on snoozing. I remember worrying that if he didn’t breastfeed right away, he might never do it.

He eventually woke up and nursed before he went back to the nursery. We never did any skin-to-skin. Even though I was a labor and delivery nurse, it never occurred to me to do it so many hours after he was born. 

I have learned so much in the 35 years since then. I want to share with you what I have learned about breastfeeding the first day.

These are the things that will make a difference when breastfeeding your baby in the first 24 hours. These are the things that will help you get breastfeeding off to a good start.

I also want you to know what not to worry about.

 

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Birth affects breastfeeding.

But you can’t always control what happens during labor and birth.

Do as much planning as you can.

• Take a breastfeeding class
• Write a birth plan
• Write a breastfeeding plan
• Give birth in a Baby Friendly hospital if possible
• Do skin to skin with your baby as soon as possible after he is born
• Keep him skin to skin until he breastfeeds
• Watch for signs that he is ready to feed
• Get help with positioning and latch
  • “Laid-back breastfeeding”  is one of the latest trends in breastfeeding. Just lean back and let your baby self-attach. It’s fantastic when it works. Not so awesome when it doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to give you little one some help and guidance. Listen to your instincts.

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Skin to skin has so many benefits. It is good for your baby, and it is good for you too! (Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4, Source 5)

• Stabilization of baby’s temperature
• Blood sugar regulation
• Encourages breastfeeding initiation
• Longer breastfeeding duration
• Babies cry less
• Encourages bonding
• Pain relief
• Supports neurobehavioral development
• Better cardio-respiratory function
• Stimulates maternal hormones that can decrease bleeding
• Less maternal postpartum depression

You can do skin-to-skin even if you have a C-section. Ask at your hospital if they do skin-to-skin in the OR. If they say no, ask if they will do it for you. It all starts somewhere!

If a medical reason prevents you from doing skin-to-skin right after birth, insist upon it as soon as you and your baby are stable.

A lot of books and articles talk about skin-to-skin in the first hour or until your baby breastfeeds. I really encourage it for the first several days.

• You baby will breastfeed more often
• He will cry less
• Your baby will stay more alert during feedings
• It continues to have all the benefits mentioned above
• Do skin-to-skin should if your baby has a low temperature
  • It is more effective than putting him under a warmer (Source).

I absolutely love the NuRoo Babywearing Shirt. It keeps your baby close while freeing up your hands. This is one of those things that I wish I had thought of! I think every new mom needs one.

• Watch for cues showing that your baby is interested in eating.
• Babies often look for the breast when they are skin-to-skin.
• There are videos on YouTube that show babies doing the “breast crawl.”
• The breast-crawl is where they wriggle and squirm their way to the breast and latch themselves on.
• Your baby may take breaks and even fall asleep as he makes his way to your breast. This is normal.

In the first couple of hours after birth, a baby is usually very alert and interested in eating.

After that alert period, a newborn will usually take a nice long nap. That isn’t surprising when you think about it. He just went through a pretty eventful experience!

This first nap can last from a couple of hours to the rest of his first 24 hours of life.

You, on the other hand, are probably riding an adrenaline wave. Don’t worry too much about trying to nap. Go ahead and bask in the awesomeness of what you just did.

A lot of moms think that they have no “milk” when their baby is firstborn.

Colostrum is milk. It is the early milk that is in your breasts when your baby is first born. Your body starts making it in the last trimester of your pregnancy.

It is a special, wonderful kind of milk. There is so much that is so good about it.

• Colostrum is a laxative and aids in the passing of the meconium.
• It helps close the gut lining, which helps prevent allergies and diseases.
• It is chock full of antibodies. Some people call it baby’s first vaccination.

Colostrum is made in small amounts. This is perfect because your baby’s tummy is tiny in the first few days. It is about the size of a cherry.

• The best position is one that helps your baby get a deep latch.
• It is a breastfeeding position that is comfortable for you.

This may be the cross-cradle hold, or football hold or even the side-lying position.

• Your baby is facing you.
• His nose is opposite your nipple
• When he opens wide, pull him in quickly and closely.

• His chin should be pressed into your breast.
• His nose should not be pressed against your breast.
• It doesn’t hurt! It will feel like a strong tug, but it should not be painful.

Get help from a nurse, lactation consultant, or your midwife. Keep asking for help until you feel comfortable doing it without assistance.

This is a picture of a baby that has a good latch.

This is a picture of a baby that is not positioned correctly. He is on his back and has to turn his head to latch on to the breast. That makes it hard to swallow. He should be tummy to tummy with his mom.

