New Mom’s 5 Biggest Concerns

1. My baby is not getting enough breastmilk
Breast pumping and breastfeeding mothers are most often concerned that their baby is not getting enough breastmilk.

Breast pumping moms worry about their milk supply and breast feeding moms worry that their baby is not getting enough milk, because they can’t see how much their baby is getting when they nurse.

Sometimes, friends, neighbors and family will say things that will cause a new mother to be concerned about how much her baby is getting. 

New moms need to relax and try not to stress.  Stress will cause problems with breastmilk supply, so take it easy and take care of yourself.

If your baby is gaining weight, there is no problem.

2. Is baby reflux bad?  If my baby vomits after I feed him, what should I do?
Baby reflux is a lot more common than most mothers realize.  Many breastfed babies have reflux because they eat more than they need and the excess comes back up.

Weight gain is the way to determine if your baby is throwing up too much milk.  If your baby is colicky or seems to be in pain, then you should visit your pediatrician.

3. Should my baby sleep on her back or on her tummy?
Multiple medical studies strongly suggest that a baby should be placed on their back for sleep. Evidence shows that babies placed on their stomach are at a greater risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) 

4. Why does my baby cry so much? She seems to be crying all the time! Does she have colic?
Babies only have one way to communicate their needs or feelings, and that is crying.  As babies move through the different stages of infant development, changes occur. These changes can cause discomfort or may upset your baby.

Sometimes when our babies cry, we get stressed.  Our babies will sense this stress and this stress may continue to trigger the crying, even longer.

If your precious baby continues to cry, there are a few things you can try.

• My favorite was to take my baby into the bathtub filled with nice comforting warm water and relax. A lavender scent in the bathroom or in the tub has a very relaxing effect on both of you.
• My husband used to take the baby for a ride in the evenings, when my baby would cry for no apparent reason.
• Other nights, my husband would put on some soft music and take the baby in a darkened room to dance.  That often worked miracles and gave my husband a great sense of satisfaction.
• Our youngest had reflux and colic.  For many evenings, I walked the floor with baby held firmly against my own tummy.  Something about that position seemed to help with the tummy problem and it would sometimes get the gassiness to pass.

If your child cries inconsolably almost everyday, it might be time to have the pediatrician check your baby out. 

5. When will my baby sleep through the night?
Some babies sleep through the night within a couple of weeks, but that is not the norm.  As babies get older, they wake less often during the night.

The average baby sleeps about 18 hours each day, mostly in one or two hour nap sessions and brief wake times for feeding, diaper changes and socializing.  The older the baby, the more social they become and the more time they spend awake.

Night time sleep patterns will also have longer times at rest. Unfortunately, my girls woke at least once per night til about 9 months and were also early risers. My 5:30 wake up calls got old, but our family members are all early risers.

Moms will have to wait, to get that much needed full night’s sleep.

Even the most experienced mother can have days where she is very concerned about her baby’s behavior in some way.  No mother should hesitate to contact the pediatrician when there is cause for concern.