1. In general, most babies have an initial period of weight loss. Don’t be alarmed unless this continues beyond one week of age or your baby loses weight after a period of gain.

2. In general, the baby should gain 6-8 oz./week. Of course, small babies tend to gain less, and large babies tend to gain more.

3. No matter what the method of feeding, the baby will feed better when alert and awake.

4. Babies do not need cereal or solid foods for several months.

5. Babies do not need additional water.

Breast-Feeding

We encourage you to breast-feed. Even if you decide to breast-feed for just a short time after your baby is born, it is worthwhile and beneficial. There are lots of reasons why breast-feeding is best for your baby and for you, too.

• Breast-feeding is an act of love - a way of caring that only you can give your baby.
• Breast-feeding gets mom’s shape back faster. It helps mom’s uterus shrink back to its normal size quicker. Making breast milk uses calories, so mothers may lose weight too.
• Breast-feeding saves money. It’s free
• Breast-feeding is more convenient. You won’t have to sterilize bottles, mix formula, chill it and reheat it. It’s always ready when the baby wants to eat.
• Nighttime feedings are easier. No fixing and warming bottles in the middle of the night.
• Breast milk provides all the nutrients your baby needs for the first 4-6 months of life.
• Breast-fed babies are generally healthier. They tend to have less diarrhea, ear infections, colds, etc. There are factors in breast milk that provide protection against viruses and bacteria and help fight disease.
• Mothers can breast-feed almost anywhere without being noticed. Just wear a blouse that can be pulled up from the waist and throw a scarf or blanket over your shoulder.
• Breast-fed babies smell better. Spit-ups and diapers have a less unpleasant smell.
• Breast-fed babies don’t get constipated and seldom get diarrhea.
• Breast-feeding is ecological. It is a "renewable resource" and there is no trash to discard.
• Breast-feeding can prevent or lessen the severity of allergies.
• There is a lower risk of cancer with breast-feeding. Several studies have shown that women who breast-feed have less breast and uterine cancer. Children who were breast-fed developed less of certain types of cancers.
• There is a lower incidence of juvenile diabetes in breast-fed children.
• Breast milk is more compatible with the baby’s stomach. Breast-fed babies have less stomach upsets.
• Breast-fed babies may have slightly higher I.Q.’s than formula fed babies.

1. Getting started: Try not to get discouraged if you feel awkward or your baby is uninterested in nursing the first few times you try to nurse your baby. Neither of you may accomplish a great deal on the first few tries. But that’s all right. You are learning to work as a "nursing couple" with your baby. Breast-feeding is a skill that mothers and babies must practice. The important thing is to hold your baby close, talk to and comfort your newborn.

2. Positioning: The following steps explain how to position your baby at the breast in order to ensure that baby sucks well and gets plenty of milk and also to prevent nipple soreness and pain:

• Position yourself properly: Sit up in a bed, in a comfortable armchair, or rocking chair or lay on your side. Pillows are a must. Use them behind your head and back, under your elbow, and on your lap when sitting up to support the baby. Use a footstool to bring your knees up. You should be relaxed with none of your muscles straining.
• Position your baby properly. Baby should be lying on its side with the baby’s whole body facing you. Baby’s chest and abdomen should be in contact with your body. Baby’s ear, shoulder, and hips should be in a straight line. Baby’s head should be straight, in line with its body, not arched back or turned sideways. Baby should be held up at the level of your breast so you are not leaning forward to reach your infant and your baby is not straining to reach your nipple. Using a pillow on your lap will help.

3. Offer your breast to the baby.   Cup your breast with your free hand, supporting it with your fingers underneath and your thumb on top. Your thumb and index finger should form a "C." Be sure your fingers are behind the areola.

4. Encourage baby to latch on properly. Tickle baby’s lips with your nipple. If your baby turns its head away, gently stroke the cheek on the side nearest you. The rooting reflex will make your baby turn its head toward you. Then try again to tickle your newborn’s lips. When baby opens its mouth wide, quickly center your nipple in baby’s mouth and pull baby toward you with the arm that is holding your infant. It’s important to pull your baby in very close to you, not move forward toward baby. If baby gets frustrated you may have to stop and soothe your baby a bit before starting again. Stimulation of the nipple causes the milk to "let down."

5. Effective sucking techniques. In order to suck effectively, the baby must get a large portion of your areola into its mouth along with the nipple. Be sure your nipple is centered in baby’s mouth and is above the baby’s tongue. Baby should be pulled in so close that the tip of its nose and the baby’s chin touches your breast. Your baby will still be able to breathe quite well. If baby’s nose does seem blocked by your breast, try lifting up your breast or pulling baby’s body in closer to you rather than pressing down on the top of your breast. You will know your baby is sucking well when you can hear your baby swallowing.

6. Frequency of breast-feeding. Wake your baby for feeding if baby sleeps more than three hours. It is important that you nurse the baby at least every 2 to 3 hours, or 8 to 12 times per day, to ensure that the breast feeding is well established.

7. Vary Nursing Positions. It’s important to vary the positions you use to breast-feed your baby. When you are holding the baby at a different angle, the baby is putting pressure on different areas of your nipple, breast, and areola and this will help to prevent soreness.

a. The cradle hold is usually the easiest hold to use when first learning to breast-feed, unless sitting up is uncomfortable because of episiotomy or hemorrhoidal pain. Sit up in bed, or in a comfortable chair. Use pillows to support your head and back, under your elbows, and on your lap, to support your newborn. If you are sitting in a chair use a footstool to bring your knees up to relax your hips and legs.

b. You can also lie on your side with a pillow under your head. Have baby lying on its side facing you with your infant’s mouth in line with your nipple. Place your arm under the baby with baby’s head on the crook of your elbow. Lean back into the pillows that are behind your back and offer your breast to the baby by supporting it with your fingers underneath and your thumb above, well behind the areola. Encourage the baby to latch on properly by tickling the lips until baby opens its mouth wide. Then quickly center your nipple in the baby’s mouth and pull baby in close so your infant can suck effectively.

c. Another useful position is the football hold. Position baby with baby’s legs under your arm and baby’s head resting in your hand. You’ll need to use pillows to bring baby up to the level of your breast.

It is important to remember that whichever position you are holding your baby to nurse, baby’s whole body should be turned toward you, and you and the baby should be "chest-to-chest."

More about Breast Feeding - Page 2