feed every two hours?

[napluster]

Just wanting some advice on behalf of a friend.
Her ds was born 5 days ago and was initially not very interested in feeding (sleepy after pethidine in labour). Now he is crying for a feed hourly and her mw has told her not to feed him hourly but to try to eke it out to two hours as he is wanting comfort rather than food and she is setting herself up for a 'spiral' (what does that mean?).
I remember my own ds wanting to be on the breast pretty much constantly at that stage and being totally knackered and quite shocked by his appetite. I was surprised that she had been advised against feeding 'on demand' but wondered if I was just jealous because no one offered me that advice and I wore myself out! (I do remember being pretty tearful about it all).
I just know that she is keen to bf for as long as possible and don't want her to get crappy advice from mw that may sabotage her milk supply.
Thanks in advance.

I think she should keep feeding

My DS fed a LOT in the early days, almost constantly it felt like. At 5 days old it would be mean to make him wait

I'm with Mama G. She's probably just establishing her supply anyway. Hope at least the MW checked her latch. Hope she can rest when he rests.

Tiktok will probably come along soon and give some good advice .

I too wailed at about that time - all those hormones I think. That settled down after a couple of days.

I really hate the 'rod for your own back' brigade.

bullshit, feed as often as baby demands it especially in these vitally impotant first days.

you cannot overfeed a bf baby and so what if baby is sucking for comfort? unless it's continuous feeding 24/7 like my dd was doing it's not a problem, a newborn child should be comforted by it's mother and bf is the best way to do that.

wish her luck and tell her to join MN herself for advice and support.

My ds is 14 wks and still feeds every 2 hours from when he wakes right up until bedtime, it is dificult and tiring but tell your friend to keep it up

Shocking, appalling advice from the midwife

A five day old baby wanting comfort, eh? Who'd have thought it?? [sarcasm]

This is normal and understandable, and good that she responds - by responding to him she i) ensures she makes enough milk to meet his needs ii) starts teaching him the world is a good place and that his needs are important iii)ensures good nutrition and hydration

She needs to hold him close to her for as much of the day and night as poss, which will make freq feeding easier for them both.

My daughter fed hourly for bloody months. She was still feeding hourly throughout the day at the point at which she started sleeping through the night. HV told me I had to make her take more at once. I'm still not sure how I was meant to do this.

Please tell your friend about how the constant suckling will help her breasts to make more milk to keep up with the demand when her baby gets hungrier. And maybe see if she could get/borrow a sling that her baby can feed in so she doesn't feel trapped on the sofa?

Also, a newborn baby's stomach is the size of a walnut. No wonder he wants to feed often - he can't keep much milk in there!

Thanks everyone, I thought it sounded like poor advice, but then wanted to check with the wise women of mumsnet!

god this is BAD BAD advice
she should feed at least whenever her baby cues her