Loretta Anderson IBCLC Lactation Consultant In Brisbane, Qld

Little Tweaks That Make A Huge Difference

Finding Your Groove As A New Mum

Finding Your Groove As A New Mum
Reading Time: 3 minutes

So this blog is all about YOU! How are you feeling through this tumultuous time of change and have you found your groove? (Don’t worry if you haven’t!)

I find that most mothers struggle with their new role and lose their sense of self. This is happening while constantly guessing and meeting the needs of their little baby.

You may feel alone in your world, but, trust me, every mother is feeling the same way.

Take comfort in this community of new mothers! It’s time to be kind to yourself, I’II show you how, keep reading!!

Through my experience and in my opinion, Mother’s revert to a younger persons thinking, like when you were learning at school.  Let me explain….

When you’re a new mother you may be unsure of your new role.  You will ask for direction and seek advice most of the time. This can put you right back to high school!

Don’t worry, we all do this!

But the good news is, your confident, adult self, is still there!  You CAN trust your instincts and learn with your baby!   So let’s bring the confident woman you already are back into the mix!

Mother and baby

Let me tell you a story……….I saw a beautiful mother in my clinic who was so worried that she had stuffed everything up. She was spiralling, feeling totally out of control and looking for answers to questions that she didn’t even know to ask! Sound familiar?

So here’s what I did……..I started a conversation about HER first. About who SHE was! I asked what her life was like before baby.  

And then I saw it……………..a sparkle in her eye, a true glimpse of her soul and her happiness. It was like a beacon that I needed to follow and explore. It was her happy place!

I immediately felt my eyes tear up as I saw a beautiful woman come to life. I told her exactly what I saw and reminded  her that she is a wonderful woman who was just struggling with learning a new skill and finding her groove in this new role.

I gave her permission to problem solve; as she did so well in her adult world. The consult took a dramatic turn and she was able to tell me exactly what she wanted and needed!

Confidence

No more asking questions, no more feeling bad or guilty and no more worry about the future! Just the here and now is all that is needed and this woman was doing BRILLIANT, a superhero in fact!

Woman Superhero in Action

I think, if you have found your way to reading this, you need to just take a step back from mummy role. Take this hat off and put your confident, adult hat back on. The one where you go about each day feeling confident in what you do.

Then, head on back to your mother role and put that hat on top of your other one! DONE! Now you can use both hats to weave your way through your new role.

You are an adult and you can bring your awesomeness to this role! Go on, do it, get that sparkle in your eye and keep on going!

You will get through the sleep deprivation! You will get through the uncertainty! You will get to the other side with a new found confidence as a mother and SOAR!!

Free Happy Woman Enjoying Nature. Beauty Girl Outdoor

This is what I call MINDSET! Your mindset is THE biggest hurdle you need to jump, it is bigger than all the practical breastfeeding stuff.

If your head is right then the rest will follow. Here’s what you can do…

  1. Meditate for 10 minutes each day – whether you do this by listening to music, sitting quietly, journalling or closing your eyes and taking a few very deep breaths. This will clear your mind each day and set you up for success.
  2. Stop reading other peoples stories or listening to well-meaning relatives!  That was their journey not yours. Just read my blogs!  LOL!
  3. Stop comparing yourself to anyone else! No FOMO here! This is just torture and sends you on a downward spiral of self-destruction.
  4. Look around my website for all the answers to your questions. Or if you need a dose of confidence building or mindset magic then schedule a call with me here.
  5. Take one day at a time. Forget the past, don’t try to predict the future just sit in the NOW. If you are in the NOW you are ok. You can problem solve in the NOW and you can cope and ask for help in the NOW. You can’t do this if your mind is sitting in the PAST or the FUTURE.
time concept - past, present, future - colorful sticky notes on blackboard with white chalk arrow and eraser smudges

So come on over to the NOW……………Use all the hats that you wear as a confident adult, even it is a very small hat! Anything that makes you feel confident, bring it forward, swing it around and place it firmly on your head.

Woman putting hat

You WILL feel different, you will sparkle and you will be able to keep going!

You are amazing!

Breastfeeding Hurts! Is This Normal In The First 2 Weeks?

Breastfeeding Hurts! Is This Normal In The First 2 Weeks?
Reading Time: 5 minutes

“Should breastfeeding hurt?” As a Midwife and Lactation Consultant for over 20years, I still hear this question everyday! And here’s the answer:

Except for the first minute of a breastfeed in the first 2 weeks, breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt.

