Breastfeeding a Newborn Baby: 7 Questions 7 Answers!

After a wait of about 9 months, it was time to raise her baby. He has many questions in his mind, especially about the feeding of the newborn baby. You think about how to breastfeed her, whether her milk is enough, how often she breastfeeds. Then this article is for you! In this article, you can find the answers to 8 questions that we think are bothering you about breastfeeding your newborn baby.

1. How many ml of milk does a newborn drink?

The fact that your baby needs to be breastfed frequently does not indicate that he is not satiated. You can think of this as a sign that your digestive system is working properly. If your baby seems happy after feeding, “I wonder if he’s full?” Put your worries aside! If you still can’t get rid of the question marks about not getting enough nutrition, you can ask yourself these questions:

• Is my baby gaining weight?
• You may observe weight loss in your baby after birth. This is very normal. It is expected that he will regain the lost weight in 10 to 15 days. If your baby has gained weight and continues to gain weight on a regular basis, you may be worrying about feeding your baby for nothing.

• Can I hear my baby swallowing?

You can follow the sound of your baby’s swallowing, or you can get an idea of ​​how much milk he’s drinking by watching the movements in his lower jaw.

• What’s going on with my breasts?

If your baby is sucking properly, it’s not like he’s biting his nipples; You feel like you’re being pulled.

You may also notice that your breasts are soft and empty after breastfeeding.

• Your baby’s diapers?

A 1-week-old baby is expected to wet the diaper 6 to 8 times a day. You can get an idea of ​​whether you are getting enough nutrition by paying attention to how many times you change diapers during the day.

2. How many hours should a newborn be breastfed?

Since breast milk is easy to digest, the baby will be hungry within 1-2 hours at first. Therefore, the newborn baby breastfeeding frequency is determined to be once every 2 hours.

You may notice that your baby needs to suckle more often during growth spurts. In this case, “What if my body can’t keep up with this demand?” Let’s just say you don’t have to think like that. The more often you breastfeed, the more milk you produce.

3. How to breastfeed a newborn?

First of all, you can start by finding a quiet place. Then, by finding a position that will not hurt your baby’s arms, back and neck, you can ensure that the breastfeeding period is comfortable. The first thing to consider when breastfeeding a newborn baby is to make sure that your baby is in a comfortable position. While breastfeeding your baby;

• By rubbing the nipple on your baby’s lips, you can make it easier for him to open his mouth.
• If you bring your breast closer to her well-opened mouth, you will make it easier for her to grasp the entire nipple.
• You can remove the nipple by inserting one of your fingers into your baby’s mouth, so you can change the breast or stop breastfeeding.

Let us remind you that you can find more detailed information on this subject in our article on Breastfeeding Positions .

Our recommendations for newborn baby breastfeeding techniques are as follows:

• It is helpful to offer your baby both breasts at each feeding time. If your baby suckles for a long time, you can alternately breastfeed for no more than 10 minutes.
• If you last fed with your right breast at the previous feeding time, you can start the next feeding with your left breast. Thus, you ensure that your breasts are emptied evenly. You can also prevent injury and irritation of the nipples this way.
• If your baby falls asleep after 2-3 minutes of sucking, you can stimulate the sucking reflex by stroking his cheek and under his chin.

4. How should a newborn baby be breastfed at night?

Waking up a newborn to breastfeed may sound bad, but it is necessary; because these cute little ones get hungry very often. That’s why we recommend waking your baby every 3 to 4 hours. In fact, your baby will wake up on its own, even if you don’t wake it up. “Are these awakenings from hunger or from habit?” If you’re asking, we can help you decide with a few tips.

• If your baby wakes up every night at the same time as the set time, this may be a habit.
• Another indication that waking up has become a habit is falling asleep on his chest without sucking enough.

5. Is it appropriate to use a bottle for a newborn?

You should wait until she is 4 to 6 weeks old to introduce your baby to the bottle. Therefore, the use of feeding bottles is not recommended for newborn babies. However, it may be helpful to gradually get your baby used to the bottle when you go to work or go out.

6. How should I choose a bottle?

It’s a good idea to find the teat that most closely resembles the nipple to feed your baby. Also, an air-permeable teat makes it easier for your baby to control the flow of milk.

In this respect, a bottle with a wide mouth and a breathable teat that is easy to hold, fill and clean is good for both you and your baby. The clear appearance of the texts and markings on the bottle you bought will also make it easier for you to make the right measurement, making sure you know how many ml of milk your baby is drinking.

7. Is a newborn pacifier a necessity?

Don’t worry that once you calm your baby down with a pacifier, she’ll soon get used to the pacifier! But remember that there are reasons not to give him a pacifier right away. Here are some of those reasons:

• Introducing your baby to a pacifier when she’s breastfeeding can get her confused.
• The pacifier may not want to suck at feeding times, as it can satisfy the sucking feeling.
• It is better for your baby to cry to voice a problem than to shut up with a pacifier.

For these reasons, the pacifier is not a necessity for your baby. If you don’t want to use it, you can tell the nurse taking care of your baby. In cases where she is not calm, it would be better for her baby to stay next to her instead of the baby’s room.