MommaMatch

Physiological Changes:
Tummy is the size of a cherry and can only hold 5-7 ml

What to Expect:
Lots of skin to skin this first day. You may experience some fussiness as baby transitions from womb to room. Baby may not be interested in eating a ton, but it is important to offer the breast each time. If baby only eats 2-3 times in that first 24 hrs it is okay. Skin to skin is most important. Poop will be black and sticky, this is called meconium.

Physiological Changes:
Tummy is the size of a walnut and can hold 15-30 ml

What to Expect:
Cluster feeding (baby wants to eat all the time, such as every hour) is normal. Sucking bursts of 8 or more before a swallow. Milk may come in during this day. If engorged, mom should seek out the help of an IBCLC. Poop will begin transitioning to green. Baby should have 3 pees and 3 poops.

Physiological Changes:
Tummy doubles in size to be about as large as an apricot and can hold 45-60 ml

What to Expect:
Milk should be fully in and baby will be eating 8-12 times in 24 hours. Baby should have 6 pees and 3 poops and poop should be yellow and seedy.

Physiological Changes:
Back to birth weight

What to Expect:
The baby should be back to birth weight, and audible gulps should be heard when feeding. There should be no pain with the latch. The baby will still eat every 2-3 hours per day and every 3-4 hours at night. The baby should have 6 pees and 3 poops and the poop should still be yellow.

Physiological Changes:
1st growth spurt and baby will want to eat every 1-2 hrs for 4 days

What to Expect:
It is normal for the baby to feel and act insatiable. The frequent stimulation will trigger your milk supply to increase. As long as the baby is peeing and pooping, the baby is getting plenty to eat. White noise and skin to skin contact will help during this time. Sleep when baby sleeps. Make it a Netflix day.

Physiological Changes:
Tummy is the size of an egg: 2-5 oz

What to Expect:
Feedings begin to regulate back again. Baby will eat on demand 8 or more times a day. On average it looks like feeding every 3 hours during the day and every 4 hours at night. If baby is sleeping longer stretches, than let them sleep. Let the baby guide you. You cannot overfeed a breastfed baby.

Physiological Changes:
2nd growth spurt, shorter but more dramatic

What to Expect:
Baby will be very cranky and want to eat every hour. It is shorter than the last growth spurt, and you may feel as if you do not have enough milk, but as long as the baby is demanding it your body will supply it. Keep track of your output and sleep.

Physiological Changes:
3 month dump of supply. Hormones shift, mother receives a surge of estrogen and will most likely ovulate. Supply is no longer driven by hormones, it is strictly driven by milk removal.
The baby's eyesight becomes stronger and more clear, and head control happens.

What to Expect:
The first 3 months the body relies on the milk being removed from the breast and the hormone function to maintain the milk supply. At the 3 month marker, the hormones (the insurance plan if you will) dips due to mother ovulating or regaining her menses, and the milk supply is maintained based on how much milk is removed from the breast.
When the breast is constantly being emptied, the body produces more. If the mother stops breastfeeding or pumping as frequently then the milk will start to diminish. It is supply and demand. Feeds should be fast and effective. Babe may be done in 5 minutes or as long as 10 minutes per breast. It is quality vs. quantity.

Physiological Changes:
The milk composition changes. The fat and protein ratio shifts to accommodate the active baby. The frequency of feeds diminishes and the baby feeds faster. Distracted eating occurs which is normal behavior.

What to Expect:
The mother should expect that the baby will feed for shorter amounts of time, but become more effective at milk removal.
The baby will be easily distracted, sitting in an upright position will help the baby stay focused on the feeds.
The saliva of the baby is absorbed into the breast, and the breast will respond to what the baby's body needs. It is like our body's own lab...based on the baby's body chemistry, the mother's body will produce milk based on what the baby's needs are.

Physiological Changes:
Supplementary foods are introduced and another growth spurt occurs

What to Expect:
Babies will require less milk once solids are introduced. Breast milk is still the babies main source of food, but now solids are complimentary until 1 year old.
The Baby needs at least 24 oz of milk a day, but can require more. Usually babies are sleeping through the night at this point, and will eat about 4-6 times per day. Feedings are fast and efficient.

Physiological Changes:
Growth spurt occurs and milk composition changes

What to Expect:
The milk composition change is based on whatever the baby's needs are. Feedings may only be a few minutes long but may be 4-6 times a day. The Baby is typically eating 3 solid meals a day.

What to Expect:
Breastmilk is no longer the main source of food, but may continue to be an excellent source of immunity.