I will explain everything and give you the answers to:

  • Why your nipples hurt?
  • Recognising when it’s not normal and what to do
  • When your nipples should feel better?

I want you to know that it is ok that your nipples hurt! You haven’t done anything wrong. The good news is they will heal and most pain will disappear in a week!

Now let’s get you through this next week by learning about why your nipples hurt! The next part will ease your worry and your pain!

Why Do Your Nipples Hurt And How You Can Help?

Your nipples will only hurt for a short time, as little as a week. And you can have less pain by getting the latch right. Check our my 7 Steps to Latching Success Blog.

Now, let’s learn about your nipples.

Some are long, some are short, some are flat and others are inverted! It doesn’t matter what your nipples look like!

You see, your baby breastfeeds by sucking on the breast tissue around your nipple. That’s why your nipples can be any shape or size. Your nipples are already perfect!

All nipples are soft, stretchy and have lots of tiny little crevices over them. So when you breastfeed, particularly for the first time, your nipple is going to stretch.

This means all these crevices will actually widen for the first time (ever!) as you learn how to breastfeed. This is what I call “stretching pain”.

As you go through more and more breastfeeds the pain you are feeling is this “stretching pain.” Best thing is it only lasts about 30 seconds to a minute at the beginning of a breastfeed!

Now you don’t have to worry about this pain. You haven’t done anything wrong.

Follow these points to minimise the pain:

  • Hold you baby close (don’t take your baby off in the first minute)
  • Relax, breathe and look away
  • Resist the urge to check the latch (it won’t give you any more information!)
  • Notice when the pain drops down

The great thing is that this pain is not doing any damage. Your nipples are getting used to breastfeeding which is a great thing.

You now know that the first minute is NORMAL pain. But how do you know when it’s heading in the other direction, not normal? I’II explain next.

Little baby girl breast feeding

How To Recognise When Nipple Pain Is Not Normal?

Your nipples generally won’t hurt in the first 24 hours. But after a few days for breastfeeding practice your nipples can get a little tender. The best part is now you know that a little pain is normal. Your nipples are stretching with this new activity.

So what will you actually feel when breastfeeding? The first day you won’t feel much apart from pulling and tugging but as the feeds mount up the pain can start. AGAIN, this is normal!  

Here’s how 1000’s of mothers have described their pain:

  • “It kind of burns and pinches for the first minute, then all I feel is a tugging”
  • “It feels like a really strong pull then settles into a gentle tugging”
  • “It feels like a hard pinch at the start then, as my baby keeps sucking it drops down to a tug and a pull”

So tugging and pulling is ok. Pinching longer than the first minute means you start the latch again.

Here are the signs it’s not normal:

  • The pain lasts longer than one minute
  • The pain increases over time
  • Your baby becomes fussy pulls away
  • Your baby falls asleep and stops sucking altogether

If you have any of these signs take your baby off and start the latch again. Check out my 7 Steps to Latching Success for help. 

If you need to take your baby off, don’t despair, it happens a lot! The best thing to do is immediately check your nipple when you baby comes off.

The reason for checking your nipple is to gather more information. You may be thinking, “what am I looking for?” Great question!

Below are the 2 most common nipple shapes letting you know the latch is not quite right:

  • Your nipple is flat on one side (generally the side closest to the centre of your chest (like the end of a lipstick). Check out Step #4 in my blog 7 Steps to Latching Success – Arm Angles to fix this.
  • Your nipple is squished on both sides with a crease down the middle (running vertically). Head over to Step #3 Close Contact to learn more.

So you see, you can gather information, that is, assess the pain and check your nipple. Simple!

Remember I said that most mothers do have some damage along their journey. So next up is all about when your nipples will heal or most importantly………….. when will it all feel better!

When will your nipples feel better?

It takes about 2 weeks for your nipples to heal. I know this sounds like a long time. Hang tight, the pain will get better and better during this first two weeks!

Before I go on………………Mother’s generally ask if they should rest their nipples. Meaning, stop breastfeeding and express their milk to give in a bottle.

