My newborn only drinks 1 1/2 ounces or so every 3 hours. She went to the hospital for a jaundice test, and they said she was dehydrated. How much should a newborn drink? How can I get her to drink more? I've tried everything and am very worried.
2007-05-07 12:47:56 · 5 answers · asked by Brookie 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
About 24-32 oz of formula per day (I assume your formula feeding since you have a measurement) should be enough to keep her hydrated and give her enough calories to gain weight effectively throughout the first year. Move her feedings closer together, waking her if necessary to feed her. To keep her awake and ensure a full feeding you can try removing a layer of clothing, burping her more often, changing her diaper mid-feeding, tickling her toes, or a damp washcloth on her forehead.
2007-05-07 12:55:05 · answer #1 · answered by Heather Y 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jaundiced babies are very sleepy. You have to make sure they're awake and sucking actively away. If they fall asleep (common for jaundiced babies), you have to wake them up and continue the feeding.
If you're giving breastmilk, it is 80% water so there's no need for water. If formula, then you have to offer sips of cooled boiled water in between feeds.
A newborn should feed 8 to 12 times per 24 hours, with about 2 oz each. For a newborn, it doesn't take much to feel full since their stomach is so small. Frequency is more important.
Has the stool changed to yellow mustard with seedy consistency? Do you have around 6 wet diapers a day? If severely dehydrated, your baby will have a sunken fontanelles (depressed soft spot at top of head). For dehydration, give water to tide over, then continue with milk.
Good luck!
2007-05-07 21:33:39 · answer #2 · answered by Mummy Knows Best 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it hard to keep her awake to eat? That's common with babies who are jaundiced. Try "jump starting" her with a few spoonfulls of milk (or medicine droppers/oral syringes) as it doesn't require any work on her part. Also, try stimulating her to keep her awake while feeding. Tickle her feet, talk to her, dim the lights (newborns hate bright lights and will close their eyes and that makes it easy to drift off), walk your fingers up and down her spine, change her diaper or take her clothes off to wake her, etc.
2007-05-07 20:03:51 · answer #3 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to make sure he/she stays awake. You have to work with him/her to make sure they drink enough. Make sure that the nipple isn't under his/her tongue when feeding, if it is they are getting tired before they are full. Good luck, I had 5 and one always put the nipple under her tongue so I had to work with her. She should be drinking at least 4 ozs. Again Good luck with your new born.
2007-05-07 19:59:40 · answer #4 · answered by Frances L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went through this with my son, they wouldn't let him leave from the hospital until he ate at least 2 oz each couple hrs. He wasn't having it! They eventually just let me go home, and his appetite grew with him...don't worry too much, your doing all you can.
2007-05-07 19:55:10 · answer #5 · answered by Happy Mother of 2! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