into a basic 2½- to 3-hour routine, the clock, even as a guide during the
first week is to be submissive to the single goal of your baby getting a
complete meal at every meal.
Dr. Bucknam finds mothers who work to get a full feeding during the
first week have babies who naturally transitions into a consistent 2½- to
3-hour routine within seven to ten days. Work on this. The payoff comes
in confidence and comfort for both baby and mom. During the first week
your average nursing period will fall between thirty and forty minutes per
feeding.
One thing to stay mindful of is the fact that newborns are usually
sleepy during the first several days after birth. As a result, some will fall
asleep right at the breast after a few minutes of nursing. That means you
may have to work on keeping your baby awake at the breast. (Rub his
feet, stroke his face, change a diaper, talk to him, remove his sleeper, but
he must eat.) Keeping him awake will help him take in full feedings as
opposed to snacking.
Some mothers nurse fifteen to twenty minutes on each side, burping
their baby before switching breasts. Other mothers find it helpful to
employ a ten-ten-five-five method. They alternate, offering each breast
for ten minutes (burping the baby between sides), and then offer each
breast for five additional minutes. This second method is especially
helpful when you have a sleepy baby. The disruption prompts your baby
to wakefulness and assures that both breasts are stimulated. Please note
that these figures are goals based on an average. Some newborns nurse
faster and more efficiently. Others nurse efficiently but slightly slower. If
your baby wants to nurse longer let him do so, or consider a pacifier. If
you feel your baby has a need for non-nutritive sucking, a pacifier can
meet the need without compromising your routine.
Jaundice in Newborns
A mild degree of jaundice is common in most newborns. This is not a
disease but a temporary condition characterized by a yellow tinge to the
skin and eyes. Jaundice, caused by the pigment bilirubin in the blood, is