My answer is two fold:

  1. Keep breastfeeding, let me explain. Your nipples CAN HEAL why you are still breastfeeding.  You see, as you breastfeed your milk will be sloshing around your nipple helping it to heal!  So if you can, keep breastfeeding.
  2. If your nipples are just too sore to breastfeed then YES, rest your nipples. Give me a call to help you with this, 0414 403 208 or shoot me a message!

Back to it……………..The healing process, What to expect day-by-day:

What To Expect Sign on white paper. Man Hand Holding Paper with text. Isolated on sky background. Business concept. Stock Photo

Nipple Pain and Healing In The First 3-4 days 

This is where the damage occurs for ALL mothers! The healing process has not kicked in yet.  

  • You will feel pain or discomfort in the first minute of the latch then feel a tug and a pull for the rest of the breastfeed, this is NORMAL.
  • Your nipples will be a stinging a little in between breastfeeds.
  • Some nipples will crack and bleed (don’t worry, it happens, nipples heal quickly, keep reading!)

Nipple Pain and Healing Up To Day 7

At this stage your nipples generally don’t get any worse.  They are also not likely to get any better.  So don’t worry if they feel and look the same up to day 7.  

Here’s what mothers have described their nipple pain as up to Day 7:

  • “Very sore, like a stinging sensation, with breastfeeds and between breastfeeds.”
  • “It stings when the water from the shower runs over them and when any material brushes over them.”
  • “I’m dreading the next breastfeed.” (remember your nipples are designed to go through this!)

If you are feeling the above, you are not alone! When I explain this to new mothers they are quite relieved!  So I hope you are too!

Nipple Pain and Healing Day 7 To Day 14

From day 7 your nipples will get a little better each day.  YAY! You will have pain on initial latching for that wonderful first minute then the pain will ease and it will feel good.

By two weeks your nipples will be looking much better and feeling much better!  You have come through this time and learnt a hell of a lot!  Well done! 

But what if your nipples don’t heal in this magic 2 week time period?  Firstly, don’t panic, I have this covered, head over to my blog, nipple pain after 2 weeks.

Before you go!

A word about nipple cream. A lot of mother’s ask me if they need nipple cream to help their nipples heal?

The answer is no you don’t!  Best advice is to hand express a little breast milk and dab it onto your nipples and wait for time to pass!  Just make sure your hands are clean!  

All the research states,¹ apart from getting the latch right, it’s time that is the number one healer of nipples.  So save your pennies!

Time To Heal Concept

If you do decided to use cream, because as you know, I never say NO, use it sparingly.

Remember your nipple has lots of crevices and too much cream can block them up. So put breast milk first, then a small amount of cream and that’s it!

So you now know all about NIPPLES! Fantastic! Just let me know if you need more help!  

______________________
¹Dennis CL, Allen K, McCormick FM, Renfrew MJ. Interventions for treating painful nipples among breastfeeding women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [Internet]. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 2008.  

Close-up of a newborn baby breastfeeding

Why Babies Lose Weight – The First Two Weeks

Why Babies Lose Weight – The First Two Weeks
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Most babies lose up to 10% of their initial weight – and this makes many new parents FREAK OUT!

So the first thing you need to know is this: It is natural, normal, and expected.

In this post I am going to explain why this happens – and why you shouldn’t worry about it.

And by the way, even if your baby loses more than 10% of their initial weight – you still shouldn’t freak out! (If that happens, just follow the plan I created for you here: Baby Lost More than 10% Of Their Weight – What To Do)

Why Does Your Baby Lose Weight In The First Week?

It’s simple… It’s because your baby is designed to lose weight in the first few days!!

When your baby is in the womb, they receive food and energy through the umbilical cord.

After birth this changes (obviously).

Their food and energy source now comes in 2 forms:

  • Colostrum
  • Extra fat stores

Let’s take a look at each, and why they naturally promote the initial weight loss.

#1 Colostrum

Your colostrum, made around 16 weeks gestation, is in very small amounts. There’s nothing wrong with that – that’s actually a good thing, since your baby will only drink up to 5 millilitres per feed during the early days!

Not much!

And why doesn’t your body make more? Because colostrum is not there to help your baby put on weight. It’s there to give your baby energy to start breastfeeding, AND (hugely important) – to protect your baby from new germs.

Colostrum transitions to milk at about day 3. Which is when you can expect your baby to start putting on weight. Until then – he’s not even supposed to!

