• Gently rinse with plain warm water during a bath or wipe away only visible poo, wiping front to back.
• You can gently part the outer folds just enough to rinse, but do not scrub or force anything out.
• A white, creamy material or mild discharge can be normal in young baby girls and usually clears on its own. Baby genital-care guidance specifically says thick milky discharge does not need to be cleaned away.

• Use lukewarm water daily. A small amount of mild, fragrance-free soap on the outer vulva is optional.
• Gently separate the labia to rinse the folds, then pat dry. Do not scrub.
• Do not wash or put soap, wipes, sprays, deodorant, or a douche inside the vagina. The vagina cleans itself with normal secretions, and internal washing can upset its normal bacteria and cause irritation or infection.
• Wipe front to back after using the toilet.

• Temperature 38°C / 100.4°F or higher rectally
• Hard to wake, floppy, weak cry, looks very unwell
• Trouble breathing, blue/gray lips, or repeated grunting
• Vomiting that is green, bloody, or forceful/projectile
• Refuses feeds, feeds much less than usual, or no wet diaper for 8 hours
• Swollen/red belly, blood in stool, rash that does not fade with pressure
• Crying that is suddenly different, high-pitched, or she cries when touched/moved

• Offer the breast whenever she cues. At this age it can be frequent, including every 1-2 hours during a cluster.
• Check that she has at least about 6 wet diapers in 24 hours and is gaining weight as expected.
• Keep feeds calm and upright; burp gently during/after feeds. Hold upright for 20-30 minutes after feeding if she spits up or seems uncomfortable.
• Use skin-to-skin contact, dim lights, gentle rocking/white noise, and swaddling only while awake or before placing her on her back to sleep. Never let her sleep unsupervised in a swing, car seat, or on an adult.
• Do not use gripe water, herbal remedies, or medicines unless her pediatrician tells you to.

Signs she is likely getting enough milk

• At least 6 very wet diapers in 24 hours. Urine should be pale yellow or nearly clear.
• She feeds about 8-12 or more times per day. Cluster feeding for several hours, especially in the evening, can be normal at this age.
• During at least some feeds, you can hear or see swallowing after the initial quick sucks.
• Her hands and body often relax after a good feed, though she may still want to feed again soon during cluster-feeding periods.
• She has regained birth weight and continues to gain at her checkups. This is the most reliable measure. The AAP’s signs of adequate intake include 6 or more wet diapers daily and regular feeding.

Signs to call the pediatrician today

• Fewer than 6 wet diapers in 24 hours, very dark urine, dry mouth, or no wet diaper for 8 hours
• She is too sleepy to feed, repeatedly feeds very poorly, or is hard to wake
• She has fever of 38°C / 100.4°F or above
• Repeated projectile vomiting, green vomit, blood in stool, breathing trouble, or looks unwell

A practical breastfeeding plan

1. Offer the breast early, when she stirs, turns toward the breast, opens her mouth, or sucks her hands. Crying is a late hunger cue.
2. Start on one breast. Let her actively drink, with audible swallowing.
3. When swallowing slows, use breast compressions: gently squeeze the breast while she sucks to help milk flow.
4. Offer the other breast if she is still searching, sucking hands, or unsettled.
5. During evening clusters, it is fine for her to return to the breast repeatedly. This often helps increase supply.

Should you use a pump?

If you want to build a small milk supply

• Breastfeed first.
• Pump once in the morning, about 15-30 minutes after a feed, for 10-15 minutes.
• Do this once daily for several days. Morning is often easiest because supply may be higher.
• Even a small amount is useful. Do not judge your supply by the pump output.

If someone gives her a bottle of expressed milk

• Pump at about the same time she receives that bottle, so your body still gets the message to make milk.
• Use a slow-flow nipple and paced bottle feeding: hold her semi-upright, keep the bottle more horizontal, pause often, and stop when she turns away or relaxes. This reduces overfeeding and helps her continue breastfeeding comfortably.

Latch problems that can reduce milk transfer

• Nipple pain throughout the feed, pinching, cracking, bleeding, or a flattened/"lipstick-shaped" nipple afterward
• Baby takes only the nipple, rather than a good mouthful of breast and areola
• Lips turned inward instead of flanged outward
• Clicking sounds, leaking milk, frequent slipping off
• Cheeks dimple inward with sucking
• Few or no swallows after the first minute or two
• Very long feeds with little active swallowing, then baby remains distressed
• Poor weight gain or fewer than 6 wet diapers in 24 hours

• Baby's body is facing you, tummy to tummy, with ear-shoulder-hip in one line.
• Her nose is opposite your nipple. Wait for a wide-open mouth, then bring baby to breast, chin first.
• Her chin presses into the breast; nose is clear or lightly touching.
• More areola is visible above her top lip than below the lower lip.
• Her lips are flanged outward and you hear regular swallowing.
• Initial tenderness can occur, but ongoing pain is not expected. The CDC breastfeeding guidance advises getting help for pain that continues or damaged nipples.

Simple feeding and pumping plan

If your main goal is direct breastfeeding

1. Offer the first breast and watch for active sucking and swallowing.
2. When swallowing slows, gently compress the breast.
3. Offer the second breast if she still shows hunger cues.
4. Start the next feed on the breast she fed least from last time.

If you want to build a small stored-milk supply

Manual versus electric pump

• Suction set too high
• Flange/shield too small or too large
• Nipple rubbing the tunnel sides
• Incorrect positioning of the nipple in the center
• Existing nipple damage or infection

Vaccines at 6 weeks

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
• Polio
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
• Hepatitis B, in combination vaccines in some schedules
• Pneumococcal disease
• Rotavirus by mouth

1. bOPV-1: Oral polio vaccine, 2 drops by mouth
2. Pentavalent-1: One injection protecting against:
   • Diphtheria
   • Pertussis/whooping cough
   • Tetanus
   • Hepatitis B
   • Hib, which can cause meningitis and pneumonia
3. fIPV-1: Fractional inactivated polio vaccine, an injection
4. Rotavirus vaccine dose 1: Oral drops, to prevent severe diarrhoea from rotavirus
5. PCV-1: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, injection, protecting against serious pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infection.

What happens next

• 10 weeks: OPV-2, Pentavalent-2, Rotavirus-2
• 14 weeks: OPV-3, Pentavalent-3, fIPV-2, Rotavirus-3, PCV-2

On vaccination day

• Breastfeed her before, during, or after the injections. It is safe and often reduces crying and pain.
• She may be sleepy, irritable, have local pain/redness, or a mild fever for 1-2 days.
• Ask the pediatrician for the correct paracetamol dose based on her current weight. Do not give medicine pre-emptively or use an adult dose.
• Because she is under 3 months old, if she has a temperature of 38°C or higher, seems very unwell, feeds poorly, is difficult to wake, has breathing trouble, repeated vomiting, or cries inconsolably for more than 2-3 hours, contact the pediatrician urgently.