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Night feeding is a crucial aspect of caring for a newborn, yet it is often met with mixed emotions by new parents. While waking up several times at night can be exhausting, it is important to understand that night feeding plays a significant role in a newborn’s growth and development. As a lactation counsellor, I encourage parents to see night feeding not just as a necessity but as an opportunity to provide their baby with essential nutrients and comfort during the earliest stages of life.
Understanding the Size of a Newborn’s Stomach
One of the key reasons night feeding is important for a newborn is the size of their stomach. A newborn’s stomach is incredibly small – roughly the size of a cherry on the first day, gradually expanding to the size of a walnut by day three and to about the size of an apricot by the end of the first week. Due to this limited capacity, newborns can only consume small amounts of milk at a time and need frequent feedings to meet their nutritional needs.
Night feedings help ensure that a newborn gets enough calories and nutrients throughout the day and night. Because their stomachs cannot hold large amounts of milk, babies must feed frequently, including during the night, to grow steadily and gain weight.
Helping in Glucose Regulation and Brain Development
Night feeding also plays a critical role in maintaining glucose levels in newborns. Unlike adults, newborns do not have a significant reserve of glucose in their bodies. Glucose is essential for brain development as it serves as the primary source of energy for the brain. Since a newborn’s brain is growing rapidly, it needs a consistent supply of glucose, which is provided through breast milk or formula.
During the night, when babies are not drinking milk regularly, their glucose levels can drop. Frequent night feeding ensures that glucose levels remain stable, providing the brain with the fuel it needs for optimal growth and cognitive development. Night feeds, therefore, play a vital role in supporting the developing brain during this critical period.
Boosting Breast Milk Supply
For breastfeeding mothers, night feeding is also essential for maintaining and boosting milk supply. Prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production, is produced at higher levels at night. When a baby feeds frequently during the night, it stimulates the mother’s body to produce more prolactin, thereby enhancing milk production.
This increased prolactin level helps ensure an adequate milk supply throughout the day and supports the baby’s growth and nutritional needs. By breastfeeding at night, mothers are not only meeting their baby’s immediate needs but also reinforcing their body’s ability to produce sufficient milk in the long term.
By embracing night feeding, parents can help ensure their newborns receive the vital nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Remember, these precious early months will pass quickly, and the care you provide during night feeds will contribute significantly to your baby’s health and well-being.
By
Sonali Shivlani
Sonali Shivlani is a pregnancy and parenting consultant with over 20 years of experience. As the founder of Baby360degrees – www.baby360degrees.com, she offers both online and offline pregnancy and parenting classes, and is a visiting consultant at PD Hinduja Hospital and Women’s Hospital, Khar, Mumbai. Sonali is also the Executive Director of CAPPA India, a training institute which trains and certifies birth professionals across the country. She has authored multiple books, serves on the expert panel of several parenting websites and has been a guest speaker at national and international events and conferences.
This post is also available in: English
