How do I know that my baby is feeding properly?

Once you have been discharged from hospital, the midwife will visit you on a regular basis and then a health visitor will visit; they will weight your baby and check them over to see how they are progressing; if the baby is not feeding well, this should be evident through their weight; if you think your baby is having problems with feeding you can discuss this with the midwife or health visitor. Signs that your baby is feeding well include:

  • Your baby has a sufficient mouthful of breast; this means they are attached properly and able to suckle effectively.
  • Your baby takes long, slow sucks and swallows regularly; sometimes they may pause and then start again
  • Breastfeeding should not be painful after the first few sucks
  • Your baby has a good feed and them detaches from the nipple when they have finished
  • The baby starts to gain weight after the first couple of weeks
  • Your baby seems satisfied and content after feeds
  • Your baby produces around six wet nappies and two stools per day (these will be yellow at first)

Where can I go for help and advice about breastfeeding?

If you need any help or advice about feeding, don’t hesitate to contact your midwife, GP or health visitor; you can also contact the NHS National Breastfeeding Helpline or the National Childbirth Trust. You may also find it useful to talk to friends or relatives who breastfed their children.

Before you give birth, it’s well worth going to antenatal classes; here you will learn about many different aspects of pregnancy and birth, as well as breastfeeding and it’s a great opportunity to meet other expectant mums and dads.

Breastfeeding twins

If you are having twins your body will produce more milk to provide for both babies. You can either choose to feed both babies at the same time or feed them one after the other. Often, the babies want feeding at different times so you may end up feeding them separately even if you were planning to feed them together. If you do feed them together you may find it more comfortable to support your arms with cushions or pillows as your arms may get tired. If you need advice about raising twins or triplets, you can contact TAMBA (the Twins and Multiple Births Association).

Breastfeeding:

Mother, Baby and Beyond

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