Q: When should feeding begin after a baby is born?
A: The best answer is — Immediately!
Feeding should start right in the delivery room.
Even if the baby is born via caesarean section, nursing should begin within the first 30 minutes.
If the mother is unable to hold the baby, a grandmother or helper can assist in placing the baby on the mother’s chest.
Table Of Content
- Q: When should feeding begin after a baby is born?
- Q: In the beginning, yellowish thick milk comes out. Our elders call it “stale milk”. Should it be discarded? Can it make the baby sick?
- Q: How often should a baby be fed? And for how long each time?
- Q: My baby is fed only mother’s milk but still has frequent loose stools. Sometimes, the skin around the diaper area gets red too. We haven’t given any outside water or food. What should I do?
- Lactose digestion issue
- Q: What foods should a nursing mother eat to help with milk supply?
- Q: How can we tell if the baby is getting enough milk?
- Q: Is it true that feeding at the breast prevents pregnancy?
Even if the mother is not allowed to eat post-surgery, the baby should still be held skin-to-skin to start feeding.
Q: In the beginning, yellowish thick milk comes out. Our elders call it “stale milk”. Should it be discarded? Can it make the baby sick?
A: Absolutely not!
That yellowish thick milk is called colostrum, and it’s incredibly important for the baby.
It helps in brain development and builds the baby’s immunity with protective antibodies.
Never throw it away — it’s like liquid gold for a newborn.
Q: How often should a baby be fed? And for how long each time?
A: There’s no fixed timetable.
Feed the baby whenever they are hungry.
Usually, feeding on one side for about 10 to 15 minutes is enough.
At the next session, offer the other side.
Q: My baby is fed only mother’s milk but still has frequent loose stools. Sometimes, the skin around the diaper area gets red too. We haven’t given any outside water or food. What should I do?
A: This is not diarrhea from infection. It’s usually due to:
Incorrect feeding method:
Many mothers switch breasts during the same session.
The milk at the beginning is watery and high in sugar (lactose).
The milk that follows is thicker and contains more fat.
If both sides are alternated quickly, the baby mostly gets the watery milk, which can cause loose
stools.
Instead, feed from one side completely before switching.
Lactose digestion issue:
Sometimes the baby’s tummy can’t digest the sugar well. This causes fermentation and acid, leading to greenish or sour-smelling stools, which irritate the skin.
No medicine is needed — just let the baby feed fully from one side at a time.
If the skin is red, apply a doctor-recommended cream.
Q: What foods should a nursing mother eat to help with milk supply?
A: There’s no magical food that increases milk.
Just eat regular homemade meals with a little extra: green vegetables, pulses like lentils, and fruits.
Avoid staying hungry. Most importantly, stay mentally relaxed — peace and rest support milk production best.
Q: How can we tell if the baby is getting enough milk?
A: If your baby:
- Passes urine 6 or more times daily
- Is gaining weight regularly
- Sleeps peacefully
- Does not cry continuously
Then you can be confident the baby is getting enough milk.
Q: Is it true that feeding at the breast prevents pregnancy?
A: Partly true.
While nursing, many mothers do not ovulate in the early months, which lowers the chance of pregnancy.
But this is not reliable as birth control.
Pregnancy can still occur.
It’s better to use a dependable method, like a copper-T (IUD), for protection.
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