You're settled in at home with your new baby and finally everything, from feeding to sleeping, seems to be finding a sense of rhythm. Getting out of the house has been a challenge, but at least that's given you time to learn how to distinguish what your baby's cries mean. Chances are that your nipples aren't sore anymore (if they are, call a lactation consultant) and that your milk is at the ready.
What To Generally Expect At This Stage
Most mothers find that their babies are settling into a seemingly regular feeding and sleeping routine now. The baby should be waking every 2 to 3 hours to feed, with the feedings lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to almost an hour. Sleep patterns will vary, but many babies -- when fed frequently throughout the day -- may give their parents a good 4 to 5 hours of sleep at night (thank goodness for small favors.)
Babies should also be back to, or have surpassed, their birth weight at this stage.
Common Issues for Mom at This Stage
You may feel fatigued from sleep deprivation, yet you're beginning to feel that your body is recovering from delivery. With that comes a sense of elation. At this point, it is very important to not neglect yourself and to take measures to take care of yourself.
Engorgement may be ever-present at this point. Your milk supply is well-established and some discomfort might arise from your body adjusting to the baby's demands. Be sure not to disregard this discomfort and manage it promptly.
Common Issues for Baby at This Stage
One of the most common complaints from new mothers at this stage is that their baby is feeding too frequently. If this is the case, ensure that you're finishing one breast before offering the other. This way, you can be sure that your baby is getting to the rich, fatty hindmilk, which should hold him for a longer time period in between feedings. This will also make a difference if the baby has been having problems with weight gain; your pediatrician will assess whether or not this is an issue.
Along the same lines, if your baby is feeding for over an hour and never seems satisfied, your milk supply should be assessed by your physician.
Waking Up a Sleepy Baby
At this stage, the baby should be waking on her own, every 2 to 3 hours, to feed. If her weight gain is adequate, urination and bowel movements are normal, and there's no evidence of jaundice, it is not necessary to wake her up. Babies begin to learn sleep/wake rhythms very early on. I found Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (compare prices), by Dr. Marc Weissbluth, to be a useful resource for women interested in learning more about their babies' sleep habits.
Establishing a Milk Supply
By this point, your milk should be in and well-established. Your breasts are stimulated because the baby is feeding every 2 to 3 hours. There may actually be times where you feel you can't hold out until the next feeding because you're so full. This is very normal and, over time, your breasts will get back to their prepregnancy shape and size. It may seem hard to believe, but it will happen as your body adjusts all of these new fluids.
If you do not feel as though your supply is up to par, you should be evaluated by a lactation consultant. You may need some galactagogues, or milk supply enhancers, to help you to increase your supply.
Tips
Making it this far is a huge accomplishment, but keep in mind that things change very rapidly with babies this age. You may be in a nice groove and, all of a sudden, things change again. Try to go with the flow and keep routines as best you can.
Source: Mohrbacher N, Stock J. La Leche League International.