Try turning your head like that and then swallow.

It doesn’t feel great for you and doesn’t feel good for your baby either.

Have you heard that a baby should eat at least eight times in a 24 hour period? That may not happen on her first day of life.

Depending on what the birth was like, your baby may not be interested at all in breastfeeding the first day. She may only eat a few times, or she may eat as many as eight or more times.

You might be surprised that we don’t expect your new baby to have a lot of diapers that first day.

You want at least one wet diaper and one dirty diaper by the time your baby is 24 hours old.

Sometimes a baby will pee when they are first born.

The first dirty diaper will be meconium. A newborn is born with meconium in their bowel. It is very dark green, lamost black. It is very sticky and not much fun to clean up.

A baby is usually weighed in the first few hours after birth.

Hospitals often do a daily weight at night. Your new baby will lose weight that first day. Babies generally lose weight until their mother’s milk comes in. Don’t worry, this is normal.

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You probably read that and thought, wait, what???

A brand-new baby has never had to think about eating before. After she is born, it make take her some time to figure out what hunger is.

Things that can make a baby not interested in breastfeeding the first day:

• A long labor or a difficult birth
• Medications during labor (Source)
• Being premature (born earlier than 38 weeks)
• A tummy full of amniotic fluid
• Being “spitty” (although that is not a medical term, we use it a lot).
  • This may be from a tummy full of amniotic fluid
  •  Spittiness usually doesn’t start until 12-18 hours after birth
  • I have a theory that it is the tummy getting used to functioning and figuring out what it is supposed to do.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR NEWBORN IS NOT INTERESTED IN FEEDING THE FIRST 24 HOURS

• Skin-to-skin (you can’t do too much)
• Massage his back, rub his cheeks, lips, and gums
• Try hand-expressing some colostrum and rubbing it on your baby’s tongue or gums
• Hands-down, the most effective way I have found to get a sleepy baby to breastfeed is the side-lying position with skin-to-skin.
  • Side-lying can be tricky with a newborn, so get another set of hands to help you.
  • A nurse, lactation consultant, or midwife can help. She can show your partner how they can help with this position.

1 – VISITORS

• Don’t have a lot of visitors.
• Don’t play “pass the baby.” This can cause over-stimulation.
• Your baby may appear to be sleeping. Babies often “shut down “because the stimulation is too much for them.

2 – SUPPLEMENTING WITH FORMULA WHEN NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY

• Most babies do fine if they don’t eat in the first day.
• Newborns have glucose stores to get them through that first day.
• Being fed formula from a bottle can make a baby want that fast flow. This can result in him being fussy at the breast.
• Formula changes the pH  and  the bacterial colonization of a baby’s gut. 
• If the nurse is concerned, she may decide to check his blood sugar.
• If the blood sugar is in the normal range, then there is no need to supplement.
• If the blood sugar is low, that is a medical reason that you should supplement.

3 – PACIFIERS

Avoid pacifiers in the first month of breastfeeding.

If your baby wants to suck, offer him your breast. 

Related Post

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4 – TRYING TOO LONG TO GET A SLEEPY BABY TO LATCH ON

• Don’t actively try to get your baby to breastfeed for longer than 15-20 minutes at a time.
• If she’s not responding, let her sleep and try again in an hour.
• You can express drops of your colostrum onto her lips and tongue.

Long sessions of trying will just wear her out and are usually very frustrating for you.

5 – HAND MITTENS

A baby’s hands are a vital part of their feeding behaviors. She needs to be able to get to them.

The baby who is very sleepy in the first 24 hours will often make up for it the second 24 hours by feeding very frequently.

The three essential things to remember about breastfeeding your newborn the first day:

• Do lots of skin to skin.
• Watch for feeding cues.
• Enjoy your baby!

Do you feel ready for your first day of breastfeeding? What questions do you have after reading this? Leave a comment below, and I will respond.

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Because I was an RN who worked with new moms and helped them breastfeed I felt like I was supposed to know what I was doing the first time I breastfed. Which was silly when you think about it. I needed tips on breastfeeding for beginners just like any other new mom.

How in the heck would I know how to do something I had never done before? 

You may feel just as clueless when you begin your breastfeeding journey.

Although I had helped countless moms with their first breastfeeding session it was like I forgot everything I knew.

Fortunately, my baby eventually nursed. That first successful feeding was probably more luck than anything else.

After you’ve read all these beginner breastfeeding tips you won’t have to count on luck.

