Feeding a newborn may seem intimidating at first, but it will become easier with practice. This time gives you a chance to bond with your child and paying attention to how much he eats allows you to track how normally he's developing. A newborn should steadily gain weight, but it's not uncommon for a baby to lose 1 oz. to 2 oz. of weight during the first week of life, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
Breast or Bottle
Before your baby is born, you must decide whether you plan to breast-feed or feed your newborn from a bottle. Breast milk is generally the healthier choice, since it's full of nutrients and antibodies that help protect the baby from illness. Most women's breasts will be ready with milk as soon as the baby arrives. However, some women struggle to breast-feed, find it painful, have an illness they don't want to pass to the baby or want to include the baby's father in feeding. Ask your pediatrician for a suggestion of a brand of formula that's right for you and your baby.
Timing and Frequency
Newborns usually eat between eight to 12 times a day, or once every two to three hours. With time you'll be able to predict when it's time for your baby to eat, but when your baby is a newborn, you may not known when she needs to eat. A newborn may not fuss or cry right away when she's hungry, so look for clues such as sucking, lip movements and stretching. A hungry newborn may also become alert and attentive. During her first few days of life, you may need to wake her every few hours to eat, notes the Mayo Clinic website.
Feeding
There are a variety of positions that you can try before finding the most comfortable one for you and your newborn. Try holding him across your body with his chest pressed to you and press your nipple against his lips. When he opens his mouth, put your nipple inside. If he doesn't latch on and start drinking, or if you feel pain, use your finger to move his mouth away and try again. If the position is uncomfortable, move him to your side so his face is in front of your breast. If you're bottle-feeding, you can use the same positions. Keep his head slightly elevated while he eats. Position a pillow under your arm at all times so it doesn't become tired.
Ending a Feeding
Once she latches on and begins drinking, let your baby tell you when she's done. She may only eat for a few minutes at a time, or she may take frequent breaks and spend an hour total eating. When she closes her eyes or pulls away from your breast or the bottle nipple, she may be done. Try to wake her or get her to latch back on again. If she resists, she's probably full. Put a cloth over your shoulder and hold the baby against you with her head resting on the cloth. Pat or rub her back until she burps. If she doesn't burp after a few minutes, she likely doesn't need to burp just then.
