Congratulations on the Birth of Your Baby!

Here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind for the first few weeks.

Signs of good feedings

✓ Feeling a deep, strong pulling sensation without sharp pain

✓ consistent sucking with only brief pauses

✓ Hearing swallowing (after the milk comes in)

✓ Latch-on is easy

✓ Vigorous sucking at the breast

✓ Breasts are softer after the feeding

✓ seeing milk in your baby’s mouth

✓ Feeling a let-down reflex or seeing a change in the baby’s feeding rhythm

✓ Adequate wet diapers and stools

✓ Minimal weight loss during first few days

✓ Baby regains birth weight by 2 weeks and gains¾ to 1 oz daily thereafter

Signs of poor feedings

✓ Feeling pain during feedings

✓ sleepy baby

✓ Inconsistent, flutter (weak) sucking

✓ Difficulty latching-on and staying on

✓ clicking or popping sounds in your baby’s mouth

✓ Prolonged nursing (more than 20-25 minutes on each side)

✓ Infrequent nursing (baby does not wake to feed at least every 3 hours)

✓ Baby is not satisfied at the end of the feeding

✓ Engorgement

✓ Inadequate wet diapers and stools

✓ Rapid or excessive weight loss (more than 7-10%) during the first few days

✓ Has not regained birth weight by 2 weeks

✓ slow weight gain thereafter (less than 1/2 – 3/4 oz per day)