Monday, 10 January 2011
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Please Help!- Breastfeeding Questions for Moms
Okay. Maybe if I explain my breastfeeding a little better it would be more helpful. I've been reading articles and things from other moms online and now I wonder if I've been doing it wrong all along. Or maybe I just asked the wrong questions to begin with.
When my son was born I asked my lactation consultant how long and how often newborns usually breastfed. Her response was "15 minutes on each breast, every three hours". So that exactly is all I've ever done.
The reason I started supplementing with formula a month + ago was because that was no longer enough for him and he became hungry between feedings. Now I'm wondering if I should have (or should now) feed on demand? This is potentially an issue however because I start classes again in a couple weeks and the three hour schedule is really all I will be able to manage. I was even hoping to start spacing out feedings more but don't know when or how.
So I suppose after explaining my situation what I could break it down to is the following questions:
1. How/when do you space out feedings?
2. How can you make both sides "even" when one breast gets in the habit of producing more than the other?
3. Will I always feed him for 15 mins. on each breast (30 mins. total) during every feeding? Or will he eventually take longer to get what he needs? (Or take less time?)
4. How often and how long do babies usually feed at 3 months old? At 4 months? 5?
5. When you breastfeed on demand, how long will he eat from each side?
6. If I let him sleep all night will it hurt my supply?
7. Is it possible to put my 11 week old son on a three hour feeding schedule of breastfeeding only (or possibly just much less formula supplementation) AFTER having had him on our current schedule?
It seems the more I BF, the less I seem to know (or more I need to learn). I want a better supply and less formula feedings. Everett currently BF's every three hours, and takes 2 ounce bottles in between feedings (as many as six bottles a day!)
What do I do?
Any answers are helpful and greatly appreciated.
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- From: PeaceLoveMaternity@xanga
- Name: PeaceLoveMaternity
- About Me: I'm a twenty year old Navy wife and my husband is deployed over seas. It's been a crazy first year for us as newlyweds but it's about to get even better because we are expecting our first- a baby boy!- on October 15, 2010 :).
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Comments (20)
Oh boy... why do nurses tell new Moms this?
Firstly, you have to do what works best for you, your lifestyle, your baby, etc. Not everyone has the luxury of nursing on demand 24/7. If you're starting classes soon and will be away from him... he will need to be supplemented while you're away, but if you can when you're home nurse him on demand, don't look at a clock, go with what you feel in your breasts. You can feel when one is heavier than the other... and it's OK to only use one boob each feeding.. that hind milk is the good fatty stuff and that doesn't even come until about 15 minutes of nursing- so if you're switching then, he may be missing out. Block feeding is very common in European countries... for some reason in America we're all stuck on this 15 minute each side time table, and then we wonder why our babies need to be supplemented.Good job for looking into this- obviously your mommy instinct light bulb went off and you're seeking out answers... I can't give the best answer because I've always been a SAHM in the early months and have been able to just nurse 24/7... I am not exaggerating much.. my babies nurse most of the day and night the first few months... they space out a bit more after that, but I can't tell you as I never really paid attention to a clock or anything.
Babies are all individual, there is no one method/time table that works for all babies- find what works for yours, and if you want to stop the formula supplementing, then stop and keep him on your boob for as long as he wants. If the other boob gets engorged you can pump or hand express to relieve the pressure. If you pump, then you'll have some breastmilk stashes for when you're away from him :D
I fed mine every 2 hours for 40 minutes or so, in the beginning (first two months). Then every two hours for about 15 min on each side. The more you nurse your baby, the more your breasts will produce. If you can pump rather than supplementing that would be good too. I let my baby sleep through the night (9hours or so, it was heavenly) and it REALLY hurt my supply. she is now 6 months old and we aren't breastfeeding anymore
I miss it, and I'm sad about it, but I also started her in day care at 3 months so I could work on my dissertation. I had to make a choice. I don't know if it was right or not, because I couldn't pump enough to keep up the supply, plus she has milk allergies and other allergies so that added a whole other layer of stress.
just do what you can, do as much as you can and as often as you can for as long as you can. and in the end, don't feel bad about what you can and cannot manage. I hope to do better the next time. :-S She stopped breastfeeding at 5 months.
@Nina1981@xanga - Excellent advice!! Totally right on.
I think this was more of a generalization than anything. I've know a lot of women to produce more out of one breast than the other. For them, they just use the breast that's feeling pressure the most. Then they switch when the pressure is more or less relieved. As for how often & how long, don't time it. Your baby will know when it's hungry or full. If 30 minutes have passed & baby is still suckling, let him go for it. If 5 hours go by before next feeding, let it happen (unless baby is very lethargic or otherwise seems sickly.. then call your doctor). Everyone is different. Some women have a faster flow than others, so your baby could take 45 minutes to finish while other women might be done in 20. There are so many variables when it comes to breastfeeding. All in all, your instinct will lead you to do it properly.
First off, I can't believe your LC would tell you something like that. It makes me sad that she would tell you something like that when every baby is different--some breastfeed longer-shorter-and the time in between depends on the baby and their needs at that time. Babies nurse for more than just nutrients--sometimes they just want to snuggle--or be comforted because something scared them! Anyway--to answer your questions!
1. How/when do you space out feedings? I didn't ever put my boys' on schedules. I just let them tell me when they were hungry. In the beginning it was every 2 hours--sometimes less, sometimes more. I am not much help on that!
