Skip to content
Breastfeeding the first few days
Day 1
- Try to feed every 1-3 hours BUT may only eat every 4-5 hours the first day (that’s okay!)
- Try to feed 7-10 times a day BUT may only eat 3-4 times the first day (that’s okay!)
- Your baby’s stomach is small!, only 1/2 to 1 tsp big! Feedings are tiny; you may not even notice anything!
- Colostrum is all most babies need
- Express your colostrum every 2-3 hours if your baby does not nurse; you can feed it to your baby with spoon or syringe (but you don’t have to do it every time)
- Expect at least 1 poop and 1 wet diaper
- Other helpful things:
- Do skin to skin often while you are awake
- Watch the baby, not the clock!
- Your baby is supposed to lose weight today
- If your baby seems to need supplements, use a syringe, spoon, or cup, not a bottle
Day 2
- Try to feed every 1-3 hours
- Try to feed 7-10 times a day
- Your baby’s stomach is still small!, only 1-3 tsp big! Feedings are tiny; you may not even notice anything!
- Colostrum is all most babies need
- Express your colostrum every 2-3 hours if your baby does not nurse; you can feed it to your baby with spoon or syringe (but you don’t have to do it every time)
- Expect at least 1-2 poops and 1-3 wet diapers
- Your baby may cry or be fussy; it may not be hunger. Watch for feeding cues (rooting, mouth open, sucking on fist)
- If your baby seems hungry and not satisfied with nursing, you may supplement with expressed colostrum or formula; use a syringe, spoon, or cup, not a bottle
- Your baby should lose weight today.
Day 3
- Try to feed every 1-3 hours, 7-10 times a day
- Your baby’s stomach is small but getting bigger!, only 3-6 tsp (1/2 to 1 ounce) big!
- Your milk may start coming in today.
- Express or pump your colostrum/milk if the baby is not nursing frequently
- Expect at least 3-4 poops and 3-4 wet diapers
- Watch the baby, not the clock!
- Your baby may lose weight today or stay about the same
- Your baby may cry or be fussy; it may not be hunger. Watch for feeding cues (rooting, mouth open, sucking on fist)
- If your baby seems hungry and not satisfied with nursing, you may supplement with expressed colostrum or formula; use a syringe, spoon, or cup, not a bottle.
- See a lactation consultant if you need help!
Day 4
- Try to feed every 1-3 hours, 7-10 times a day
- Your baby’s stomach is getting bigger!, about 1-2 ounces (30-60 mL, 6-12 tsp)
- Your milk should start coming in today.
- Express or pump your colostrum/milk if the baby is not nursing frequently
- Expect at least 4 poops and 4-5 wet diapers. Poops should be changing from black & sticky to soft & yellow.
- Your baby may gain weight today (yay!) or stay about the same
- Your baby may cry or be fussy; it may not be hunger. Watch for feeding cues (rooting, mouth open, sucking on fist)
- If your baby seems hungry and not satisfied with nursing, you may supplement with expressed milk or formula; use a syringe, spoon, or cup, not a bottle.
- See a lactation consultant if you need help!
Page load link