Is the Newly Born Baby Feeding Well?

Knowing if a small baby eats enough and how much it eats when it breast feeds is not always easy.
To check whether the feeding is sufficient, it is possible to note clear signs, such as the appearance of the baby, the amount of urine passed in one day and its behaviour between one feeding and another. There is no reason to worry if the baby urinates sufficiently to wet six nappies a day, and its faeces are liquid or semi-liquid, occurring three or more times a day during the first three weeks, and then, they are soft and plentiful at least once every 3-4 days after, and if the baby appears well and happy. It means that the baby is taking an adequate quantity of milk. It is also sufficient to check its growth once a week: if the increase in weight in the first weeks is on average 125 - 200 grams a week, it means that everything is proceeding well.
It is important to remember that the growth of a baby who is breast-fed is not as fast as that of a baby who is fed with formula milk, but it is much more constant. As it is not possible to compare the two growth patterns, two differentiated tables of development exist for breast-fed babies and those who are fed artificially. Any family paediatrician can supply parents with these tables, which are based on statistical data. Therefore, it is important to know that there are babies who are very healthy even though they are not represented in both charts. Another way of understanding whether the baby is actually taking milk while it is breast-feeding, is to observe the rhythm of sucking, which, during the course of feeding should pass from a more rapid and uniform rhythm to slower suction cycles, when it is often possible to hear the sound of swallowing.

The Baby Eats As Much As It Needs

The amount of milk that a baby requires varies a lot. It depends principally on how much it weighs, how it is growing and how many months old it is. Not every feeding is the same, and it can also vary a lot in the course of one day. All the same, if the newborn baby is well, it can regulate itself and the mother soon learns to place her trust in the baby.