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23 years
Is it necessary if my 3 week baby puts his hand on his mouth or eagerly wanted the pacifier that he is hungry & whts the average time he should breastfeed once?dono if he fed well or still hungry
Mar 25, 2015
2nd opinion

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
Not necessarily. During the first month of life, newborn babies feed every 2 to 3 hours, meaning frequent feedings but relatively small volumes, and you should stick to this kind of regular schedule. As babies grow older, their cheek muscles which are necessary for suckling develop and grow stronger, therefore they become better feeders and can drink larger volumes of milk per meal, so they start to accept larger meals of milk but feed less frequently (every 4 hours on average). Not every facial grimacing or fussiness or putting the hands in the mouth signal that the baby is hungry; this could be one way he is soothing himself.
The reliable signs that you should look for to be reassured that your baby is well fed are:
1- On a daily basis: your baby is active, shows no signs of dehydration, meaning that you see tears when he cries, he is wetting his diapers regularly (around 8 times per day) and also passing regular bowel movements (if your baby is exclusively breast fed, expect one bowel movement after each feeding because breast milk is so easily digested).
2- During routine check-up in the pediatrician's office: growth parameters (head circumference, weight, length) are commensurate with age and your baby is following his growth curve.
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