Newborn Photos: A Simple Breastfeeding Checkpoint
By the time you’re dressing your baby for newborn photos, two things should be changing with...
One of the most common fears in the first few weeks of motherhood is that your baby may not be getting “enough” to eat. If you are direct breastfeeding, not seeing exactly how much milk your baby takes in can provoke anxiety. I’ve been there! Even for pumping or combination moms, knowing exactly how much their baby needs compared to how much they are making can feel elusive and mysterious. Unfortunately, worry about milk supply is the most common reason women choose to stop breastfeeding.
So, is there a way to trade the chaos of anxious emotions for calm and confidence that your baby is getting ENOUGH? Yes.
It is very common for babies to lose weight after they are born. This is due to multiple factors like fluids during labor and delivery as well as low volume feedings while babies get colostrum.
It is generally accepted my pediatric health professionals that babies may loose up to 10% of their birthweight for vaginal deliveries and up to 12% of their birthweight for cesarian deliveries. As mom’s milk begins to increase in volume in the first week postpartum, infants will begin gaining that weight back. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommend frequent on-demand feeding (on demand means watching your baby for hunger cues and not a clock or schedule!). Most infants want to eat 8-12 times per 24 hours and will be back to their birth weight between 10-14days of life.
Your baby’s weight is the best way to be reassured that they are getting enough! I recommend partnering with a healthcare provider like me or a breastfeeding knowledgeable pediatrician who can monitor this at your regular follow up visits. Weighing your baby on a scale at home is not reliable and shouldn’t substitute care from a physician.
Healthy infants will gain between 4-7 ounces a week for the first 6 months of life. That’s a big range, and both ends of the spectrum are healthy!
Some babies may take smaller feedings at a time and nurse more often, and others may get larger volumes and nurse less frequently. This is due to every mother’s unique storage capacity (how much milk she can hold in her breasts at one time).
If your baby has not regained their birthweight by fourteen days of life or you are concerned that your milk has not come in to support regular on-demand feedings, reach out and schedule a visit today! Never worry alone.
