Feeding And Nutrition – Your Baby’s First Month
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07 September 2010 22:24:05 GMT |
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Feeding And Nutrition – Your Baby’s First Month
Breastmilk or formula should be your baby’s basic source of nutrition for the first twelve months. Even though you don’t have to worry much about the baby’s diet, you still need to ensure a regular pattern of feedings and make sure he’s getting enough calories for growth. Establishing a pattern of feedings does not mean setting a rigid timetable and insisting that he drink a full 4 ounces per feed. Its much more critical to listen to your baby’s signals and work around his needs. If you are bottle-feeding him he will probably cry at the end of his feeding if he has not had enough. On the other hand, if he’s full in the first ten minutes, he may stop and fall asleep. Breastfed babies behave a little differently in that they do not always cry when they are hungry, and the only way to ensure that he’s getting enough milk is to watch his weight gain. Also he should be fed at least every three to four hours and not be allowed to sleep through a feeding at least till he’s four weeks old. At the beginning of the second week and again between three and six weeks, your baby will go through growth spurs that may make him hungrier than usual. Even if you don’t notice any outward growth, his body is changing in important ways and needs extra calories during these times. Be prepared to feed him more often if he’s breast-fed, and if he’s bottle-fed, try giving him slightly more at each feeding. If your baby has a nutritional problem, he’s likely to start losing weight. There are some indications that might help you detect such an issue. For instance if he’s breast-feeding, one warning signal is a lack of fullness in your breasts after one week. If they don’t drip milk at the start of each feeding, the baby may not be providing enough stimulation when he sucks. If you notice drastic changes in your baby’s feeding pattern call your G.P or inform your health visitor. Most babies this age begin to spit up occasionally after feedings. That’s because the muscular valve between the esophagus and stomach is immature. Instead of closing tightly, it remains open enough to allow the contents of the stomach to come back up and gently spill out of the mouth. This is normal and will not harm your baby. The first month of feeding is definitely overwhelming for the mother. But don’t worry Yummy Mummy, once you recognise your baby’s feeding patterns you’ll find it much more relaxing, easier and master the feeding process in no time. |
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