#2 Break Down Of Fat Stores

Your baby begins to store extra fat in the last few weeks of pregnancy. This fat will be broken down and used as energy to do two things:

  1. Breastfeed
  2. Other new bodily functions

Since your baby starts breaking down this fat as soon as they are born – they will lose some initial weight, until your milk comes in.

And again, don’t worry!

This Is Meant To Happen!

Your baby will put the weight back on within 2 weeks. And if you’re still worried about them losing weight, and want to minimise it, there’s one simple thing you can do:

Breastfeed on demand.

This means breastfeed your baby whenever they cry.  No questions asked!

Yes, you may be feeding up to 12 times a day! And guess what? That’s good. Because all this breastfeeding stimulates your breasts and helps your milk come in!

And once it does – bubs will start piling that weight back on right away!

Still worried? Got questions? You’re not alone. Give me call (or text me) at 0414 403 208 for a free consultation.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Loretta

Newborn baby girl asleep on a blanket.

How to Manage a Feed From Day 1

How to Manage a Feed From Day 1
Reading Time: 7 minutes

You must be thinking, “Why do I need to manage a breastfeed?” The answer: To make sure your baby is full.

My spiel to new mothers goes like this:

“A full baby will sleep well and a baby who has slept well will feed well!“

You see, if you manage a breastfeed, your baby will fill up in a short period of time and then sleep well.

So managing a feed ties in to the number one reason mother’s call me. Which is ‘sleep and settling issues’! And the solution…….Manage the Breastfeed!

So how do you manage a breastfeed?

You manage a breastfeed by filling up your baby in a reasonable amount of time. Within about an hour for a baby under 6 weeks.

If you do this, then you can REST assured (pun intended 🙂 ) that your baby is getting the most sleep he/she can!

Managing a breastfeed WILL help your baby sleep. But the great thing is there are more benefits to managing a breastfeed:

  1. It creates structure while you’re learning breastfeeding – Structure creates confidence. You will feel confident in all your breastfeeds and know that bub is getting enough!
  2. It makes demand feeding easy – I don’t know about you but demand feeding is the ONLY advice new mothers get while in hospital!  Through years of practice I find this is not enough information! Managing a breastfeed will take the GUESS work out of demand feeding.
  3. It prevents your baby from falling asleep at the breast – Managing a breastfeed will keep your baby alert while breastfeeding. Falling asleep at the breast means feed time will drag on and on!

So let’s learn how to manage a breastfeed from day 1. Onto the STEPS (I love a good plan)!

Portrait of a newborn baby girl crying

Just before the first step a quick rule:  

Try and finish the whole plan in about an hour.  This is how long your baby (under 6 weeks) can stay awake for before they become really tired and need to go back to bed.

If you have been having REALLY long feeds, well over an hour (don’t worry if you have, most mums do!) Then gradually shorten your feeds to an hour (over a day or so).

Vector illustration of one hour stopwatch icon

Step #1 Straight To The Breast!

As soon as your baby wakes go to the breast, no mucking around or doing ANYTHING else. Just plonk yourself down on the couch and feed!

Don't Wait

This step is basically the definition of demand feeding.  Your baby cries and you answer!

Don’t delay the start of a feed as this can make your baby tired before they even start!

So what do I mean by delaying a feed……….good question! Delaying a feed is doing ANYTHING else before a breastfeed.  This means, nappy, bathing, playing or holding off for any amount of time because you ‘think’ your baby is not DUE a feed.

All these seemingly small issues for a baby under 6 weeks will potentially waste precious energy that they need for feeding.

So when you hear your baby cry, answer them and start the feed! Your baby will reward you by having a great feed!

Up next is watching your baby at the breast. This will let you know how well your baby is drinking your milk!

Before you head to Step #2, head over to my latching blog, 7 Steps to Latching Success, is you need a hand with getting your baby on.

#2 Watch Your Baby

Watching your baby breastfeed means you can assess their suck (don’t worry I’II talk you through it!) This will give you information on how well your baby is taking your milk.

Time to pay attention to them. What is your baby doing? 

  • Is your baby’s sucking pattern deep and rhythmical? 
  • Is your baby’s jaw opening wide? (You’ll know it is when you see movement at their temple)

Those two points are the signs of a good, strong suck which has the ability to extract the milk out of the breast.  

But if the sucking changes to little flutter sucks or nibbling, or if your baby actually falls asleep, it’s time for a break. 

