*Breast Feeding* 1St Day How Will I Know If She's Getting the Colostrum?

Colostrum is so full of nutrition that baby needs very very little.

I was told to go by her output. If baby's output is good, her input is good.

You could make yourself crazy with all of the "how will I know" questions that will come with a new baby. The nurses/lactation consultants will help you with your questions, but chances are pretty good that your baby will just fine.

Nurse baby on-demand.
Breastfeeding sessions, can take time.
It can take about 15 minutes, to get to the Hind Milk.
When my kids were babies, I nursed until they were done.
They pull away or fall asleep when done.
There were times they'd be latched on nursing actively for 1/2 hour or more even.
I used BOTH breasts, each time, each nursing session.
And my kids drained both breasts.

The Hospital Nurses, will aide you.
They will know if baby is not latching on and coach you on nursing. That was the case, when I was at the Hospital.

DO NOT give Formula or use Formula to replace nursing. If you do, your milk supply will not come in or your milk supply will not produce enough.
IF for some reason, your baby cannot nurse or you do not have milk, then, you can supplement with Formula.
The point being, that baby gets enough intake... all day.

Infants, will often need to feed even every.single.hour. This is called "cluster feeding" and is normal.
Do not nurse according to a 'schedule.' Because a baby does not work that way. Nursings have to keep up with the baby. Not the baby, going according to a schedule for nursing.

You also need to know your baby's cues for hunger.
Crying, them rooting, turning toward you, their hand in their mouth etc.

Always feed on-demand, 24/7, day AND night.
ALL hours.

At growth-spurts, a baby will feed more frequently and need more intake.
In infants, growth-spurts are every 3 weeks about. Then at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and so forth, every 3 months.

For the first 2 weeks, baby's stomach is no bigger than a marble. You have 2 weeks to get help and actively ensure she's latching properly before worrying about lack of nutrition is even an issue.

Allow baby to lay on your chest while you are laying down or at a soft incline. Your baby will take little bit - but they will latch on without any help. If you feel the baby isn't latching, squeeze your nipple between two fingers to flatten it a bit and insert it into the baby's rooting open mouth.

Breastfeeding isn't usually hard, and there are TONS of resources available if you look around. Le Leche Leagues, WIC usually has a LC or IBCLC on staff, hospitals SHOULD also. Midwives are great resources for breastfeeding classes and information too!!

If the baby is latched and getting what they should be, you will hear very slight gulping and breathing thru the nose. Clicking usually means the latch isn't the best.

S., I'm concerned about your statement, "It scares me to think she could go a whole week without getting enough before I'll be told by a doctor we need to switch to something else." If you are committed to breast feeding, you should do everything you can to try and make it work. There are very few women who truly can't, because of ill health or damage to the breast, make enough colostrum and milk for their baby if they're feeding their baby on demand (when he wants it).

I have been nursing twins for 17 months without formula supplementation and I can tell you that it hasn't always been easy. I've suffered through thrush and three episodes of mastitis. I nursed with the stomach flu. I nursed through the newborn period when I couldn't go more than an hour without a baby at the breast. I think that people who will tell you that nursing is easy were lucky.

Nursing is not easy. It's a commitment to your health and your baby's health. I would not willingly choose to feed my babies any other way. Once we got past the newborn stage, my twins and I have been much more mobile than other mothers. All we need for a day out are 6 diapers, wipes and some extra clothes. My diaper bag is the size of a small purse. When my boys are hungry, I just feed them. They don't have to wait for me to mix formula or heat a bottle, which means a heck of a lot less crying. Plus, I don't have to wash bottles or worry about them getting sick from formula that has set too long.

So, with that being said, please trust your body. Get as much rest and good food as you can and feed your baby whenever he/she starts to act hungry (turning head toward your body, tongue thrusting, sucking on fingers, mewling). Your body will respond to the stimulation of baby's sucking and produce plenty of colostrum and milk. As far as knowing if your baby is getting colostrum, you want to look for at least six messy or wet diapers a day. The colostrum will help baby clear the sticky black poop and then watch out! You're going to have a poop monster on your hands!