It is best if breastfed babies eat sooner rather than later. Early contact and early initiation of breastfeeding are correlated with moms breastfeeding for longer. (Source 1), (Source 2).

We know so much more now about how to help babies breastfeed. We know how important those early hours, days, and weeks are. Nurses are better educated and lactation consultants are readily available.

There is an abundance of information out there so you can educate yourself.

My goal is to pull together the most important parts of all that information for you to read here in these beginner breastfeeding tips.

I’ve been a lactation consultant a few years shy of forever. Okay, that’s an exaggeration. It’s been 25 years. That has provided me with the benefit of seeing the before and after.

Over the years we changed how we helped moms who were getting started with breastfeeding. Some of those changes really seemed to make a big difference.

I don’t want to say there’s a right or wrong way to do things. But there are things you can do that will help get breastfeeding off to a good start. There are also things a beginner breastfeeder can do to make it harder.

These are the breastfeeding tips that I have seen make a difference. These are the answers to the most common questions moms ask when they are beginning to breastfeed.

This is the information that will help you and your newborn baby get off to a good start.

Moms who really struggle in the first few weeks are more likely to give up breastfeeding.

Over the years I have seen these breastfeeding tips make a huge difference. I want to share with you what I have learned that will help you avoid struggling those crucial first few weeks.

Breastfeeding is like every other part of parenting, it is always changing. That means the answers to these questions will change after a period of time. If you get off to a good start though, you have a much better chance of reaching your breastfeeding goals.

• Do skin to skin
• Breastfeed early and often.
• Let your baby breastfeed as soon as he is showing that he is interested. You’ll know he is interested when he shows you feeding cues.

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This is a very common question new moms beginning to breastfeed have.

Your milk should come in between 48-72 hours after your baby is born.

When your baby is born you will have colostrum.

Colostrum is early milk but it has a special name. Don’t ask me why. I think it having a special name confuses people. It makes moms anxious because they think it’s not “real milk.” 

Colostrum is freaking awesome.

• Colostrum is made in really small amounts.
  • This is a good thing because your baby’s tummy is really small.
• It is packed with antibodies.
• The micronutrients (carbs, proteins and fats) are in proportions to what is easiest for a brand new baby to digest.
• It has a laxative effect to help pass the meconium.

Within a few days you will start making mature milk. This is when your milk “comes in.”  This is a process that can take up to a day or two.

Often. Like, whenever your baby is showing feeding cues. The more your baby breastfeeds, the faster your milk will come in.

• By the second day your baby needs to eat at least eight times in a 24-hour period.
• Some babies will eat more often and that is fine.
• In the first 6-8 weeks most babies will not gain enough weight if they eat less than 8 times/24 hours.

The whole “never wake a sleeping baby” is not true. You should wake your baby to breastfeed if you need to. You need to if your baby is eating less than 8 times every 24-hours.

Your baby doesn’t need to eat every 3-hours. But don’t let him go longer than one 4-hour stretch without eating for each 24 hours.

As long as it’s 8 times each 24 hours, it’s all good.

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Your baby should breastfeed for as long as she needs. This will vary from baby to baby.

Watch her cues. If she breastfeeds for ten minutes on one side, then looks milk drunk and falls asleep she may have had enough. I always encourage new moms to offer the second side in the early days. But it is okay if your baby doesn’t want it.

If she comes off and is still showing feeding cues, you definitely want to give her the second side.

Let her finish on the first side before offering the second side. She does not have to spend the same number of minutes on both sides.

Signs that she’s finished:

• She comes off the breast
• You are not hearing swallowing anymore.

Count diapers in the early days.  The number of diapers a baby is expected to have will change every day for the first several days. After your milk comes in it is an encouraging sign that a baby is getting enough from breastfeeding if they have 6-8 wet diapers and 4-5 stools in moderate quantity.

Lots of swallowing and lots of diapers are encouraging signs that your baby is feeding for “long enough.”

The bottom line is weight gain.

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There are the four most common breastfeeding positions. 

Cross-cradle Hold

Cradle Hold

Football Hold

Side-lying Hold

• His tummy is turned in to you.
  • Tummy to tummy for cradle, cross-cradle, and side-lying,
  • His tummy to your side for football.
• Position your baby’s nose across from your nipple
• Touch his upper lip. Just touch it. You don’t need to move it back and forth. That can make it a moving target for your baby.
• Touch it and wait for him to open wide.
• Then pull him in quick and close.
• His lips should be flanged out.
• His chin should be pressed into your breast.
• His nose should not be touching your breast.

