Sign out
By the time you bring your new baby home, you’ve probably decided whether you are going to breastfeed. There are some other things that are likely to come up, such as whether you’re going to pump breast milk to use between feedings, how to approach sleep training, and how to deal with low milk supply.
Breastfeeding and pumping
Breast milk is best for babies because it contains all the nutrients they need for proper growth. If you’re breastfeeding, you may choose to pump between feeding sessions.
Plan to start pumping after 3 or 4 weeks of breastfeeding. Pumping in the morning may yield more milk, especially at first. Make sure to breastfeed first, then pump afterward.
After pumping, you can store milk in the refrigerator or freezer. Use containers made for that purpose, not regular bottle liners or resealable bags. You can also store milk in plastic or glass bottles. Don’t reuse any containers until they’ve been washed in warm, soapy water and rinsed well.
Don’t put more than 2-4 ounces of milk into one storage container. Write the date and time you pumped on the container, and always use older ones first. Be sure to throw away any milk your baby doesn’t drink.
To heat up the milk before a feeding, simply place the container in a bowl filled with warm water. You can also run the container under warm water.
Milk storage guidelines for healthy newborns at home
Room temperature (up to 77° F) covered container
Fresh breast milk: 6-8 hours
Breast milk thawed in refrigerator: 1 hour
Refrigerator (32°-39° F) stored in the back
Fresh breast milk: 5 days
Breast milk thawed in refrigerator: 24 hours
Freezer compartment inside refrigerator (5° F)
Fresh breast milk: 2 weeks
Breast milk thawed in refrigerator: do not refreeze
Freezer compartment of refrigerator with separate door (0° F)
Fresh breast milk: 3-4 months
Breast milk thawed in refrigerator: do not refreeze
Deep freeze (0° F or less)
Fresh breast milk: 6-12 months
Breast milk thawed in refrigerator: do not refreeze
Sleep training and feeding
Newborn babies usually sleep between 14 and 17 hours a day. As they get older, their sleep habits will change. At around 3 months, your baby may start sleeping between 6 and 8 hours in a row at night.
It is totally normal for newborns to wake at night to feed, as they generally feed 8-12 times over the course of 24 hours. While feeding your baby, keep the room quiet and dark. Don’t play with your baby, as that can make it harder for them to go back to sleep.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Babies do not have regular sleep cycles until about 6 months of age. While newborns sleep about 16 to 17 hours per day, they may only sleep 1 or 2 hours at a time. As babies get older, they need less sleep. However, different babies have different sleep needs. It is normal for a 6-month-old to wake up during the night but go back to sleep after a few minutes."
Low milk supply
Most people produce enough milk to feed their babies. If you’re concerned about your milk supply, check with your baby's doctor and/or a lactation specialist to confirm that your baby is meeting growth goals and that you are producing adequate milk volume by having your baby weighed on a medical scale before and after a feeding. If you need to increase milk production, get support from your lactation specialist. There are often solutions available.
To improve milk production, you can:
- Feed at least 8-12 times every 24 hours.
- Let the baby feed as long as they wish on each breast. This may take up to 30 minutes at each breast. Listen for sucks and swallows.
- Check position and latch.
- Compress your breast/chest during a feeding to help milk flow.
- Practice self-care. Rest, decrease stress, eat a healthy diet, and drink enough fluids.
- Try to hand express or pump after a feed.
Tongue tie
When they’re born, some babies have extra tissue connecting their tongue to the bottom of the mouth. This can limit how much they can move their tongue. It can sometimes make it harder for them to latch onto your breast.
Signs your baby may have tongue tie include:
- Difficulty moving their tongue up and down or side to side.
- Having a heart-shaped tongue.
- Not being able to extend the tongue past the lower gums.
Many babies with tongue tie don’t need treatment. It might get better on its own, or your baby may adapt to how their tongue is shaped. Tongue exercises can also help stretch the extra tissue and allow the tongue to move more normally.
In some cases, babies need a simple procedure to clip the extra tissue. If the problem is more severe, this could mean your baby may need stitches. Talk to your clinician if you think your baby has this extra tongue tissue.