Feeding- proper portions
How to detect the proper amount of
breast milk needed for your baby. If you are not breast feeding it is easy
to follow the measurements in the bottle telling you how much is 
enough. If you are breastfeeding however you need to monitor the baby's
bottom to find out how much is enough. A well-fed nursing baby should have
at least six wet diapers and two bowel movements in a 24-hour period. It
is also important to keep an eye on your baby's bowel movement to make
sure that your is not having constipation.
Fewer diapers could indicate he's not getting enough milk and the baby
could even get dehydrated.
You may also want to check how the nipple is positioned in the baby's
mouth since he may not be getting enough milk if he is just gnawing on it.
The nipple should be deep in the baby's mouth to maximize the milk intake.
Offer both breasts at each feeding. This way your breasts are equally
stimulated to produce milk. To increase your supply of breast milk, use a
breast pump between feedings. This pumping will stimulate your breasts to
produce more breast milk so the baby will always have enough. You can also
freeze the additional milk to use later on and to allow dad to feed baby
from a bottle. Typically allow you baby to nurse for a total of 20 to 40
minutes. During the early weeks, your baby most likely will nurse eight to
12 times a day for 10 to 20 minutes on each breast. Don’t be afraid to
wake your baby for a feeding during this period. Adequate weight gain is
the best sign that baby is eating enough. In the first week of your baby’s
life, he is almost certainly lose weight–up to 10 percent of her birth
weight. Once she’s regained her birth weight by the end of the second
week, she should begin to gain 4 to 7 ounces per week. A newborn should be
nursed whenever he shows signs of hunger, approximately 8 to 12 times per
day. If you’re with baby, you’ll know when he shows signs of hunger,
such as increased alertness or activity, rooting, searching for your
breast, or sucking his fist. Don’t wait until baby cries because crying
is a late indication of hunger. Encourage your baby to completely empty
each breast at every feeding. If your baby is less demanding, rouse him at
least every four hours for a feeding. In your baby’s first six months,
water, juice, and other foods are not necessary. Baby will get all the
nutrition he needs from your breast milk. And even as you introduce solid
foods, breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula should still be the
primary sources of nutrition for your baby. |
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