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First Week
Daily Breastfeeding Log
 Modified from the Philadelphia Dept. of Public Health log
by: Mom from San Antonio, TX

Circle every hour when your baby starts a nursing.
Circle the W when your baby has a wet diaper.
Circle the S when your baby has a soiled (poopy) diaper.

Birth Date: ___/___/___ Birth Time: __:___ AM PM

  • Attempt the first nursing as soon after birth as possible, at least during the first hour.
  • Use good latching technique (tickle lips, mouth open WIDE, both lips flanged out, etc.) every time you nurse! Always take baby off and re-latch if it isn’t right.
  • Don’t worry if baby is uninterested the first few times you try to nurse (very normal)
  • Insist that baby be given NO ARTIFICIAL NIPPLES (bottles, pacifiers, nipple shields)
  • Allow baby unlimited time at the breasts when sucking actively.
  • Put baby to breast at first signs of hunger (stirring, rooting, hands in mouth) -- don’t wait until baby is crying, which is a late hunger cue.

 
First 24 hours GOAL
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6 to 8
Wet Diaper W 1
Black tarry soiled diaper S 1

 

Second 24 hours GOAL
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6 to 8
Wet Diapers W   W 2
Brownish/black tarry soiled diapers S   S 2

 

Third 24 hours GOAL
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 8 to 12
Wet Diapers W   W   W 3
Brownish/Greenish soiled diapers S   S   S 3

 

Fourth 24 hours GOAL
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 8 to 12
Wet Diapers W   W   W   W 4
Yellow soiled diapers S   S   S 3

 

Fifth 24 hours GOAL
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 8 to 12
Wet Diapers W  W  W  W  W 5
Yellow soiled diapers S   S   S 3

 

Sixth 24 hours GOAL
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 8 to 12
Wet Diapers W  W  W  W  W  W 6
Yellow soiled diapers S   S   S   S 4

 

Seventh 24 hours GOAL
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 8 to 12
Wet Diapers W  W  W  W  W  W 6 to 8
Yellow soiled diapers S   S   S   S   S   S 4 to 12

 

  • Be deliberate about waking baby for feeds, with a max. of 3 hours between feedings.
  • Your milk should start “coming in” (changing from colostrum to mature milk) between days 2 and 5. Take care to prevent engorgement by feeding even more often and using cold compresses between feedings and moist heat just before a feeding to decrease discomfort.
  • If baby is having trouble latching onto an engorged/hard breast, express or pump until nipple is soft, then try again to latch. Be sure to empty (soften) both breasts a minimum of every 3 hours during this first week.
  • Some newborns sleep all the time when not nursing. Don’t worry if your baby does this.
  • It’s OK for baby to nurse more than 12 times each day, and to have more wet diapers or more soiled diapers. You CAN’T nurse too often. You CAN nurse too little. Call your Lactation Consultant or Pediatrician if you have fewer than the numbers on this log.

This page can be found on-line at "The New Parents Guide", by going to:
http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/breastfeeding-log-weekone-cgentry.htm

 

 

NOTE: The article above titled "First Week Daily Breastfeeding Log" was provided by a visitor to "The New Parents Guide" and is the opinion of its author who gathered the information directly from certified lactation consultants and other breastfeeding information guides.  "The New Parents Guide" does not guarantee the information to be factual.  Always use the guidance of you child's doctor over information you read on this site or elsewhere; your doctor knows what is best for your baby.

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