What are some usual occurrences during early feeding?

breastfeeding journal breastfeeding tips gagging reflex sucking reflex swallowing reflex Nov 14, 2024

Don’t be surprised when your milk squirts out your nipple from several holes. A newborn can take a good 30–40 minutes to feed, but it shouldn’t take 45-60 minutes. It could be helpful to write down details of your baby’s feeds e.g. right 25 minutes and left 10 minutes. Baby’s sucking is more like a chomping action, and it can be very strong. Newborns also have the swallowing reflex (which they learnt in utero) and a gagging reflex (splutter coughs) to clear the breathing passages if they swallow too much too quickly. When your baby dozes off during a feed, you need to gently wake bub to re-start the sucking reflex. A more elaborate list can be read in pages 185 to 187.