Feeding Questions
 How often should I feed my baby?. You should feed your baby "on demand", which is whenever he NEEDS to nurse. It will probably be about every 2 to 3 hours for the first few weeks. Breast milk is digested much faster than formula so he can't go as long between feedings as a bottle baby. As your milk supply builds up and he learns to nurse more efficiently, he will go longer between feedings. When a baby cries, he has a need. It may be that he is hot, cold, wet, hungry or just lonesome. If he can't be comforted any other way than nursing, then he needs to nurse. You can't overfeed a breastfed baby. He will stop when he has enough. (1) How long should I nurse at each feeding?. You should nurse at least 10 to 15 minutes on each breast OR until the breast feels soft, and then you should switch to the other side. He should nurse until he is either asleep or fully satisfied. It is best to let the baby nurse until he comes off the breast by himself. At the next feeding, start with the side you stopped on. It will usually feel heavier. You can also nurse about 30 minutes on only one breast at each feeding. Babies get more of the high-fat creamy milk ("hindmilk") doing it that way and may gain more weight. (1) Should I give water or formula to my baby?. Breast milk has all the nutrients your breastfed baby needs. There is no need for formula unless the baby isn't gaining weight. Remember, the more you nurse, the more milk you will make. And if you fill the baby up with formula or water, he will nurse less and you won't make as much milk. There is nothing better for your baby than breast milk. Water is not necessary for a completely breastfed baby. (1) How can I tell if my baby is getting enough breast milk?. If your baby is nursing at least 10-12 times in 24 hours, and is content, alert, and gaining about a pound a month, he is probably getting enough breast milk. You can also tell by listening to him nurse. You should be able to hear him swallowing. Your breasts should also feel softer and lighter at the end of each feeding. During the first few weeks, a baby should be having at least 6-8 soaking wet diapers and at least 1 or 2 bowel movements in each 24 hour period. (Sometimes it is hard to tell when disposable diapers are wet. Pull it apart and check inside to be sure. Or, put a piece of paper towel in each clean diaper where the baby will urinate. If the paper is wet, you have a wet diaper.) Sometimes, (but very, very rarely) a mother just doesn't make enough milk for her baby. The baby must be watched carefully for signs of dehydration. The following is very important: Your baby may be getting dehydrated if he acts listless and sick, has dark yellow urine, his mouth and lips are dry, or if the soft spot on the top of his head sinks in. These symptoms are serious. Take your baby to a doctor immediately if he has any of these symptoms. (1) Can I use a pacifier?. There are times when a pacifier may be used, but you shouldn't rely on it all the time. If your baby is given a pacifier every time he fusses, he may not nurse often enough to keep up your milk supply, and he may not gain weight as he should. Your milk supply will definitely be affected if you use a pacifier too often. Remember, a pacifier can be useful at certain times, but it CAN affect your milk supply in the early weeks. It is best not to get in the habit of using it all the time. (1) Is it normal for my baby to have infrequent bowel movements?. I have a 4.5 month old, who sometimes goes 16+ days without a bowel movement. He seems fine otherwise, and the pediatricians say this is "normal". Is it metabolism, etc.? Or an indication of anything else? Yes, it can be "normal" for a breastfed baby to go as long as you are saying between bowel movements--as long as the baby is over 6 weeks old. If he is continuing to have plenty of wet diapers, and is gaining weight, growing in length and head circumference, and is not showing any signs of illness, there should be no reason for concern. The important thing to realize is that it is a change in bowel patterns that is a cause for concern. As long as this is a normal pattern for your baby, then you do not need to worry. Yes, this does have to do with metabolism (all of us are different.) I imagine his stools are very large! His body is just able to hold the stool longer than other babies. When you introduce solids in the next couple of months or so, his bowel movements will most likely become more frequent. Cher Sealy, RN, BSN, IBCLC, LLLL What is a growth spurt?. Most babies go through periods of sudden growth during the early months, and they will want to nurse more often during these times. Growth spurts only last a day or two, just long enough for the baby to build up your milk supply to meet his growing needs. Knowing about growth spurts will help you when the time comes. The first growth spurt will come around the 10th to 14th day. This is also about the time you notice that your breasts don't seem as full as they did at first. This is normal, so don't think you have lost your milk. The baby is just making sure you make even more. The second growth spurt comes around 4 to 6 weeks. The baby is now growing at a fast rate. Just nurse often for a day or two, and soon the baby will return to his normal feeding pattern. (1) What is a nursing strike?. Between the age of 4 and 8 months, a baby may suddenly lose interest in the breast and refuse to nurse. It could be that he is teething and it hurts his gums to nurse, or he could have an ear infection, sore throat, or cold. Sometimes there is no apparent reason. Whatever the reason, you must try to keep up your milk supply by regular pumping. And you must continue to gently offer the breast to him. Meanwhile you have to find some other way of feeding the baby. You can try feeding him your expressed (pumped) milk from a cup or spoon or medicine dropper. Using a bottle will make it even harder to get him back on the breast. He might quickly find that it is easier to drink from a bottle. In fact, using a bottle could have caused the nursing strike in the first place. It may take several days for the baby to start back nursing, and during this time you will need to give him lots of skin contact and cuddling. You can even try nursing him while he is asleep. Some babies will nurse while asleep even while "on strike." Don't confuse a nursing strike with weaning. Weaning occurs gradually, and the strikes happen suddenly. Although this will be a very trying time, hang in there. Keep offering the breast but don't try to force him. Soon he should be back to normal. (1) Will my baby bite?. Sometimes a baby will bite when he is teething. His gums are sore and when he nurses, they hurt more. A baby might also bite if you try to nurse him when he isn't hungry or at the end of a feeding when he has had enough. It is impossible for a baby to bite and nurse at the same time because the baby's tongue is between the bottom teeth and your nipple. Only when he has stopped nursing will he be able to clamp down. Watch your baby. When he stops sucking or swallowing, break the suction and take him off the breast before he starts to bite. If he does bite, gently take him off the breast and firmly say "no". After two or three times, most babies will get the message that they must not bite. You DO NOT have to wean when he gets teeth. (1) What is a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS)?. This breastfeeding aid consists of a small bottle (worn around the neck) and a length of very small tubing which carries breast milk or formula to the mother's nipple. The baby suckles the end of the tube and the mother's nipple at the same time. It helps to train the baby with latch-on problems to nurse, and stimulates the breasts to produce milk also. It is useful when a mother wants to get her milk supply back, when the baby has latch-on problems, has become nipple confused, or when an adoptive mother wants to feed at the breast. Lactation consultants and most La Leche League leaders have them for purchase. (1)
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