The baby in the first few days

Newborn - the adaptation period of the child. During this period it is important to ensure quality breastfeeding - it is the key to health and normal development of the body, passing the adaptation period without complications. Feeding newborns is an important component of the emotional mood of the mother.

Before real milk appears in the breast, for the first few days the newborn feeds on colostrum. It is a nutritious mixture that contains antibodies, proteins and fats in maximum quantity. After 3-5 days, milk appears in the mother's breast - it may be yellowish in color, this is normal, sometimes there is stagnation of milk. Information about lactostasis can be found here.

Newborns are fed an average of 10 times a day. Neonatologists emphasize that the feeding schedule of newborns should be selected individually and based solely on the behavior of the baby. Some require breastfeeding every two hours, some are quite satisfied with feeding every 4 hours. The desire of the child to take food can be seen in the restlessness and the characteristic protrusion of the lips - this manifests the innate search instinct. Many newborns have a burst of appetite at certain times of the day - for example, in the evening they do not demand the breast after two hours, but literally every 30 minutes.

Feed your baby as much as his body desires - a well-fed baby will simply let the nipple out of his mouth. If the breast is rough and small cracks have appeared, after feeding you can squeeze out some milk and smear it on the nipple and the areola around it - this will disinfect it and promote faster healing.

The question of supplementation should be decided only by a doctor - no amateurishness! The following factors may be indications for this:

• the baby is not gaining weight 14 days after birth;
• the rate of weight loss exceeds 10% of birth weight;
• height and head circumference are unchanged;
• There are visible signs of dehydration and starvation - little (or no) stool, the fontanel becomes sunken, the skin turns gray, the child is constantly sleeping.

In particularly severe cases, the child is hospitalized with the mother for constant monitoring by specialists - weighing before and after feeding, laboratory testing of breast milk, examination of the newborn for possible pathologies.

Feeding of newborns should be carried out in accordance with the recommendations of pediatric neonatologists, which each woman receives in the maternity hospital.

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