Many new moms will ask “is my newborn nursing okay?” If not to someone, then to themselves. First of all, don’t be afraid to ask your pediatrician. I’m sure they hear moms ask all the time if their newborns are nursing okay. Second, does everything feel okay? If your newborn is not nursing okay, your breasts will be sore. They might be a little sore at first but I am talking SORE. If you don’t know if you breasts are feeling normal or not, ask. Third, another way to tell if your newborn is nursing okay is to watch the baby’s weight. Newborns will typically lose some weight within the first few days of life. After that, a healthy baby who is nursing okay will start gaining weight. If your baby isn’t gaining weight, chances are it’s not nursing okay. Finally, is your baby wanting to nurse all the time? If your baby doesn’t ever seem satisfied, it might not be nursing okay. Now this isn’t the best way to tell if your newborn is nursing okay as nursed babies often want to feed more then formula fed babies (no extra fat to fill them up longer) and babies go through growth spurts. However, if you just feel like newborn isn’t nursing okay, ask for help. Most likely, your newborn will be fine nursing.
This blog is really helpful, your family is lovely, and I love the beautiful pics such as the one above. I wish I had of sought out more sources like this when I first started breastfeeding!
And thanks for the comment on my blog!
I had many questions and some difficulty in the beginning, and working with a lactation consultant was extremely helpful.
I had a baby on Jan 6th, and have been nursing since birth. At the hospital he was having normal number of wet and dirty diapers. Since we have been home he has continued to have several wet diapers daily but no bowel movements. It is my understanding that he should be having a few a day at this stage. We have an appointment with the pediatrician tomorrow afternoon. Do I need to be concerned today? Should we go to the ER (it’s Sunday- the dr is closed). He seems to be latching on properly, positioning ok, and I hear suck/ swallow noises. But he seems to be eating constantly and causing me to have sore/ cracking nipples. Please help if you can with any advice. My cell number is 330.717.2689 or you can email me at kellywarren3@gmail.com Thanks, Kelly