Week 5: Newborn Feeding

Nursing

The most common everyday substitute for breastfeeding when a mother feeds her child directly.

Suckling

A term describing the action of an infant drawing milk from the breast.

Lactating

The biological and medical term for producing milk from the mammary glands.

Chestfeeding

An inclusive, alternative term often used by trans men or non-binary parents who feed their infants from their chest.

Human Milk Feeding

A neutral term emphasizing the nutritional source rather than the specific physical act.

Newborn’s Stomach Size: Day 1

• 5-7 mL

• size of a cherry

Newborn’s Stomach Size: Day 3

• 22-27 mL

• size of a walnut

Newborn’s Stomach Size: 1 Week

• 45-60 mL

• size of an apricot

Newborn’s Stomach Size: 1 Month

• 80-150 mL

• size of a large egg

Advantages for Breastfeeding: Newborn

• development of a strong immune system

• stimulates growth of positive bacteria in the digestive tract

• provides passive immunity

• parent-infant bonding

• nothing artificial

• less likely to overfeed

• avoidance of T1DM and heart disease

Advantages for Breastfeeding: Parent

• postpartum weight loss (burns calories)

• stimulates uterine contractions (controls bleeding)

• bonding

• reduces risk of PPD

• free!

Contraindications and Cautions to Breastfeeding

• Human immunodeficiency virus (in a high income country)

• Herpes simplex lesion on a breast

• Galactosemia in infant

• Cytomegalovirus

• Untreated Substance Use Disorder

• cytotoxic chemotherapy

• active tuberculosis

Formula Feeding: Teaching

• Gradual introduction of increasing amounts of formula

• Feed Q 3-4 hrs

  • first 24 hours average feeding is 5ml

  • second 24 hours average feeding is 10ml

Colostrum

• Thicker and more concentrated than mature breast milk

• Present for first 3-5 days postpartum

• Extremely rich in immune globulins

• Higher concentration of protein and minerals

• Less fat than mature milk

Mature Human Milk

• Comes in 3-5 days after birth

• Increase in quantity of milk production

• Composition changes during each feeding

• Initially foremilk is released:

  • part skim milk: about 60% of volume

  • part whole milk: about 35% of volume

• Provides primarily lactose, protein, and water-soluble vitamins

Hind-Milk

• type of mature human milk

• usually let down 10 to 20 minutes into feeding

• contains denser calories from fat for ensuring optimal growth and contentment

LATCH Scoring Tool

1. Latch

2. audible swallowing

3. type of nipple

4. comfort of nipple

5. hold (positionign)

Skin-to-Skin

• Facilitate immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, and support birthing parents in initiating breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth

Proper Latch

• nipple toward roof of mouth

• chin touches the breast

• correct latch = soooo important

Poor/Shallow Latch-On

• nose and chin not touching the breast

• lips are rolled in

• angle of the lips on the breast is less than 140

• shallow latch-on

• clicking or popping sounds

• painful

Results of a Poor/Shallow Latch-On

• flattened, wedged, creased

• eventually a crack

• if having pain → assess latch

How will I know my baby is getting enough?”

By Day 4:

• 3 or 4 wet diapers (clear)

• 3 or 4 BM

Look for signs that the newborn is getting enough milk

• At least six wet diapers and two to five loose yellow stools daily

• Steady weight gain after the first week of age

• Pale yellow urine, not deep yellow or orange

• Sleeping well, yet looks alert and healthy when awake

Human Milk Sharing

• parents donate excess breast milk to others in need

• ensures infants receive the optimal nutrition of human milk when a parent's own supply is unavailable