Good luck! Your baby will be happier and healthier at the breast. And remember, some weight loss is normal in the first week, so just because baby losses some weight doesn't mean he/she isn't getting enough to eat.

I always fed my children as needed. They will cry usually when hungry. When they are newborn they sleep an awful lot and this is a good sign that they are satisfied. The nurses at the hospital will assist you and make sure the baby is getting the proper grip for the most successful feeding. Once you hold the baby for a while a "let down" will occur and you can definitely feel this in your breast. It will get stronger as the baby grows and the supply meets the baby's demand. It is all pretty natural and your best thing to do is just relax.

The only thing I have to add to all these wonderful responses is it took my first 4 full days before he finally REALLY latched on and my milk finally let down. He didn't starve, he wasn't dehydrated, I'm glad I waited it out. After that he was a PRO before the end of the first day he figured it out.

Congratulations to you and your family!!

:)

I never gave my kids formula. My pediatrician pointed out that babies are not born hungry, but they are born ready to nurse, so the initial feeding is more for bonding and helping the baby learn to latch. It is not clear to me if you have already had her. Your nurse should be able to check to make sure your baby is latched on, but you should see her jaw moving and her ear moving as she nurses, with pauses to swallow. Newborns have very small stomachs so even just a short nursing time on one breast counts as a feeding. Additionally, the hospital should tell you how many wet diapers and stools to expect each day (my kids always seemed to exceed those numbers exponentially). Your pediatrician or someone from his/her office should also visit your baby at the hospital and you should not be discharged before then. Any of your medical team should be able to reassure you about breastfeeding, but call the hospital and ASK if they have a lactation consultant. Good luck. Very rarely are women not able to produce enough milk for their babies.

You know how much she is getting by how much weight she gains and how much she is filling her diaper, that is why it's a good idea to keep a little diaper changing journal and feeding time chart the first 3 or 4 days.

And yes, breastfeeding can hurt like hell if you have cracked nipples, a poor latch, clogged ducts.. whoever said it doesn't hurt must have had some miraculous experiences.

But, there are lots of remedies that can help with all of these things. Your lactation consultant can surely help you! good luck, it's a wonderful thing!

As for colostrum, that is the first substance that develops in the mother's milk. If you have breastfed, your baby has gotten the colostrum.

I'm not sure if anyone clarified this - it's not true that the baby shouldn't lose weight. Babies normally lose weight in the first week or so!! They are born with extra water so that's what they lose. (if I remember right) Doctors are concerned when babies lose more than 7-10% of their birth weight (so for a 7 lb baby, more than 10-11 oz).

As a childbirth educator, I have breastfeeding bookmarks on knowing if the baby is well-fed and is positioned well - also what to expect with poop. Here's some tips: A well fed baby nurses at least 8 times each 24-hr period (nurse on demand though - no schedule), seem happy (but they may be crying for something else than hunger), you can see a newborn swallow (should wiggle their ears), and is back to birth weight by 2 weeks. A baby with a good latch has a wide open mouth like a yawn & the baby takes more breast in with his bottom lip (not symmetrical). Another good sign is that the baby is pooping meconium within the first 24 hrs. If you want the bookmarks, message me your address.

I see your up in NE Ariz. Your closest La Leche would be in Flagstaff. Leaders do provide help over the phone. You can email the leader now to establish contact, and you can call whenever you need it after the birth. http://www.lllofnorthaz.org/leaders/

Are you giving birth at Tuba City? I've heard it's a great hospital. In a few weeks, our doula organization will actually be touring there.

As others have said, just relax as much as possible about this. The baby doesn't even need any nutrition for the first day or two. They are born "full". That gives you time to just practice the latch on. Your baby will not be dehydrated, so do not let any nurse at the hospital tell you they need to give it formula or sugar water.

I say that because I had a crabby old nurse my first night and she "threatened" to give my daughter sugar water if she didn't nurse "long enough". Well, I had read enough info to know this nurse was wrong and my baby was fine. So I actually lied to the nurse about how long my baby nursed so that she left us alone :-) We got the hang of nursing by the second day and had a great run of it from then on.

I only nursed from one side each feeding the entire time (11 months) that I nursed my daughter. So there is no right/wrong way to do this.

