Anyone who has ever breastfed a baby will know that they can feed a lot. But sometimes it’s difficult to trust that your baby knows what they’re doing. Concerns about not having enough milk or whether they’re feeding too much are among the top reasons for stopping breastfeeding, often before women feel ready to do so.
I started researching breastfeeding as a new mum myself after a health professional told me that if my son was feeding every two hours it must mean he wasn’t getting enough milk. Looking at her, and then at my 99th percentile baby, I decided we really needed a greater understanding of what was normal when it came to breastfeeding and the messages new parents received.
Breastfed babies feed frequently because breastmilk is easily digested. Feeding them responsively, ie whenever they want to be fed, is also important in building milk supply. The more milk that’s removed from the breast, the more milk that will be produced, and vice versa. Attempting to put a strict routine in place can actually reduce the amount of milk you make and increase the likelihood of ending up with difficulties or pain.
If you look up how often babies are meant to breastfeed, lots of websites suggest 8–12 times in 24 hours. But talking to thousands of women in my research, it’s clear that, although some babies will feed regularly (every two or three hours), other babies will feed much more frequently. Some babies in my research are feeding up to 26 times a day or more.
In cultures where babies are carried in a sling all day and there are no restrictions on feeding, babies can feed up to four times an hour. No one would suggest that this is practical or desirable for everyone but how often these babies were feeding was not a sign that something was wrong. Unfortunately, here, we seem to spend a lot of time telling new mothers that their baby is feeding too much. How often have you been asked whether your tiny baby is a ‘good baby’ or felt pressure to put them into a feeding routine?
It’s also really common for babies not to breastfeed in a regular pattern. Known as cluster feeding, this is when babies feed on and off several times over a period of a few hours, often in the early evening. Their suck often feels different – less powerful and they may doze in between bouts. It’s also completely normal and 95% of breastfeeding mothers taking part in my research say that their babies do it. Cluster feeding helps increase milk supply but is also about comfort. Babies have a natural desire to suck, especially when feeling unsettled. It’s no coincidence that it often happens at the busiest time of the day, when your full attention is not on them.
Although feeding so frequently is normal, it can be exhausting, especially at first. But once you’re in the rhythm of feeding, most women say breastfeeding gets much easier. Feeds might be more frequent but they are quicker, especially at night. And most importantly, you can never forget to take the milk out with you…
If you’re worried about how often your baby is feeding, it’s important to check for signs that they’re getting enough milk, such as nappy content, whether they look hydrated and hearing them swallow as they feed. La Leche League has further information here. If you are at all worried contact your health professional or the National Breastfeeding helpline who can support you if your baby needs more milk. This might involve expressing milk to give to your baby or, in some cases, formula supplementation. You should be supported through this process to enable you to return to exclusively breastfeeding if you want and if this is possible.
Amy is the author of The Positive Breastfeeding Book: Everything you need to feed your baby with confidence, published by Pinter & Martin Ltd.
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MumsnetGuestPosts · 28/06/2019 15:57
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