Is This Normal?
The first weeks of breastfeeding are a time of learning for both you and your baby. It’s common to wonder if what you’re experiencing is typical, especially if breastfeeding feels uncomfortable or your baby seems to want to feed frequently. It’s also typical for many of these early challenges to improve in a short time with practice and the right support.
While some discomfort and adjustment are expected, breastfeeding/chestfeeding isn’t something you have to struggle through alone. Your pediatrician and lactation consultant are here to answer questions, provide guidance, and help you and your baby get off to the best possible start.
Why Is My Baby Feeding So Often?
Newborns will often feed 10-12 times per 24 hours, and the time between feeds is not evenly spaced. A baby needs a minimum of 8 feeds per 24 hours. A baby’s stomach is very small, and milk is digested very quickly. Young babies also need to feed often to keep their energy up, as their bodies aren’t great at storing sugar for energy yet.
Feeding your baby when they show hunger cues is more effective than feeding on a schedule. You’ll want to watch for these feeding cues and respond:
- Lip smacking
- Turning their head with their mouth open (rooting)
- Putting their hand to their mouth
While some may think a very “good baby” means sleeping a lot, it could actually be a sign your baby is not waking often enough to eat.
Is My Baby Too Sleepy?
Newborns are often sleepy and may not wake up to feed even when they are hungry, until they start gaining weight regularly and their jaundice improves. This is especially true if your baby was born before 39 weeks.
Wake your baby if it has been 3 hours since the start of the last feeding. Undress them, change their diaper, and lay them on a flat surface in just their diaper until they are fully awake and fussing.
How Can I Tell if My Newborn Is Getting Enough Milk?
Count diapers to monitor how your baby is doing. Watch for poop to change from black and sticky to lighter and softer or liquid. Urination can be a small amount to start with, so focus on counting their poops. We expect to see 2-3 large poops by day 3 or 4 and for the color to get lighter. Contact your pediatrician if your baby is not producing enough diapers.
Other Signs to Look For:
- Breast fullness: Around day 4 and after, your breasts will usually feel full or firm before starting a feed. After the baby has fed well, you’ll notice that your breasts are softer and feel less full. Your baby may not always feed on both sides, but you should offer the second side after they have unlatched.
- Relaxed body language: Babies show us they are content after feeding by having a relaxed body with loose arms and soft, open hands. They will slow their sucking pace and unlatch themselves as they fall asleep.
- Falling asleep at the breast: If your baby falls asleep with the nipple still in their mouth, this can mean they are too tired to keep feeding but are still hungry. Undress your baby, burp them, change their diaper, and relatch them. You can gently squeeze the full areas of your breast to help get the milk flowing and keep the baby swallowing.
- Swallowing rhythm: Listen and look for swallows (this will become more obvious after day 3-4 when you are making more milk). Every 3-5 sucks, you should hear a swallow, which sounds like a soft “kuh” noise, and you should see the baby’s throat move. During the earlier part of feeding, when milk is flowing faster, they may follow a 1-suck-to-1-swallow pattern.
Do I Need to Pump After Feeding?
In the early days after birth, we don’t suggest pumping in addition to effective breastfeeding. However, if you are unsure if the feeding was effective, pumping can help support milk production and keep your body comfortable until you are able to see your lactation consultant for help.
If your baby does not latch well or isn’t showing signs of effective feeding, you can use your pump for about 20 minutes. Use the settings that feel the most comfortable, and check in with your lactation consultant about the correct sizing for your flanges.
If you do choose to use a bottle, very young babies take small feeds (about 10-20 mL on day 2, 15-30 mL by day 3-4). Using slow-paced feeding helps your baby learn how to take a bottle safely and avoid overeating.
Related Article: Looking for more quick strategies to help make nursing easier? Read our Top 5 Tips for Successful Breastfeeding.
When Should I See a Lactation Consultant?
- If feeding is painful after day 5, or if pain has been getting worse since your baby’s last visit. (If your nipples are bleeding or cracking, please come in right away!)
- If your baby is not making as many wet or dirty diapers as expected (at least 3 big, yellow-to-green poops by day 4).
- If you are unsure or worried about how feeding is going. Lactation consultants are available to help and want you to come in quickly whenever you feel things are not going well.
- If you plan to pump or introduce bottles, schedule an appointment with one of our lactation consultants along with your baby’s 2-week or 1-month well visit. This is a great time to learn how to use your pump and get fitted properly.