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The two most common things that cause pain in the first couple of weeks are sore nipples and breast engorgement.

If you can prevent sore nipples it will be easier than treating them.

You should be able to prevent sore nipples with good positioning and good latch technique.

But let’s get real, nipple pain is common.

•  Any pain should be brief.
• It usually happens when she first latches on.
• It should pass within the first 20 sucks.
• It usually peaks within the first four days.
• It should be much better at the end of the first week.
• It should be completely resolved by the end of the second week.

Any kind of trauma like cracks, bleeding or bruises are never normal.

If you have trauma or the pain does not improve the way I described contact a lactation consultant.

If a baby has a weird suck or they are tongue-tied the pain will be more intense. In those situations, the pain usually not go away within those first 20 sucks. Get help from a lactation consultant.

Gel pads and breast shells can help sore nipples.

My favorite gel pads are the Ameda Comfort Gels.

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• Feed frequently
• Pump if needed
  • It’s needed if you are still uncomfortably full after a feeding.
• Use ice packs to decrease swelling.
  • Apply for up to 20 minutes, never longer.
  • Bags of frozen peas make great ice packs.
  • Avoid heat on engorged breasts.

Cabbage can help decrease swelling. I know, weird, right? Whatever works though.

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This isn’t everything you need to know about breastfeeding. That’s why I have a whole blog about it! 

But these breastfeeding tips for beginners should help you get off to a good start!

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Have you heard of this mysterious phenomenon known as second night syndrome in newborns? Or did you find this post when you were frantically Googling newborn breastfeeding nonstop?

However you found this post I promise it will answer all your questions and put your mind at ease about newborn second night syndrome.

Newborns sleep, eat and cry. This we know. 

But how much sleeping should we expect?

How much crying is normal?

When a baby is eating all the time does that mean they are not getting enough from breastfeeding? 

What you really want to know is, “How do I know if my baby is okay????” Keep reading and I will tell you what you want to know. 

Second night syndrome is the behavior exhibited by most newborns their second night. Most babies do it. It is normal. 

It is characterized by frequent breastfeeding. Very, very frequent. Crazy frequent.

How can you possibly want to eat again frequent.  

These breastfeeding sessions may be very long, lasting an hour or more. Or, they may be very brief, followed by an equally brief period of sleep. If you put your baby in the bassinet she will usually wake up and want to breastfeed again.   

When your baby is breastfeeding nonstop you may find yourself thinking any one of these things:

• How can you possibly be hungry? I just fed you.
• How can you keep eating? You must have taken everything that is there.
• If you would just stay awake and eat for long enough you would get full and then you would sleep.
• You must not be getting anything and that is why you keep wanting to eat.

If you think your baby is the reason for this newborn feeding frenzy is because he is not getting anything you would be wrong most of the time.

 

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Think for a moment about your baby’s existence up to this point.  

She spent nine months in that nice warm, cozy place. All of her needs were met. She was constantly being held and fed. 

Then it all changes. Radically.  

Think about that for a minute.  First, there are hours and hours of intense massage. Then she finds herself being squeezed through a pretty tight passageway. 

She is suddenly greeted by cold air. Let’s face it, all air feels cold when you’re all wet. 

Hopefully, she is placed skin-to-skin with you. There’s the rub down with blankets and towels. Towels! I’ve never met a super soft hospital towel, have you?  

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Truth be told, those blankets aren’t all that soft either. I’m not sure hospitals have heard of fabric softener. 

At some point, a cold stethoscope gets put on her chest. Then a thermometer is poking her armpit. 

Then come the clothes. Have you ever thought about what clothes must feel like the very first time? 

There are the diaper changes too. Most babies don’t love a diaper change in those early days. 

Which part of that sounds comforting?  If you said skin-to-skin then you would be right. The sound of her mama’s voice. The feel and scent of her skin. She’s not sure what place this is, but this part is pretty awesome. 

Her instincts will usually lead her to the breast.

The sucking feels good because sucking is very soothing. It releases endorphins (Source). 

The whole birth experience must be pretty exhausting. She is probably thinking the same thing that you and I think after a really intense experience. “I need a good rest.” 

It is common for there to be a lot of sleeping during the first 24 hours of life. It makes sense. You often have a lot of visitors on the first day. Your baby gets passed around to be held and adored by family and friends.

There is lots of stimulation. A lot of stimulation often causes a newborn baby to shut down. (When you see a sleeping baby in a noisy restaurant, that’s what you’re seeing, a baby who has shut down. 

