New Mother and Baby Home Reference Guide
About Mother
- Bleeding: Should be similar to a heavy period for one to three days. If soaking more than one sanitary pad per hour or have large blood clots, call your health care provider.
- Pericare/Episiotomy/Hemorrhoids: Keep the perineum clean and wear cotton underwear. Use peribottle or spray bottle filled with warm water after using the toilet. Check for signs of infection.
- Uterus: Should feel hard and approximately the size of a grapefruit. Massage your uterus if it does not feel firm.
- Breasts: If you are planning to breastfeed, feed every one and a half to three hours around the clock to promote adequate milk supply. Don't skip feedings to sleep through the night.
- Nipples: Use only warm water on nipples (no soap or creams). If you are breastfeeding, some tenderness may occur, but sore nipples should not continue to be a problem if your baby is properly positioned.
- If you had a Caesarean: Check your incision site for any signs of infection, i.e., redness, discharge or foul odor.
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About Baby
- No wet diapers in a 24-hour period is a reason for concern; call your pediatric health care provider.
- Baby should have three wet diapers in 24 hours by the end of the third day.
- By the end of the fifth day, your baby's stools should change from black (meconium) to yellow.
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About Feeding
Breastfeeding
- Latch-on: Breastfeeding should not be painful if the baby is properly positioned. Call (415) 600-BABY and speak to a Lactation Specialist for assistance.
- Frequency: Feed on demand, which is usually every one and a half to three hours (minimum of 8 times in 24 hours) around the clock for the first two to four weeks. Feedings should occur during both days and nights.
- How long should I nurse? Feed approximately 20 to 30 minutes on one side; break the suction; burp; and go to the other breast. Continue until the baby is satisfied.
- Taking the baby off the breast: Be sure to break the suction before removing the baby from the breast.
- How do I know if my baby's getting enough to eat? Adequate weight gain and the amount of wet and soiled diapers indicate baby is eating enough. See “Wet Diapers/Stool” above.
Bottle-feeding Formula
- Frequency: Feed every two to four hours.
- How much do I feed? Two to four ounces every two to four hours.
Burping
- Newborns need to be burped often:
- If breastfeeding: Between breasts and after nursing on second breast.
- If bottle-feeding: After every one half to one ounce.
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Warning Signals for Mother
Call your Obstetrical health care provider for any of these concerns:
- Bright red bleeding; soaking more than one sanitary pad per hour; large clots.
- Fever over 100.4º F or 38ºC.
- Signs of infection from episiotomy or caesarean incision site.
- Area in calf or leg which is hot, painful, hard or red.
- Hot, hard, red and painful to touch area of breast.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Persistent headache, possible spots in front of eyes, swelling.
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Warning Signals for Baby
Call your Pediatric health care provider for any of these concerns:
- Baby will not feed. (Missed two or more feedings.)
- No wet diapers for 24 hours.
- Stools are still black on the fifth day.
- Baby is excessively sleepy, lethargic, irritable or restless.
- Difficult breathing, flaring nostrils, wheezing, congestion.
- Fever (higher than 100.4ºF).
- Umbilical cord is swollen, red, foul-smelling, or there is drainage.
- Frequent and excessive vomiting — projectile.
- Baby's skin is yellow.
- Circumcision site is swollen or bleeding.
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Emergency Phone Numbers
Obstetrical Health Care Provider, Pediatric Health Care Provider, Newborn Connections: (415) 600-BABY (2229) for breastfeeding questions, consultation, breast pumps and accessories.
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