Nursing the First 4 weeks

Aim for immediate skin to skin and the first feed within 1 to 1.5 hours after birth.

- Baby will be very sleepy and may spit up clear fluid throughout the day

-Baby may not latch great in the first 24 hours.

-Skin-to-skin is your best friend and encourages normal newborn patterns. Hand expression can help too

- Expect at least 1 poop and 1 pee.

Baby needs about 8-12 feeds in 24 hours.

- Try waking your baby every 3 hours to feed.

- Per 24 hours: Look for 1 poop and 1 pee for each day of life. (example: Day 3: 3 pees and 3 poops)

- Keep up that skin-to-skin—it’s still super helpful!

- Your milk will usually come in between days 3 and 5.

- A weight check might give you peace of mind

Continue with 10 feeds in 24 hours.

- Try waking baby every 3 hours, allowing one 4-hour stretch in a 24-hour period.

- Aim for 6-8 wet diapers and at least 4 poops daily.

- Baby should reach their birth weight by day 10-14.

- Keep up with weight checks as needed and expect a weight gain of about 0.5-1 oz per day.

- Baby should have 8 or more feeds every 24 hours.

- If your baby has reached their birth weight, you can start feeding on demand.

- By 4 weeks, babies typically take in 25-35 ounces per day.

- Weight checks can still be helpful and aim for that steady weight gain of 0.5-1 oz daily.

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