Then night time comes and everyone goes home and second night syndrome starts. 

It feels like your baby wants to nurse all night.

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 It feels like you may never sleep again. (I remember thinking that exact thought when I had my second baby).

Another important thing to know is that for babies, breastfeeding is more than just getting food.

Being at the breast is comforting. It is soothing. It feels safe.  

Your newborn breastfeeding all night that second night is normal healthy behavior. Repeat that to yourself. Normal. Healthy.   

All that sucking helps signal to your body to bring the milk in and make sure there is plenty of it!  

Infants who breastfeed more frequently :

• Have less problems with jaundice 
• Lose less weight
• Breastfeed better overall (Source).

Now that you know how good all that breastfeeding is for your baby, it’s not going to bother you at all to not get any sleep, right? As if! I’m not going to lie, it’s going to be rough.

We all know the sleep deprivation is a form of torture. The key is to minimize the sleep deprivation and have a plan B. 

An afternoon nap needs to be a top priority for you. An early evening nap works too. Bonus points if you get a nap in the afternoon and early eveneing.

That whole thing about sleep when your baby sleeps? That ain’t no lie, mama. 

If you are one of those people who just can’t sleep during the day, then don’t sleep. Telling yourself you have to sleep is a surefire way to not be able to fall asleep. 

Plan to rest instead. Turn out the lights, Close your eyes. Count backwards from 100. Play sounds of the ocean or some other soothing sounds. (These white noise machines come in super handy to use with your baby later on too!).

Diffuse some lavender essential oil. 

Let your mind take a break. 

Make a plan B for if you hit the wall. If you find yourself at that moment when you are crying louder than your baby and saying, “I can’t do this!” (Hey, it happens!) move on to plan B. 

Have your partner swaddle your baby and go do some laps up and down the hospital halls for an hour.

This Swaddle Blanket makes swaddling easy peasy. It is a must-have for brand new parents.

If you are already home, they can do laps in some other room in the house.

If the weather is nice, they can do laps around the house outside.  

Take that hour to get a power nap. Take a two-hour nap if the baby is sleeping. It’s okay to take a break like this! It can make a huge difference.  

Sometimes having a plan B at the ready makes you not even need it. 

This plan will work better if your partner got a nap during the day. 

If you are at the hospital, avoid sending your baby to the nursery. Nurses have been known to put off bringing the baby back to you, even when he is showing clear feeding cues. You want to avoid this.

 Frequent feeding is normal. 

However, be aware of these warning signs that things are not normal. 

Inconsolable crying. Your baby won’t breastfeed. She will only cry. 

Your baby is feeding but you are not hearing any swallowing even though he is sucking vigorously.  

Your baby does not have any wet diapers for longer than a 12-hour stretch.

In the second day of life, your baby should have at least two wet diapers. 

Your baby is lethargic.

If your baby won’t breastfeed and only wants to sleep. This is often not the gift it sounds like it might be.

I worry more about a baby in the first few days who sleeps long stretches without eating than the baby who wants to eat constantly. 

Related Post

Feeding A Sleepy Baby – Tips And Tricks

If you are in the hospital the nurse will be monitoring all the important things. Poor feeding is a warning sign, and going longer than one 4-hour stretch would probably be considered poor feeding.

If a baby is feeding poorly your nurse will probably check his blood sugar. 

If your baby is not feeding at least every three hours, do hand expression and feed your baby all the colostrum that you express.  

If your baby has any signs of dehydration then you should supplement her.

If you can hand express or pump some colostrum use that.

If you aren’t able to get more than 10 ml then use some donor milk or formula. 

If you are home and thinking about calling your dr, make sure you know when the last wet diaper and feeding was. The doctor will ask.

Check your baby’s temperature. Your dr will probably want to know that as well. 

If you are asking yourself if you should call the doctor then you probably should. 

Keeping a log will help you keep track of feedings if your baby is not feeding frequently. It will also help you keep track of diapers.  

 

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As with all things, this too will pass. The second night will end.  

If your baby falls blissfully asleep come morning, tell your nurse that you are not to be disturbed. Unless she wants to risk an encounter with a sleep-deprived mother who finally got to fall asleep.  

Related Posts

Breastfeeding the First Day – All You Need to Know

Breastfeeding the First Week – 5 Easy to Remember Tip

 

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The post How to Safely Survive Second Night Syndrome appeared first on Breastfeeding Confidential.