Ok lots of good questions here. First off breast feeding doesn't really hurt in my opinion so don't worry about that. You should be able to express some colostrum and/or milk by hand to know if it has come in. You will be able to feel if the baby has latched on or not. I can't really explain how it feels but you'll just know. I really struggled the first 2 weeks with getting my daughter to latch on, but I didn't give up and now we are doing great. You will know if the baby is getting enough by how much peeps or poops they are producing. The hospital should actually have you fill out a paper saying how long you fed and how many dirty diapers etc. Also a pediatrician should check on the baby and tell you how they are doing. So much of this will make a lot of sense once the baby comes. My biggest piece of advice is don't give up on breast feeding too soon. I almost gave up bc I was struggling and exhausted but I am so glad I didn't. If you wanna chat message me on here!

Early congrats,
J. :)

Colustrum is the first thing your breasts will produce after childbirth. There is no need for formula as long as YOU are healthy, hydrated, and not on meds that precludes you from nursing. Make sure your baby has a good latch. This is very important. You will know your baby is getting enough because she will have a dark bowel movement and regular wet diapers.

Blessings to you both! You will do fine!

The nurses will help you too and be able to answer questions, help with positioning and latch. Many babies do loose weight for the first few days and then start putting it back on.

The nurses will also be checking the baby periodically- temp, etc. Also keep track of wet and dirty diapers- a good indication that they are eating. Our nurses always asked and kept a log of when our son ate, how long, on which or both sides, and any wet or dirty diapers.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Our little one is two months old the hospital here did not have a lactation consultant, but they had a breastfeeding class, handouts, videos and great nurses to help if needed. Our would eat every one to three hours at first and he would be content afterwards and go back to sleep. Sometimes you will have milk dribbling out so you will see it and sometimes you can see a little around their mouths while they are eating. Also listen for swallowing, I can't remember how many but you can tell suck, suck ,suck, swallow. After a few days it is about every 1-2 sucks per swallow if I remember correctly. The pediatrician will probably come and check the baby over while in the hospital too, I know all of the ones around here do and they do daily checks for the time they are there, which was 48 hours for routine deliveries here.

Good luck to you and I hope all goes well!

I found that the nurses in the hospital tend to make you frantic with what the baby should be doing... when I left the hospital my baby still wasn't latching on and I was so nervous, just like you. I scheduled an appointment with a lactation consultant (not through the hospital) within the first week and she was a godsend... I tell all my friends who are expecting to find a lactation consultant who is really supportive of breastfeeding and schedule an meeting within the first week. It will totally help ease your mind, I promise!

Your baby will get enough colostrum, they don't need very much. Chances are that your milk will not come in until you are home. Must have a breast pump at home. Usually baby will latch on to one breast and not the other and that will cause the other breast to get engorged. Olive oil helps on the nipples as does silk jammies if you are going au naturel. It takes much practice to manually express but once you get the hang of it it is just as easy as a pump. the more milk you use the more milk you make. always have a glass of water within reach while nursing and use something (mini stuffed animal) under your breast to help you get/keep it in position. You will make the most and richest milk the first month so it is good to pump/express and freeze for emergency (growth spurt when you feel the baby is not getting enough). I used those plastic baggies with the twist ties that are the refills for the bottles (don't know if they still have those--i'm old). I did not use those bottles, just the bags to freeze in. Later on you need milk to mix with the rice cereal so those are handy for that too.
You do feel like you are nursing round the clock with no breaks. That is normal. My day it was every 2 hrs but if sometimes it takes 1 hr to nurse (the baby likes to falls asleep sometimes right when your milk lets down), you are actually starting over in an hour. Someone mentioned that their baby only nursed on one side, i had one of those kids too, and i pumped/expressed on the other side .
There is so much advice out there on this subject but it is really good to find an expert that you can call/meet with to answer questions as they happen.
Good luck.

Our pediatrician came to the hospital the day our son was born. The baby will need to be examined by a pediatrician shortly after birth (even if it isn't yours for some reason.) Trust the hospital staff. They will help you immensly.

