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For your baby, home is in your arms. There, baby finds all he needs: food, love, warmth, comfort, and safety. In the early days, baby will teach you what he wants and when he needs it. And being in your loving arms will teach baby that he can depend on you.
Babies can’t talk, but they can show you when they want to eat! They do this by showing special feeding cues. Watch for these cues and feed baby for as long as she wants whenever you see her. This helps your baby be happier and cry less. It also helps you make more milk so your baby can grow.
Your body is amazing! You have the ability to feed and comfort your baby at the same time. Your baby’s cues make it easier to know when!
FOR THE BABY
FOR THE CHAMPIONAs mom’s champion, you can help her look for baby’s feeding cues.
There’s no greater feeling than knowing you are the one who comforts and satisfies your baby when he needs it most.
Don’t worry. Your baby will not always need to feed this often. Right at first her small tummy holds only a little, so it has to be filled often. Hold your baby skin-to-skin to help her calm between feedings. Be patient and treasure this time of closeness with your baby. Soon it will get easier.
Family and friends might think that all this feeding is spoiling the baby. That is not true! Babies need to eat often to grow and gain weight. It is also not possible to spoil a newborn. Lots of feeding and cuddling make your baby more secure.
Your baby will have his own way to tell you when he wants to feed. Give it time and soon you and your baby will get in sync. If you aren’t sure, ask your nurse to help you.
Sometimes babies go to the Special Care Nursery or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after birth. This helps the doctor and nurse watch your baby more closely. If you and your baby will be apart for more than an hour after the birth, express your milk by hand or with a breast pump. If your baby cannot stay in your room with you, ask if you can go to your baby. If your baby is not able to breastfeed, ask your nurse for a breast pump to express your milk.
All babies show feeding cues, no matter how they are fed. When you watch for those cues, your baby will be less likely to eat too much.
Plan to nurse your baby every time she shows feeding cues. Your baby needs to eat at least 8 to 12 times every day. Lots of nursing helps quiet your baby and helps you make more milk.
Babies cry for lots of reasons besides hunger. Babies fuss when they are too hot or too cold. They cry when they are tired. They cry when too many people hold them. They fuss when they want to be warm and snuggly in your arms.
Most babies are sleepy during the first day and become more alert by the second night. They can easily get over stimulated from the hospital activity and may cry a lot. They often want to feed nonstop to feel safe and calm. Just hold baby skin-to-skin and feed him when he wants. Soon he will settle.
Birth is tiring, so most babies sleep a lot at first. If baby is still sleeping 3 to 5 hours after the last feed began, you can try to wake her. Change her diaper, unwrap her, and place her on your chest skin-to-skin. She will wake slowly and calmly.
It’s easier for baby to wake when you wait until he’s in a light sleep. Watch his eyelids! You’ll see fluttering under his eyelids and maybe even see him smile in his sleep. He will wake more easily now.
Rooming-in is good for all babies and moms, no matter how they are fed. Every baby needs to feel warm and secure in the arms of his mother. And all moms want a baby who is happier and more content.
You and your baby make a perfect team. Together, you can do it!
For your baby, home is in your arms. Baby finds all he needs there: food, love, warmth, comfort, and safety. That’s why on the second day or night -- when most babies wake more, fuss, or cry -- your arms are where he wants to be! Baby will stay calmer and more content when he stays close.
There are lots of ways you can decrease baby’s crying and soothe her when she is upset.
FOR THE BABY
FOR THE CHAMPIONAs mom’s champion, you can help her look for baby’s feeding cues.
There’s no greater feeling than knowing you are the one who comforts and satisfies your baby when he needs it most.
Don’t worry. Your baby will not always need to feed this often. Right at first his small tummy holds only a little, so it has to be filled often. Hold your baby skin to skin to help him calm between feedings. Be patient and treasure this time of closeness with your baby. Soon it will get easier.
Family and friends might think that all this feeding is spoiling the baby. That is not true! Babies need to eat often to grow and gain weight. It is also not possible to spoil a newborn. Lots of feeding and cuddling make your baby more secure.
Your baby will have his own way to tell you when he wants to feed. Give it time and soon you and your baby will get in sync. If you aren’t sure, ask your nurse to help you.
Sometimes babies go to the Special Care Nursery or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after birth. This helps the doctor and nurse watch your baby more closely. If you and your baby will be apart for more than an hour after the birth, express your milk by hand or with a breast pump. If your baby cannot stay in your room with you, ask if you go to your baby. If your baby is not able to breastfeed, ask your nurse for a breast pump to express your milk.
All babies show feeding cues, no matter how they are fed. When you watch for those cues, your baby will be less likely to eat too much.
Plan to nurse your baby every time he shows feeding cues. Your baby needs to eat at least 8-12 times every day. Lots of nursing helps quiet your baby and helps you make more milk.
Babies cry for lots of reasons besides hunger. Babies fuss when they are too hot or too cold. They cry when they are tired. They cry when too many people hold them. They fuss when they want to be warm and snuggly in your arms.
Most babies are sleepy during the first day and become more alert by the second night. They can easily get over stimulated from the hospital activity and cry a lot. They often want to feed nonstop to feel safe and calm. Just hold her baby skin to skin and feed him when he wants. Soon he will settle.
Birth is tiring, so most babies sleep a lot at first. If baby is still sleeping 3-5 hours after the last feed began, you can try to wake him. Change his diaper, unwrap him, and place him on your chest skin to skin. He will wake slowly and calmly.
It’s easier for baby to wake when you wait until he’s in a light sleep. Watch his eyelids! You’ll see fluttering under his eyelids and maybe even see him smile in his sleep. He will wake more easily now.
Rooming-in is good for all babies and moms, no matter how they are fed. Every baby needs to feel warm and secure in the arms of his mother. And all moms want a baby who is happier and more content.
You and your baby make a perfect team. Together, you can do it!
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