Breastfeeding: The 1st week of life
AnneMerewoodPhDMPHIBCLCDirector,CenterforHealthEquity,EducationandResearch(CHEER)atBoston
UniversitySchoolofMedicineAssociateProfessorofPediatrics,BostonUniversitySchoolofMedicine
AssociateProfessorofCommunityHealthSciences,BUSchoolofPublicHealthAirinieAzharBSc,CHEERandCHEERingNationalCoordinatorforGreece
Why breastfeed?
Breastfeedingisthesafest,healthiestwaytofeedababyBreastfeedingprotectsagainstvirusesDuringCOVID-19andalways,breastisbest
Getting ready
• Youdon’thavetodoanythingspecialtogetready• Yourbodywillprepareitselfinpregnancy• Whenthebabyisborn,yourhormoneschangeandyouwillmakeenoughmilk• Thesechangesmightmakeyoufeelsad,tired,orweepyinthe1stfewdaysafterbabyisborn
When baby is born • Tokeepbabysafeandwarm,putbabyonmom’schest,withthebaby’sskinonyourskin,foratleast1hour,andcovermomandbabywithablanket• By1hour,thebabywillshowyoushewantstoeat• Shewillcrawltothebreastonherown,oryoucanhelpthebabytogetthebreastintohermouth
The best place to keep a baby warm is on the mother’s chest
OrDad’schest!
The newborn
• Newbabiesusuallylosealittleweight.Thisisnormal.• Hewillstarttogainweightwhenhe’sabout4daysold• Newmomsmakeverysmallamountsofmilk–thismilkisveryrich,andprotectsbabyagainstillnesses
When the milk comes in….
• Thebabywillbeabout3daysold• Yourbreastsmaygetheavyandleak• Feedbabyoftensothebreastsdon’tgettoofull• Themoreyoufeed,themoreyouwillmake
Infant on the breast
• Infantsneedtobeproperly“latchedon”togetenoughmilk–ifthey’renot,ithurtsandthebabywon’tgetenoughmilk
Normal baby poop
• The1stfewpoopsafterbirthareblack,thick,andsticky
• Byaboutday3abreastfedbaby’spoopshouldbebrightyellowandsoft
When things are going well…..
• Babyshouldpeeandpoopfrequently(2poops/day2;3day3;4day4)• Infantshouldeat8-12timesormorein24hours• Peeshouldbeclearoryellow• Breastfeedingshouldnothurt
