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Nursing: when, how long, and how often


Lets talk alveoli...

 1. They are like your fridge, keeping the milk your body makes in between feeds
2. When your fridge gets filled in between long gaps of feeding (>3 hrs) or engorgement your milk speed slows down due to FIL

( Some women can tell when this happens by feeling their breast, a more filled breast will feel harder than one that just nursed)
How Often do I feed my baby?

10 or more times in 24 hours, at the very least 8 times

Important to know:

1. The closer together feeds are the more creme milk (high in fat and protein) baby gets
2. Your breast do not empty from you nursing
3.You have to take milk out to make milk!!!!

During cluster feeds and growth spurts your baby will optimize these two points

In a cluster feed a baby may nurse every hour, usually during night (a time when baby is usually more fussy) in order to get the most creme milk ( usually before their longer stretch of sleep)

During a growth spurt which is also a fussy time (oh parenthood), baby will seem to cluster feed all day. They are feeding frequently to reach the creme (higher calories) for their growth spurt. See  here for when it occurs and for how long.

Note: As baby gets older and more efficient in nursing feeding frequency usually decreases



When should I feed my baby?
1. Every 2-3 hours during the day
2. No more than 4 hours during night until you have your pediatricians ok
3. This may require you to wake your baby to eat until you have your pediatricians ok

&

When you see your baby's nursing cues:
1. Rooting (movement of their head searching for something to suck on )
2. Bringing their hands to their mouth
3. Mouth movements and sounds for sucking
4. Crying (try catch the first nursing cues before this one, It will get easier as you get to know your baby)




How Long?
1. Baby is the boss here
2. Allow your baby to feed until they self detach
3. After they self detach offer your second breast

Note: If baby is nursing less than 7 minute feeds or more than 50 minute feeds consistently see your lactation professional or pediatrician see here

 Resources
World health organization. "The physiological basis of breastfeeding." Infant and Young Child Feeding: Model Chapter for Textbooks for Medical Students and Allied Health Professionals. (n.d.): n. pag.National Center for Biotechnology Information. Web. 

 Baker, Gini. "UCSD Lactation educator program." Lecture.

 "Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario." Latch, Milk Transfer and Effective Breastfeeding | Nursing Best Practice Guidelines. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Aug. 2017.
"Warning Signs of Breastfeeding Problems." HealthyChildren.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Aug. 2017.







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