Introducing them before breastfeeding might cause "nipple confusion," and can lead to an infant giving up the breast. Commercially prepared infant formula is a nutritious alternative to breast milk. Bottle feeding can offer more freedom and flexibility for moms, and it makes it easier to know how much the baby is getting. Because babies digest formula more slowly than breast milk, a baby who is getting formula may need fewer feedings than one who breastfeeds.
Formula feeding also can make it easier to feed the baby in public, and lets the father and other family members help feed the baby, which can enhance bonding. Just as breastfeeding has its unique demands, so does bottle feeding. Bottle feeding requires organization and preparation, especially if you want to take your baby out. Also, formula can be pretty expensive. It's important to make sure that you have enough formula on hand, and bottles that are clean and ready to be used.
Your newborn will nurse about 8 to 12 times per day during the first weeks of life. In the beginning, mothers may want to try nursing 10—15 minutes on each breast, then adjust the time as necessary. Breastfeeding should be on demand when your baby is hungry , which is generally every 1—3 hours. As newborns get older, they'll nurse less often and have longer stretches between feedings.
Newborn babies who are getting formula will likely take about 2—3 ounces every 2—4 hours. Newborns should not go more than about 4—5 hours without feeding.
A feeding schedule is not necessary; you and your baby will eventually establish your routine. Babies know and will let their parents know when they're hungry and when they've had enough. Watch for signs that your baby is full slowing down, spitting out the bottle or unlatching from breast, closing the mouth, turning away from the breast or bottle and stop the feeding when these signs appear. As babies grow, they begin to eat more at each feeding and can go longer between feedings. There may be other times when your infant seems hungrier than usual.
Continue to nurse or feed on demand. Nursing mothers need not worry — breastfeeding stimulates milk production and your supply of breast milk will adjust to your baby's demand for it. New moms often worry about whether their babies are getting enough to eat. It's important for all infants to be seen by their pediatrician 48 to 72 hours after a mother and newborn leave the hospital.
During this visit, the baby will be weighed and examined, and feeding questions and concerns can be addressed. You can be assured that your baby is getting enough to eat if he or she seems satisfied, produces about six to eight wet diapers a day, has regular bowel movements, sleeps well, is alert when awake, and is gaining weight.
A baby who is fussing, crying, seems hungry, and does not appear satisfied after feeding may not be getting enough to eat. If you're concerned that your baby isn't getting enough to eat, call your doctor. Many infants "spit up" a small amount after eating or during burping, but a baby should not vomit after feeding.
Vomiting after every feeding might be a sign of an allergy, digestive problem, or other problem that needs medical attention. If you have concerns that your baby is spitting up too much, call your doctor. Breast milk has the right combination of vitamins and easily absorbed iron for newborns.
A healthy infant being nursed by a healthy mother does not need any additional vitamins or nutritional supplements, with the exception of vitamin D. The AAP recommends that all breastfed babies begin getting vitamin D supplements within the first few days of life, continuing until they get enough vitamin D-fortified formula or milk after 1 year of age.
Iron-fortified formula contains the right blend of vitamins and minerals for a baby, so supplements usually aren't necessary. In this case, talk to your doctor about how often your baby should be fed. Despite what you might think, crying is a late sign of hunger. You should give a feeding before your baby gets so hungry that he or she gets upset and becomes difficult to calm down.
It's also important, however, to realize that every time your baby cries it is not necessarily because of hunger. Sometimes babies just need to be cuddled or changed. Or they could be overstimulated, bored, or too hot or too cold. If your baby cries only an hour after a good feeding, there may be something else causing the distress.
In the first few weeks, mix 2- to 3-ounce to milliliter bottles for your newborn. Gradually increase this amount as you become familiar with your baby's eating patterns and appetite.
Here's a general look at how much your baby may be eating at different stages:. As babies gain weight, they should begin to eat more at each feeding and go longer between feedings.
Still, there may be times when your little one seems hungrier than usual. Your baby may be going through a period of rapid growth called a growth spurt.
These can happen at any time, but in the early months growth spurts often occur at around:. That first hour period after birth can be a learning curve for the baby to literally learn how to eat and be alert enough to eat. One study found that, on average, infants who were breastfed ate around eight times and had three wet or dirty diapers in the first 24 hours of life.
You may be shocked to see how little your newborn is actually eating through breastfeeding in that first day of life, too. Keep in mind that until your milk comes in around postpartum day three , your baby is drinking colostrum only.
Colostrum is like concentrated superfood full of calories and nutrients, which is why it is adequate even in its small amounts the first couple days. Think quality over quantity. Of course, every baby is different. If you miss that very active stage, your baby may be sleepier later, which makes it harder to practice latching on for that first initial feeding. Your nurse and doctor will be able to help you determine if your baby needs some additional encouragement to nurse or supplement.
The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP explains that after the first few days, your formula-fed newborn will drink around 2 to 3 ounces 60 to 90 milliliters of formula with every feeding.
This is compared to a breastfed baby, who will usually eat every two to three hours. By the time your baby is 1 month old, they should be eating around 4 ounces every four hours.
In general, for the first months of life, a newborn will eat around every two to three hours, but this will vary. The feeding timeline starts from the time your baby starts breastfeeding.
For example, in the first few weeks, if your baby starts eating at 2 p. Hello, human milk bar! Sometimes your baby may nurse more or less frequently.
0コメント