next three weeks. (This number will probably decrease after the first
month.)
- Your baby during this period should start to have six to eight wet
diapers a day (some saturated). - Your baby’s urine is clear (not yellow).
- Your baby has a strong suck, you see milk on the corners of his
mouth, and you can hear an audible swallow. - You’re noticing increased signs of alertness during your baby’s
waketime. - Your baby is gaining weight and growing in length. We recommend
your baby be weighed within a week or two after birth. Weight gain is
one of the surest indicators of growth.
Unhealthy Growth Indicators for Weeks Two through Four
- Your baby is not getting eight feedings a day.
- Your baby in the first month has small, scant, and infrequent stools.
- Your baby does not have the appropriate amount of wet diapers
given his age. - Your baby’s urine is concentrated and bright yellow.
- Your baby has a weak or nonproductive suck, and you cannot hear
him swallow. - Your baby is sluggish or slow to respond to stimulus and does not
sleep between feedings. - Your baby is not gaining weight or growing in length. Your doctor
will direct you in the best strategy to correct this problem.
WEEKS FIVE AND ABOVE: Healthy Growth Indicators
The major difference between the first month indicators and the weeks to
follow are the stooling patterns. After the first month, your baby’s
stooling pattern will change. He may pass only one large stool a day or
pass one as infrequently as one in every three to five days. Every baby is
different. Any concerns regarding elimination should be directed to your