Wed, 19 Jun 2002

How to feed your baby correctly

Dear Dr. Donya,

I have a few questions to ask.

1. We have a baby who is almost three weeks old. Based on the serving suggestions printed on the milk's can, a baby aged between two and eight weeks should drink 120 ml of milk six times every day (once every four hours), making a daily total of 720 ml. The problem is our baby cannot drink such large portions at once, so we give him 90 ml eight times a day (which also makes a total volume of 720 ml).

Our question is, am I doing the right thing or not?

If we insist on 120 ml, he rejects the milk when it reaches 90 ml.

2. Our baby usually wakes up in the middle of the night and often sleeps the whole day. Why is he like that? How could we make him adjust?

-- Ben

Dear Ben,

1. You are correct about giving your baby milk. Normally in the first month, a baby will drink more often (every two to three hours) and in small amounts, 3-4 ounces (1 oz.=30 ml). After a month, it will average 1 oz per kilo and three to five hours depending on the individual, usually about every four to five hours. The beautiful thing about taking care of a baby is they drink as much as need and then they will tell you they have had enough without saying anything.

2. Your baby is normal, babies often wake up at night for a number of different reasons; hunger, wet pampers or movement especially in the same bed. After three months your baby should have a more set schedule than now.

-- Dr. Donya

Dear Dr. Donya,

I have a few questions to ask about Chlamydial infection, I recently tested positive.

1. Should my boyfriend check too?

2. How many methods are there for checking the infection? Is there a method other than testing the blood?

3. Does this infection cause infertility?

-- Reader

Dear Reader,

1. Yes, he should also be checked for infection.

2. You can test for Chlamydial either using a blood test or by testing discharge from your genital area.

3. Possible, untreated infection can progress to tube infection (fallopian tube connect from ovary to uterus; passage for an egg to travel to uterus) and progress to scar and ultimately destroy the tube.

-- Dr. Donya