You see, sucking at the breast is so tiring that your baby can only do it for up to about 20 minutes at a time. (That’s why babies fall asleep at the breast so much – they’re completely exhausted!) 

Once the action slows down, the sucking becomes ineffective and doesn’t have enough “drawing power” to extract milk from the breast. 

When that happens, your baby may come off by themselves. Or you can do these two tricks:

  1. Cuddle them into you and see if the nibbles turn back into bigger sucks. 
  2. Squeeze your breast to try and turn nibbles into bigger sucks. Watch my video on this, its called, breast compression.

Eventually your baby will come off or you will take them off. Most of the time this will be under 20minutes. Anything longer than this is mostly ineffective sucking for a baby under 6 weeks.

The feed is not done. This is just first course, on to the next step and Daddy time!

#3 Nappy and Burp Time

While your baby is having a break from sucking, you should take a break too! Get up, stretch, grab a drink or something to eat. Now is the perfect time. 

Meanwhile, daddy can handle the burping and changing the nappy. (Or you both can just cuddle with your baby and marvel at your creation!)

Now, remember that I said that your baby can only suck at the breast for about 20 minutes before their jaw muscles tire out? So the fact that your baby stops sucking doesn’t mean they’re full.

It usually just means they need a break. 

Most babies (especially under six weeks old) need several courses in one session before they are truly full 🙂

They just need to rest in between them for a few minutes. And that rest is what nappy time provides them with! (In addition to a clean diaper)

And now that the nappy has been changed, start looking again for feeding cues: 

  • Sucking of the hand
  • Poking the tongue out
  • Crying

Any one of those three at this stage is a sign it’s probably time for another course! (It may only be a few minutes or less before they are ready to breastfeed again!)

#4 Back To The Breast

Switch sides, and follow the steps above. 

This side may last up to 15 minutes (but again, don’t watch the clock – watch your baby). 

As a side note, many parents worry whether their baby is “getting enough” or not. My blog post Is My Baby Getting Enough? will help you answer that question!

#5: Getting Sleepy

After this your baby may fall asleep at the breast. This is ok. And in fact, it’s rather nice for both of you!  

When the baby is getting sleepy, most parents naturally feel they should either cuddle for a while, or put the baby in their cot. 

But wait! There’s one more thing to do first! 

#6: One More Chance (The Key!)

By doing just one more thing, you can drastically increase the chances of your baby having a very good sleep.  

Are you ready for it? 

Here it is. 

As you wrap your baby and pat them off to sleep (while still on your chest)

Give them one more chance. 

Look again for any feeding cues. Is there any chance your baby is still hungry? 

If they start crying or are looking for more – try the breast again. 

Remember, it’s hard to tell if your baby is full or just needs a short break from all the sucking. And just this act of paying attention now and offering more (if they show any signs of interest) can make a world of a difference. 

Because this time… they will go to sleep full. And they’ll sleep better. And everything will start getting easier!

#7: Sweet Bliss

If your baby has a go, it will be very short. Possibly 5 minutes or less.

Then they will most likely fall asleep on the breast on their own. (If your baby does not want another go, that is fine. Then it’s time for bed.)

Nearly all babies will cry a little when you settle as you have moved them from their favourite spot (the breast!).

That’s OK. Just keep patting and your baby will go to sleep. You will notice the cries and protests will calm quickly, and you can then put your baby to bed.

What To Do If Your Baby Does Not Go To Sleep?

This is a great question! And it does happen generally once in a 24 hour period.

If your baby won’t settle and seems to be having a long feeding and crying session (around 2 – 4 hours) they may be entering what I call “a cluster feed”

The reason your baby cluster feeds is they just hit a point where it’s all too much!  Just like us really!  So having a long feeding and crying session is NORMAL!

A cluster feed means the hour breastfeed time goes out the window. You will be feeding for a few hours. To read more on cluster feeds plus get some strategies head over to my blog A Calm Settled Baby In 72 hours.

Remember, almost every baby goes through a cluster feed at least once every 24 hours. So when this happens, do not despair! Just keep following the seven steps and your baby will settle down. 

These cluster feeds usually happen in the middle of the night for the first week or two, then settle into the late afternoon afterwards.

