As an expectant or new mother you have undoubtedly heard over and over again the benefits of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is best for your baby. Breastfeeding has many health benefits for you as a mother. Your baby will be smarter, healthier, and happier if you breastfeed. Breastfeeding is FREE! So why is it that despite all these benefits less than half of all women in Arkansas are not still breastfeeding their infants at 6 months of age as recommended by all leading health experts?
As a lactation consultant for over 15 years I have helped many new mothers get breastfeeding off to a good start. Over the years I have determined that there are three reasons that new mothers stop breastfeeding too soon:
- Pain
- Perceived insufficient milk supply “I don’t think I’m making enough milk”
- Returning to the workplace
In order to understand and resolve any one of the above problems it helps to first know what is normal and what to expect when it comes to breastfeeding for the first 10 days of your infant’s life.
The Normal Breastfeeding Timeline
The first 24 hours
Most babies will nurse better at this time than they may for the next couple of days.
Expect small frequent feedings from your newborn. Their stomach is about the size of a tablespoon!
Positioning and technique are everything at this point! Be sure and get help from the hospital lactation consultant to get these first important feedings off to a good start.
Remember, your baby is getting plenty of milk if he is meeting the goals for wet and dirty diapers on the newborn feeding record.
