BREASTFEEDING IN THE FIRST 2-3 HOURS AFTER BIRTH

***For the purposes of this instruction, the baby will always be “he” and the mother will be “you” or “her”; additionally, “LC” is the abbreviation for “Lactation Consultant”

***Also, these first articles will address only WELL, TERM Newborns (i.e. those babies born without complication and after 37 weeks of gestation in a hospital setting) and a mother WITHOUT medical complications

****The information I need to tell you regarding the first 2-3 hours after your baby is born is Very extensive.  Therefore, I will be breaking it down into much smaller chucks so you can digest it more easily.  Please read all of the sections as they all go together to support your success in the first moments after your baby’s birth.

Make no mistake…the first 2-3 hours after birth ARE the most important to breastfeeding. Not only for your personal time with your new baby (before the REST of the family descends and you feel like you’ll never get him back!), but additionally (and honestly more importantly), it is important for your baby to latch on and nurse as well as possible as he will still have a good surge of your calories running around in him to give him the energy for a nutritive feeding effort.

Breastfeeding: HOURS 12-24 After Birth

After about 10-12 hours of “trying” to feed him….his little “lightbulb” is going to go back on and he’s going to seem to think to himself “hey….I’m kinda hungry now.”  Feedings will be better now, and more often (as mentioned before)…but please recognize….Not every feeding is going to be awesome!  You don’t eat a four-course-meal every time you eat either, Do you?  This is where that “range” of feeding comes in.  If he feeds at least 20 minutes (total time)- that’s a great feeding! If he will wait to the longer range…great!  If he does NOT feed at least 20 minutes (total time), try more often!

Breastfeeding: THE NEXT 10-12 HOURS

Now that you’ve had great (or at least adequate?) first feeding….he’s going to shut down.  Seriously.  It’s been a rough day for him too!  So now, he wants to sleep.  Now during this time, I DO expect you to TRY to feed him. Babies should be offered the breast every 2-3 hours during the day and every 3-4 hours at night.  When it’s “time” to feed: strip him naked except his diaper (yes, no clothes.  Skin to skin contact is SUPER important for both you and him and your body heat WILL keep him warm – just make sure to cover him back up when you’re burping him or changing sides); check his diaper (I mean, who wants to be squishy when you’re trying to eat?!); sit him up and try to burp him (I don’t actually expect him to burp at this time, either between breasts or after feedings…I mean, there’s no air in the breast, right? But the stimulation provided by burping is usually enough to wake him up enough to feed.) However, if you’ve truly tried for 10-15 minutes and he’s clearly ‘saying’ to you “nope. I’m not doin’ it. Leave me alone”…please…Leave him alone!  Enjoy the snuggle time.  Get some rest.

Up Next: Hours 12-24

***For the purposes of this instruction, the baby will always be “he” and the mother will be “you” or “her”

***Also, these first articles will address only WELL, TERM Newborns (i.e. those babies born without complication and after 37 weeks of gestation in a hospital setting) and a mother WITHOUT medical complications

****The information I need to tell you regarding the first 2-3 hours after your baby is born is Very extensive.  Therefore, I will be breaking it down into much smaller chucks so you can digest it more easily.  Please read all of the sections as they all go together to support your success in the first moments after your baby’s birth.

BREASTFEEDING AFTER BIRTH: THE SECOND DAY/ UP UNTIL DISCHARGE DAY

As mentioned before, his little stomach is going to begin to stretch, and as it does so, his feedings will begin to get longer, and longer, and closer together.  Please remind yourself…”this is his job….this is his job…” Again, this is totally supply and demand…..he demands…you supply.

Along the way, you also need to remember that “you have to have it to give it.”  This is where you need to take care of yourself.  Make sure you are eating and drinking.  Especially drinking!

There are several things along the way that you will notice that will let you know that he is doing his job well: