Articles and Advice: Your Baby 0-6 Months

When your baby is born, ask that he be placed on your stomach with his skin against yours. This will let you both adapt and stay warm.

The sucking reflex starts in most newborns in the hour after birth. When your baby begins to move, he will instinctively seek out his mother’s breast, explore and discover his sucking reflex. Help him as needed and offer him the breast as soon as he seems interested. Some babies don’t want to nurse. If he doesn’t nurse right away, hold him close to you until he wants to. Your baby will smell and recognize you; this will stimulate him to nurse.

The time between the first and second feedings will depend on your baby and how much he drank. Some babies will sleep for several hours after birth. Make the most of this time to rest as a family, keeping your baby near you. The first times you nurse are above all a time to learn and be in touch with your baby. Mother and child need to get to know each other and learn how to work together.

Some babies recover more slowly from birth and have a harder time nursing. If your infant takes awhile reacting, squeeze a few drops of milk into his mouth. If he still doesn’t want to nurse, don’t insist. Offer him the breast a bit later when he shows signs of being hungry. Maintain skin-to-skin contact with your infant to stimulate his interest in nursing and to reassure him. You’ll know when he’s ready to nurse. Don’t worry: some babies need more time than others. If need be, express your milk and give it to your baby using a small spoon or small cup. It’s best to avoid giving him a bottle at this point.

Reference:
Doré, Nicole; Le Hénaff, Danielle. From Tiny Tot to Toddler, Practical Guide for Parents from Pregnancy to Age Two. Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 2008. Pages 310-11.