New Born Baby Care

Feeding the Baby

 

Your first feeding decision is to choose whether you want to feed your child with a bottle or breastfeed.

 

 Once you've made that decision,  you may be worried about how many times your baby needs to be fed.

 

Generally, doctors advise feeding your baby whenever he or she seems hungry, which is called demand feeding. Your baby may cue you to his or her hunger by crying, putting his or her fingers in his or her mouth, or making sucking noises.

 

A newborn baby may need to be fed as often as every 2 hours or perhaps more frequently. If you're breast-feeding, give your baby the chance to nurse about 10 to 15 minutes at each breast. If you're feeding your infant with a bottle, he or she will most likely take about 2 to 3 ounces of infant formula at each feeding.

 

Some newborns may need to be awakened every few hours to make sure they get enough to eat. Call your baby's doctor if you need to awaken your newborn frequently or if your baby doesn't seem to take an interest in eating or sucking.

 

If you are formula-feeding your child, you can more easily monitor if he or she is getting enough to eat - after all, what goes in must come out. However, if you're breast-feeding, you may wonder if your baby is eating enough. If he or she seems satisfied, produces about six wet diapers and several stools a day, sleeps well, and is gaining weight regularly, then your baby is probably eating enough. Talk to your child's doctor if you have concerns about your child's growth or feeding schedule.

 

Babies often swallow air during feedings, which can cause them to become fussy. You can prevent this fussiness by burping your baby frequently. If you are bottle-feeding, burp your baby every 2 to 3 ounces. If you are breast-feeding, burp your baby each time he or she switches breasts with one of the following burping strategies:

 

Hold your baby upright with his or her head on your shoulder. Support your baby's head and back while you gently pat his or her back with your other hand.

 

Sit your baby on your lap. Support your baby's chest and head with one hand and gently rub his or her back with the other.

 

Lay your baby on your lap with his or her back facing up. Support your baby's head in the crook of your arm and gently pat or rub his or her back.

 

If your baby hasn't burped after several minutes, finish the feeding you've started. Afterward, burp your baby again and keep him or her in an upright position for 10 to 15 minutes to avoid spitting up.

 

Breastfeeding

 

Breast feeding is the best and most natural mode of feeding and providing nourishment to your baby. Nature designed human milk especially for human babies, and it has several advantages over any substitute ever developed. Feeding your baby should be a pleasure. The baby should be at the breast immediately after birth. Breastfeeding also benefits the mother. Breastfeeding releases hormones that have been found to relax the mother and cause her to experience nurturing feelings toward her infant.

 

Breastfeeding as soon as possible after giving birth increases levels of oxytocin which encourages the womb to contract more quickly. This helps to decrease bleeding after the birth. Breastfeeding can also help the mother to return to her previous weight as the fat accumulated during pregnancy is used in milk production.

The vast majority of newborns can be put to breast within minutes of birth. There is no substitute for the colostrums (the thick yellowish fluid) that your breasts produce in the first few days and feeding your baby this will provide him with valuable antibodies to help him fight infection  and built up immunity in the early months. 

 

Studies have also shown that skin to skin contact between mothers and babies keeps the baby as warm as an incubator. Breast milk contains just the right balance of nutrient, and it contains them in a form most easily used by the human baby's immature body systems. 

Breastfeed whenever your baby is hungry without any restriction of time. Feed your baby even during the night. You can breastfeed the baby even lying down although the best way is to sit upright and feed. It is a common doubt for breast feeding mothers whether their baby is getting enough milk. You can find out, by checking whether the baby is passing colourless urine at least 8 - 10 times a day. 

 

How to Breast Feed

 

Wash your hand and nipples with water and soap. 

 

Sit comfortably in an upright position with your back supported and hold your baby with her head up.

 

Put a pillow on your lap to bring the baby to the right level of the breasts.

 

Hole your breast with your index and medium fingers.

 

Introduce your nipple and areola (the dark circle around your nipple) inside the baby's mouth. 

 

Feed at one breast at a time till it is empty (because the initial milk (foremilk) is watery (contains sugar and proteins) and quenches the baby's thirst while the milk that is secreted later (hind milk) is rich in fats and satisfies baby's hunger.)

 

After the first breast is empty, burp her and shift to the second breast. 

 

You can alternately start the feeds at either of the breast. 

 

Put your small finger inside the baby's mouth in order to take out your breast easily.

 

Feeding while lying down is more comfortable but don't fall asleep or the child could inadvertently be suffocated if you roll over with the breast still in his mouth. 

 

After breast feeding  burp up any swallowed air, giving him soft strokes on the back.

 

 

 

 

 

Back