Most newborns lose
weight in the first few days after birth. Until your newborn regains this lost
weight — usually within one to two weeks after birth — it's important to feed
him or her frequently. This might mean occasionally waking your baby for a
feeding, especially if he or she sleeps for a stretch of more than four hours.
Once your newborn establishes a pattern of weight gain and reaches the
birth-weight milestone, however, it's generally OK to wait for feedings until
he or she wakes up. Most newborns need
eight to 12 feedings a day — about one feeding every two to three hours. While
waking up a sleeping baby might seem like a bad idea, frequent feedings early
on are important for a couple of reasons:
- Crying is a late sign of hunger. The sooner you begin each feeding, the less likely you'll need to soothe a frantic baby. Look for early signs of hunger, such as stirring, restlessness, sucking motions and lip movements
- Frequent feedings support early breast-feeding. If you breast-feed, frequent feedings will help you establish your milk supply.
Keep in mind that
premature babies often have special nutritional needs. If your baby was born
prematurely or you're concerned about your baby's feeding patterns or weight
gain, consult his or her doctor for specific recommendations.
Mayo Clinic
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