Anthropologists observed that in many cultures, babies were being fed 8 to 12 times a day. Then, scientists in the biology, physiology, and nutrition field, found biological pathways explaining that.
The newborn stomach is small, so babies need to feed frequently. Due to their overall immaturity, newborns need to stay in close contact with their parents to control their body temperature, breathing rhythm, and heartbeat. I am talking about physical contact here. Frequent feeds provide not only the necessary amount of food to regulate their glycemic level (blood sugar levels), but help them regulate their body temperature, breathing, and heartbeat. As adults, our bodies are mature and able to self-regulate, but the little ones need a nudge in the right direction.
As newborns grow, organs mature, and they become more able to self-regulate. The stomach volume increases, and breast milk composition changes, so feeding sessions begin to space out. However, at 4 weeks, newborns are still small and need to eat more frequently than adults. The 8 to 12 times a day continues, slowly getting closer to the 8 rather than the 12.
I think that we've settled in 8 to 12 times a day, right? That's why pediatricians tell parents to feed the baby every 2 to 3 hours. Those 2 to 3 hours are just an average that fits within a 24h day. If you are nursing, you might notice that sometimes your baby nurses every several times in 2h, while other times, the baby might give you a 4h stretch of sleep.
The "8 to 12 times a day" isn't as clockwork as we make it sound, or a strict rule If your baby is feeding more (13+) or less (<8) often, observe if this is happening every day. Sometimes, this happens for one or two days. That's ok. Other times this happens for a full week when the baby is going through a growth phase. If this is happening for more than a few days, or if the baby isn't gaining weight, seek professional help. Babies need to gain weight. After birth, babies might lose 10-15% of their birth weight in the first 2-4 days of life. By day 5, they need to start gaining weight. Smaller babies gain more, bigger babies gain less, but they all need to gain weight. Generally speaking, by 2 weeks, babies are expected to be at least back at birth weight. If your baby isn't gaining weight, seek professional help.
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