A FEW TIPS

  • TIP 1:  Keep an eye on your baby’s poo and wee – here’s what you’re looking out for
  • TIP 2: DON’T try to make your baby sleep longer at night by keeping them up during the day. It doesn’t work!
  • TIP 3: DO try and stick to the hour so you can become aware of your baby’s cluster feed times.
  • TIP 4: For more tips, check out Help!!! My Baby Is An Overtired Angry Monster!
  • TIP 5: This is a GUIDE. As you get to know your baby, you might find you have a different structure that suits you better! And if you do, please leave a comment below and tell us about it! That way we can all learn from you!

Once you have mastered this plan, write down how you feel (check out my blogpost Mother’s Mindset to find out why. It will literally blow your MIND!). Also note how your baby is feeling, what the poo and wee is up to, and weigh your baby. For more on weight see my blog on Weight Gain And Weight Loss.

Something Isn’t Working? I’m Here For You!

This plan is a starting point. It’s the first step to getting your baby feeding and sleeping the best they can. For some babies – these seven steps are all you need. BUT if you are still having problems, then it’s best to delve a little further.  

Give me a call or text me at 0414 403 208 and we can have a chat. Figure out what is happening – and what to do about it. More often than not it only takes a few little changes and tweaks to bring calmness, happiness and sanity back. 

It’s just sometimes hard to figure out all on your own. Especially if this is your first child. 

And there’s no reason to do it on your own. Text or call me now, and we’ll work it out together! 

Young mother holding her newborn child. Mom nursing baby. Woman and new born boy in white bedroom with rocking chair and blue crib. Nursery interior. Mother playing with laughing kid. Family at home

Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?

Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Is my baby getting enough – a big question that I get asked at almost every consult! You are not alone! It’s normal to wonder if your baby is getting enough!

After all there is no gauge on your breast and you can’t always feel when your breast is drained.

The great news is I can show you how to confidently know your baby is getting enough milk very easily!  And the rule is, what goes in must come out!  

So lets talk about poo and wee!

What Goes In Must Come Out!

To answer the question, “Is my baby getting enough?” We need to talk a little about POO and WEE!  Simple, your baby’s poo and wee will give you all the answers!

You don’t have to see your breast milk to know that your baby is getting enough! It’s all about what to expect in the nappy!

So what do you need to see in your baby’s nappy? Let’s check this out!

The Facts!

Once you know what to expect with poo and wee you can count your baby’s nappies and RELAX!

So what I’ve done is created a table that you can keep handy all the way to 6 weeks. Check it out here.

Poo and wee chart

You can see that the chart breaks down the first week clearly. This is because there is so much change!  Also, it is a big learning phase for you, it is where you start to TRUST your breasts and your milk supply.

So forget about what you ‘think’ your baby is getting, just follow the table and KNOW that your baby is getting enough!

This table not only reassures you that your baby is getting enough. It also confirms that your milk is coming in!

Poo this colour means your milk HAS to be IN!

Diaper on the white background

You see, if the wee increases and the poo changes colour it means your baby IS drinking more.

Most mothers don’t actually know when their milk has come in.  But seeing the poo and wee change in line with the table above confirms it! Your Milk Is In!

Now you know the facts lets delve a little further into the nitty gritty. Particularly the size of your baby’s poo. It means a lot!

Poo Size Does Matter!

After the first week or after your baby has graduated to YELLOW poo; it is time to look at the size of each poo.  Let me explain……

A baby over 5 days will poo around 3 times per day. In the chart above I have put 1+ per day.  But we need to allow for variations of normal!

Remember I am talking about after the first week when poo is yellow! One poo per day is normal IF it is BIG!  A big poo fills the bottom of the nappy and is creeping up the back of the nappy and spilling out the sides! BEAUTIFUL!

If you have a baby that has dainty poo’s, I mean small, like a little squirt.  Then you will see lots of them, more than 3!  Below is a break down:

The amount of poo = the time between poo
 Long time = large poo
 Short time = small poo

So you are counting the nappies as well as the amount of each poo.

If you seem to be changing a poo each nappy then this is heaps! If the poo’s are spaced apart, expect to be cleaning a biggie! A poo that needs two people to clean up!

Now you’ve got the normal, what if your baby is not meeting this guide?  Don’t worry, I can help you.  In fact I have all the SOLUTIONS below:

What If My Baby Is Not Meeting The Guide?

If your baby is doing more than this chart that’s ok. But if your baby is doing less?  Don’t worry!  I can help you.

