Early hours and days by Cordelia Uys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol en-us 2017-11-30 13:21:22 UTC 2025-09-29 07:06:41 UTC hello@padlet.com Once your baby has overtaken their birth weight, and is producing plenty of wet and dirty nappies (please see the NCT 'What’s In A Nappy’ leaflet below), then you can be led by your baby in how often you feed him or her. But until then, I would strongly recommend making sure that your baby doesn’t go much longer than 3 hours between feeds (from the end of one feed to the beginning of another). That’s a very approximate recommendation, and if you occasionally get closer to 3 and a half hours, or even 4 hours, that shouldn’t be a problem. You just don’t want to let a newborn sleep and sleep, or they can get too weak to wake up and feed. Once they have regained their birth weight, and are peeing and pooing well, you should be able to trust them to let you know when they need to feed. By the way, if you need to wake your baby, wait until they are in REM sleep. You’ll be wasting your time if they’re in deep sleep. The best way to be aware of your baby’s feeding cues is to keep them very close to you. cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212377953 2017-12-01 18:00:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212377953 WHAT'S IN A NAPPY: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212378267 2017-12-01 18:01:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212378267 SKIN TO SKIN: As long as both mother and baby are well, it's important not to separate them for at least two hours after birth. Weighing the baby can wait. : cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212378718 2017-12-01 18:02:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212378718 Here's a lovely short film on skin to skin: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212379607 2017-12-01 18:04:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212379607 The evidence on skin to skin after a c-section: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212380359 2017-12-01 18:06:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212380359 Film of immediate skin to skin after a c-section: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212380950 2017-12-01 18:07:47 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212380950 The importance of not separating mother and baby: this is what Prof Helen Ball of Durham University, the UK’s leading researcher into infant sleep, has written: “Research has shown that infants should not be separated from their mothers in the immediate postnatal period as it may have serious consequences for their health and wellbeing (Lozoff 1983, Hales 1977, Carlsson 1978, O'Connor 1977 and Yamauchi 1990) and even more importantly it may affect breastfeeding initiation success. In addition to the hormonal effects of keeping infants close (oxytocin reflex) examples from traditional societies can be used to argue that it is the extended contact between the mother and her infant within first few days and weeks after birth which impacts on breastfeeding success (Lozoff 1983).” cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212554140 2017-12-03 00:36:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212554140 The first week with a breastfeeding newborn: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212667601 2017-12-03 22:55:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212667601 Baby's second night: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212667860 2017-12-03 22:57:46 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212667860 Primary engorgement when your milk comes in: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212667963 2017-12-03 22:58:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212667963 Please be aware that a healthy, full-term baby is born with “a full tank", so if your baby is well, please don’t let anyone convince you that he or she needs more than colostrum in their first 48 hours. If your baby isn’t settling, try skin to skin. You could also try doing some hand expressing and giving some colostrum (remember colostrum comes in tiny drops). There's information on hand expressing in my "Breastfeeding" Padlet. If a midwife or doctor wants you to give your baby formula, ask to speak to a member of the infant feeding team, or ask to see the hospital’s protocol for supplementation, and ask for a proper explanation for their recommendation. cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212668546 2017-12-03 23:01:47 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212668546 Is my baby getting enough milk cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212816688 2017-12-04 13:03:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212816688 Building a happy baby leaflet: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212818282 2017-12-04 13:07:09 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/212818282 Latching in the first hour: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/220409713 2018-01-10 22:01:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/220409713 Babies born via c-section: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/263341362 Here's important recent research recommending that babies born via a c-section should have their weight at 24 hours used to calculate weight loss, rather than their birth weight:]]> 2018-05-24 13:25:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/263341362 The importance of offering the breast in the first hour after birth: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/272074051 2018-08-06 13:11:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/272074051 cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/272769744 Breastfeeding in the First Hours after birth. Global Health Media Video:]]> 2018-08-12 20:42:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/272769744 Average weight gain for breastfed babies cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/318725648 2019-01-09 12:25:03 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/318725648 What's in colostrum cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/322408439 2019-01-19 16:30:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/322408439 Don't wash your baby cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/323650655 Delaying washing a baby improves breastfeeding rates]]> 2019-01-23 19:33:41 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/323650655 Benefits of skin to skin last for decades: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/332136595 2019-02-17 17:31:14 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/332136595 Protecting a baby's microbiome if you're having a caesarean birth: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/399962086 2019-10-20 11:44:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/399962086 The first week: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/401559164 Article by Emma Pickett]]> 2019-10-23 16:19:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/401559164 When to wake your newborn for feeds cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/444258579 2020-02-12 11:37:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/444258579 Babies need to feed often cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/445550877 which isn't surprising when you think how often adults eat and drink.]]> 2020-02-14 12:51:41 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/445550877 New guidelines on acceptable weight loss on Day 5: cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/455377912 2020-03-05 20:23:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/455377912 The importance of skin to skin cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/458649109 2020-03-11 18:49:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/458649109 How lactation works cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/523746357 ABM animated film]]> 2020-04-22 17:39:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/523746357 Cordelia's article on establishing breastfeeding cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/633620186 2020-06-19 14:26:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/633620186 Second night syndrome cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/1070220553 2021-01-09 19:32:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/1070220553 What to do if your newborn isn't latching cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/1177011048 By Cordelia Uys]]> 2021-02-08 14:15:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/1177011048 Dealing with primary engorgement cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/1177041983 Including information of reverse pressure softening. ]]> 2021-02-08 14:20:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/1177041983 Alcohol & breastfeeding cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/2289323906 2022-09-09 07:48:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/2289323906 Coping with a sleepy newborn cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/2406426050 2022-12-02 10:01:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/2406426050 Breast compressions can help a sleepy newborn transfer more milk cordeliauys https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/2457804670 Kathryn Stagg explains how to do breast compressions]]> 2023-01-26 15:48:27 UTC https://padlet.com/cordeliauys/mcoev2730wol/wish/2457804670