Hi,
I had a hard time understanding the process too- one thing that helped me is finding a lactation class at the hospital. it's a weekly (maybe bi-weekly) thing that does an hour long class. Look it up, b/c they'll be able to guide you.

Another thing that helped, the baby will let you know when they're hungry. Most likely, you will be working right, but still doubt yourself... babies are connected to a food source for 9 straight months, so they're going to want to eat!! One thing our midwife told us, that really helped - when the baby cries - feed them first. don't worry about wet diapers (they just spent 9 months in water for goodness sakes) don't worry about anything else. try feeding. IT WORKED! we breastfed exclusively, but as a new mom, I did have doubts.

It will work out for you!!!! Just trust yourself, your baby and your body!! :)

Good luck!!!

You've gotten some good response, just wanted to add that the amount of colostrum you will produce will be just a few teaspoons a day until your milk comes in. You will be fine, just keep at it:)

I didn't read your responses, so I might be repeating what you've already read....but the best way for me to know was if you can see/hear Baby swallowing. If she is latched on well and is sucking/swallowing for several minutes, then obviously she's getting something. And then obviously, the more she drinks/eats...the more she pees/poops!! I remember always feeling relieved when my babies would have nice full diapers during their first few days of life! GOOD LUCK!!!

Dear S., if you are committed to breastfeeding, do not give in to formula. As long as your baby nurses immediately after birth and frequently thereafter and is allowed ro finish the feeding completely, ge will have all of the milk needed for proper growth and development. Milk production is regulated by supply and demand which means the more milk is removed, the more milk that is made. Therefore, the less milk that is removed, the less milk that is made. Feed your baby on demand. Breastfeeding us a learned experience for both you and your baby. Be patient and do not give in to formula or bottles or pacifiers if you want to be successful at it. Your hospital should have a lactation consultant. Be sure to put on your birthplan that you plan to exclusively breastfeed (so that they don't bring formula, bottles or pacifiers into your room)and that you need a lactation consultant to come help you as soon as possible. Most post partum and recovery nurses are trained to help you, but ask for a consultant anyway. You will have colostrum for a few days and that is all your baby needs. No need to pump it either. Your baby's stomach will be the size of a marble so if you think about it, to formula feed would be overfeeding (newborns end up taking in a lot because they can't control the flow of the bottle nipple))and would only confuse the baby. Plus to successfully breastfeed, you need to feed on demand. By introducing formula, you are telling your body you don't need milk for that feeding. Your mature milk will come in 48-72 hours after birth given you initiate nursing immediately after birth and nurse frequenly (on demand). You do not need to buy a pump but if for some unknown reason your baby is not eating, you may ask for a pump at the hospital to stimulate your breasts and pump the colustrum, but I would just continue to nurse your baby. Be patient. Baby may cry but don't get frustrated as babies feel it and only get worse. Just keep on and you will be fine. Ask for help often while at the hospital. Also, many hospitals have breastfeeding support meetings that you can attend for free after you leave the hospital if you are having difficulty or even if you just need to get together with other moms that are going through the same as you. Those meetings usually have a scale to weigh your baby. Your pediatrician should be seeing your baby within 5 days and your baby will have lost weight that he will make up by his/her 2 week checkup. Expect 1 wet diaper first day, 2 the next, 3 the next, etc, up until day 5. It also helps to keep your baby close skin-to-skin to keep baby warm, calm, and interested in breastfeeding. Don't worry about pads or a bra for now. You can use burp clothes or washcloths to keep your clothes dry if leaking. Good luck!

As long as you follow the recommendations for feeding, your baby will get what he or she needs. Aim to nurse every 2 hours for 20 min on each side. When I first began breastfeeding, it felt like I had to work for an hour to get my son to eat for 20 min. It's tough, and the majority of breastfed babies lose weight during the first week. You will likely feel like your baby is starving, atleast until your milk comes in. However, my pediatrician put me at ease by saying "no mom, since Eve, has produced milk for the first few days. Your baby will not starve." Also, tracking the number & frequency of wet diapers is a good way to tell whether or not your baby is getting enough to eat. I recommend reading La Leche League's "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding." The book covers everything you can expect in those first few days, and fully explains everything you could possibly want to know about breastfeeding. Good luck!