"When Milk Matters told me that preemies needed just 50ml a day to survive and I was feeding my son breastmilk all day long, I wanted to help and knew I could."
Helen (breastmilk donor) - University Estate
Dr Alan Horn - Neonatologist (Cape Town, South Africa)
"It is a wonderful feeling to know that I have not only given my babies a healthy start in life, but I have played a small part in helping others too."
Nicolette K (breastmilk donor) - Cape Town
"It cost me nothing and took just a bit of my time. More importantly, I was saving a life, a little baby's life."
Helen P (breastmilk donor) - Cape Town
Should I demand feed or schedule-feed my baby?
A newborn baby's stomach is about the size of a marble with a capacity of around 5 ml. By the time he is a week old it is around 50ml. He just can't cope with too much, too soon.
Breastmilk is also readily digested. Most babies therefore need frequent feeds, round 10 to 12 feeds in 24 hours during the first few days. You could even wake your baby during the day time to fit in extra feeds. He is then more likely to sleep for longer stretches at night. It won't be long before he settles into his own pattern.
Should you baby still be feeding often and not settling between feeds, after the first few days, have a lactation consultant or breastfeeding expert check your baby's latch.
Avoid being tempted by well meaning advice about stretching your babies feeds. Take a moment to count how often you have a drink or snack during the course of a day and your stomach capacity? What's more you have stopped growing and your baby has only just started.