Feeding problems
Young newborns’ agitation and wailing, as well as their parents’ worry, are frequently caused by issues with feeding. These issues could include an unwillingness to eat, continuous cries of hunger, and regurgitation brought on by swallowing too much air. For mothers who are breast-feeding, there may also be unique issues. Most of the common issues that could arise are addressed in the questionnaire above and the explanations boxes on this page.
Frequency of feeds
Babies should be fed as frequently as they seem to want, whether by bottle feeding or breastfeeding, according to contemporary childcare experts. Babies that are breastfed as newborns typically eat regularly, frequently every two hours. At the beginning, bottle-fed infants are unlikely to go longer than 3 hours between feeds. By about 6 months, most babies are comfortable with 4 main feeds per day and only sometimes wake up in the middle of the night to eat. Eventually, a pattern of fewer frequent feedings establishes itself.
Breast-feeding
The best approach to feed a newborn is to breastfeed whenever it is feasible, according to doctors. Breast milk is the most perfect and easily digestible source of all the nutrients a baby requires. Moreover, a breastfed baby receives antibodies in the milk, which are proteins that defend against infection.
Very few moms should not or cannot breastfeed their infants. With persistence and patience, the majority of the initial challenges can be overcome.
Sore nips
In the first few days of breastfeeding, the majority of new mothers feel some pain. Without therapy, this typically gets better, but here are some tips for easing the discomfort.
- Make sure your infant is properly latching on.
- Prevent your breasts from becoming overfull.
- Between feeds, try to keep your nipples as dry as possible.
- Use a neutral, lanolin-based lotion if necessary.
Keeping your milk supply steady
The majority of women give their babies exactly the proper amount of milk to suit their needs. Your supply of milk will remain plentiful according to these procedures.
- Have a healthy diet (approximately 800 calories per day more than usual).
- Don’t let yourself get too fatigued.
- When you or your infant feels the need, give them a feed.
- When you normally feed your baby, if you must briefly stop, express your milk so that you can finish later.
- Don’t give your infant milk bottles until your own supply is established (about 6 weeks). Even then, only use a bottle to feed if necessary. If your doctor doesn’t advise it, don’t add bottle feedings to your breastfeed.
Overfull breasts
This might make latching on challenging for your baby, which can be painful for you. There are some recommendations for solving these issues.
- Encourage your infant to eat often.
- If your infant is having trouble lathering on, extract some milk from the nips before each feeding.
- Express some milk if your breasts are quite full and your baby isn’t yet ready to eat.