Demand or Schedule Feeding? |
Newborns should have frequent and unrestricted access to the breast. Here are some of the many benefits...
My Thoughts
Which is better. . . nursing my baby on demand or schedule feeding? The best way is to feed on cue.
This advice is supported by much medical evidence, by La Leche League and lactation experts, by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and by many breastfeeding mothers.
What does feed on demand mean?
Feed your baby whenever he seems to want it--in other words, follow his cues. According to Dr. William and Martha Sears, RN, IBCLC, "Babies will demonstrate feeding cues for up to 30 minutes before they start crying."* How will you know he is hungry? What are his cues? The following list shows some ways your baby will let you know he needs to nurse:
It may seem to you that your baby gives these signals often... that's good. I can't stress enough that some babies will want to nurse *very* often. It is natural and normal for a baby to want to nurse every hour--sometimes more, and sometimes less. Your baby may even seem to want to nurse "all the time." One new mom put it this way, "My baby howls when she is not plugged in."
If you want to keep tabs at first on how often your baby eats, perhaps if you have a sleepy baby or you have trouble reading your baby's cues (see next section), it may be helpful to know that the time between nursings is figured from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next--for example, to nurse every two hours would mean nursing at 2:00 and then at 4:00 and then at 6:00, etc. Remember, your baby may want to nurse much more often than this... this is normal. Follow his cues and nurse him whenever he wants to nurse. Keep in mind that babies nurse for comfort as well as nutrition. When you feel comfortable that your baby is eating often enough, please consider throwing away your clock. In my experience, I found that watching the clock caused us a lot of unnecessary stress.
****Coming soon!**** Signs that your baby is gettting enough milk.
Many mothers find it helpful to keep their baby with them as they do their day to day activities. If you wear him in a sling, he can be part of the action without always being the center of attention. If he stays in the same room with you, you will able to see his cues and respond to them quickly.
For instance, you may find it helpful to let your baby take naps nearby you (or you may want to take naps with him in your bed). If you keep him in the room with you, you can be aware of when he starts to squirm . . . you can go ahead and offer the breast then.
Responding quickly and consistently to the cues you are able to read in your baby will help give you confidence in your ability to meet the needs of your baby. It will help you to know your baby better, and you will be better able to read his cues. It can help you get to know your baby so well that you are even able to anticipate some of his needs.
Mothers who choose not to responsively meet the needs of their baby will start to loose their ability to do so. Mothering instinct needs to be cultivated and used, or it will grow weak.
It's important to remember that to a baby, wants and needs are synonymous. They are helpless and dependant, and we are older than they are--we can wait. If they are made to wait, they will not understand why. They have no concept of time. To them a minute is an eternity. A mother who consistently and responsively meets the needs of her baby will foster a deep trust and contentment in her child. As he gets older he will gradually learn to wait longer for his needs to be met. . . the trust his mother has fostered in him will help reassure him that his needs will be met.
Note: Make sure your baby is latched on and positioned correctly. Incorrect latching can lead to inadequate milk supply, and/or sore nipples. It should not hurt. Check out Attaching Baby to the Breast by Dr. William and Martha Sears, RN, IBCLC. This article discusses latching on and proper positioning. It goes through the whole process, step-by-step, and includes helpful illustrative photos.
**These are my opinions gotten from experience and reading. For medical advice, please contact your health care provider. He/she may refer you to a lactation consultant.**
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"All nursing is beneficial, whatever the reason or frequency, and based on what we know about milk supply, it appears that the more often a mother nurses, the better." ~ Marnie Ko
"What scheduling actually teaches a child is that he is a helpless pawn in a confusing world. Babies can't read clocks! They have no idea what "every four hours" means. They have no concept of past or future. They know only that they are crying with hunger now, and no one is taking away the hurt." ~ excerpt from On Scheduling
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