Firstly, I need to ask you a few questions about your baby’s feeds and sleeping habits to help you get the right amount of poo and wee.

Remember what goes in comes out. So not enough feeds in a day (or too much sleep) will decrease the poo and wee.

question answer ask the right questions and get an answers help or support desk solving problems and finding solutions

Step #1 Check If Baby Is Oversleeping

I know it’s a bit surprising, because generally speaking you don’t want to wake up a sleeping baby. However, there are times where you should not let your baby oversleep.

I’ll explain.

If your baby is sleeping too long, they are not breastfeeding enough. And by not feeding enough, they actually start having less and less energy and their poo and wee will decrease.

When a baby under 6 weeks that’s not taking enough milk becomes too tired to feed, they just keep sleeping. This means not enough poo and wee.

So how do you tell if your baby is sleeping “the right” number of hours, or sleeping too long?

Ask yourself two questions:

  1. Is your baby sleeping for more than 6 hours straight in a 24 hour period?
  2. Is your baby having six or less breastfeeds in a 24 hour period?

If you’ve answered “yes” to one (or both) of these questions, it’s time to wake your baby. Don’t worry – it’s for their own good because they need more feeds!

This will not just get your baby back on track with poo and wee, it will also help fix their sleeping routine because they won’t be so tired all the time.

So until your baby is 6 weeks old, I recommend you follow these four simple rules until your poo and wee issues have turned around!:

  1. During the day, wake your baby up every 3 hours
  2. Allow 4-6 hours sleep at night.
  3. Remember only one big sleep (6 hours maximum) each 24 hours.
  4. Fit 7-8 breastfeeds in a 24 hour period.

Again, only follow these rules until your poo and wee issues have turned around! (Usually it only takes a week or two!)

Some mothers with low poo and wee may also have weight issues. If this is you, head over to my blog on slow weight gain. You will be totally on track before you know it!

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: If you can’t wake your baby up to feed – then it is time to get some help from your Doctor. DO NOT DEALY. Get your bub checked out today!

Step #2 Check If Baby Is Falling Asleep At The Breast

Falling asleep at the breast is a normal behaviour for a newborn! The thing is, it’s out of your control.

If bub is falling asleep at the breast, it means there is less milk going in. Leading to less poo and wee.

I have a great plan to help with this! It is over at my blog called Managing a Feed From Day 1. This will explain how to take advantage of your baby’s limited energy and take heaps more milk in at each feed.

Heaps more milk means heaps more poo and wee! By following the feed plan you will see that poo and wee will increase. FIXED!

Step #3 Does Your Baby Have Jaundice or Yellow Skin

Firstly, you need to see your doctor if you suspect that your baby’s skin is yellow, this could be jaundice.

Jaundice is normal in healthy newborns and lasts for a few days. BUT can get quite serious if left untreated, hence a visit to your doctor.

Jaundice or yellow skin can make your baby tired. You see, your baby is trying to get rid of the jaundice (via their poo and wee) and uses lots of energy to do this.

Lots of energy on this task means less energy for breastfeeding. Less breastfeeding means less poo and wee.

So the plan to help your baby overcome jaundice is to feed more. But what you need to do is wake your baby for feeds. Just follow these points:

  1. During the day, wake your baby up every 3 hours (unless you baby wakes earlier).
  2. Allow 4 hours sleep at night.
  3. Fit 8 or more breastfeeds in a 24 hour period.

You can also follow my breastfeeding plan to get back on track with poo and wee here.

So now lets bring it together!

Bringing it together

What goes in comes out! If you just remember this, and always refer back to the poo and wee chart you can answer the question…………..”Is my baby getting enough?”

THE GOAL – you need to see a yellow poo every day for babies 2-6 weeks. If you don’t, DON’T PANIC, just feed your baby more by waking them and keep counting the nappies.

If you need more information about how your baby is feeding at the breast then head on over to my latching blog, 7 Steps to Latching Success, this will give you more knowledge to build your confidence!

You can also contact me to have a chat about your particular situation on 0414403208 or head to my services page.

Now have fun counting nappies and watch your confidence soar!

Mother changing diaper to her little baby girl in child room at home

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If you are struggling with breastfeeding (or just feeling a bit overwhelmed) – don’t go at it alone. I’m here to help.

Call me now at 0414 403 208 and let’s figure it out together! (Prefer text? Message me on WhatsApp!)

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