2. How can you make both sides "even" when one breast gets in the habit of producing more than the other? I never had "even" breasts. Still to this day don't--in fact I am a "one-sided" nursing mom at this point. My right breast has always produced more milk than my left. Its just how it was--when my boys' were young I would always start on the left side (my smaller/less producing breast)--and then switch when they seemed to be done. I wouldn't worry about the "even-ness of things"
3. Will I always feed him for 15 mins. on each breast (30 mins.
total) during every feeding? Or will he eventually take longer to get
what he needs? (Or take less time?) Honestly--feed on demand--for however long your baby wants to nurse. That's how you will get your supply up. Nursing on demand--for as much time as they want. Especially during growth spurts my boys' would nurse ALL.THE.TIME for hours on end. We would just snuggle in--and I would let them nurse to his hearts content! Your supply is all about supply and demand. The more you put your little guy to the breast--the more your body will get that "signal" to produce more milk!
4. How often and how long do babies usually feed at 3 months old? At 4 months? 5? Honestly--I couldn't tell you how often my boys' nursed--but as they get older they get more efficient and their tummies get bigger! So it generally gets farther between and shorter as time goes on!
5. When you breastfeed on demand, how long will he eat from each side? Depends on the baby--and his needs at the time. Sometimes my boys would nurse for 5 minutes--sometimes it was 30 minutes.
6. If I let him sleep all night will it hurt my supply? Its all about supply and demand--so if he is sleeping through the night--then you won't produce milk at that time--but that also means that he doesn't need that milk at that time--and if you are nursing on demand otherwise--your body will know to produce milk at other times instead!
7. Is it possible to put my 11 week old son on a three
hour feeding schedule of breastfeeding only (or possibly just much less
formula supplementation) AFTER having had him on our current schedule?
Yes!! With dedication and determination it IS possible!! Good Luck! You can do it!! Another option would be supplementing when you aren't available to be there (or pumping and giving him bottles of breastmilk!) and nursing on demand when you are available! I went back to school full-time after a mere few weeks after I had my oldest son--and we nursed until 20 months!! :) You CAN do it!
I agree with the poster ahead of me...I am an OB nurse, and I don't know why your lactation consultant told you that. I fed my baby on demand and for as long as she would continue to eat on one side. Like the previous poster said, if you switch sides to soon, baby is not getting the fatty hind milk that is very important for satiation and growth. Once the baby pulls away or seems like he is going to sleep, you can burp the baby and try the other side. Just remember to start on the side that had the least feeding time (or no feeding time) the next time, and your milk production will be fine. And yes, I too would just feel whichever breast felt heaviest when I couldn't remember. :)
I actually think your consultant just didn't explain to you very well what she meant- the average time (once babies get good at it) babies nurse is 15 minutes at a session- but that is an average. There is a huge range. My baby took forever to get "good" at it and fed for an hour at a time for the first few months.
As far as feeding on demand, I still do that (my baby is 7 months old), and I let her sleep as long as she wanted- once she was gaining weight well. She slept for an 8 hour stretch at night early on, but then would feed pretty frequently during the day. She also cluster fed a lot, which is several feedings close together. After cluster feedings, she often would sleep for 3-4 hours. Every baby is different, but I believe feeding on demand is best for a newborn especially.
I don't know how your classes work- you say you need a three hour schedule of feeding- does that mean you'll get to feed him every three hours, or will you be pumping because he is at daycare? I think you should be able to do it, maybe even cutting down on supplementing a little if you pump and if you feed him right before a class as long as he will eat- until he's literally bursting. :) You can even try cluster feeding him before a class (I don't know how much time you have in between), but for example, in the morning, feed him as soon as he wakes up for as long as he wants, burp him well, and let him do his thing while you get ready. Then try to "top off" his feeding by letting him nurse again before you go. He might actually go three hours then before needing to eat again.
As far as building up your supply, breastfeeding on demand is a great way to do that. If you want to jumpstart it, here is a tip I got and tried, and it worked. If you can, take a "breastfeeding vacation" day. What you do all day is lie around with your baby with you, and let him nurse whenever he wants, even if it is only nibbling. I know it sounds crazy, but if you don't have other kids or can get a babysitter- it does help. Lie on the couch with movies, books, and plenty of liquids for you to drink too, and just let the baby nurse all day. Sleep with him too that day, and let him nurse. Bonus: it's restful for you and it's great bonding time. In one day, it can increase your milk production because increased demand equals increased supply.
By the same token, pumping is another way to increase your supply. If you don't have a pump, there are plenty of places that will rent you one or help you get one. Even if you only pump one short session each day, your milk supply will go up. Pumping in the morning is usually best, as your milk supply is usually at its highest then. Plus, any milk you pump, you can store to feed the baby when you can't instead of formula.
One thing I ended up doing in the early months is letting our baby sleep with us- and I was VERY against that before having a baby. She started not sleeping unless she was with me, however, and I actually got much more rest when she was with us. It helps with feeding on demand because the baby can nurse during the night whenever he wants, and you don't even have to fully wake up. And don't worry about rolling on your baby- all the research shows that unless you've been using drugs or alcohol ( in which case, DON'T sleep with your baby), your "mommy instincts" are sharp enough that even while sleeping, you are aware of your baby.
I know that doesn't work for everyone, and some people don't want to do that, and that's fine. I was worried the baby would never get out of our bed, but she only slept with us for 2 months, then in a bassinet for a month. Now she is in her own room and sleeps ten hours at night. It did help me with my supply.
At eleven weeks, your milk supply should be getting to its peak. So with nursing on demand (when you can) and pumping, you should be able to build it up. I just want to say kudos to you for continuing this long and wanting to continue- it's not easy the first few months. It does get easier though. I'm sorry this is so long- I hope I didn't sound preachy- I think you are doing great!!
i got my son on a schedule of every 3-4 hours, and we stick to it pretty good, obviously if he is actually hungry between feedings then i feed him, but this way i kind of know what's going on when he's crying if it's been half an hour since he last ate then he probably is gassy or needs a diaper change if it's been 3 and a half then he's probably hungry.... i'm going back to school in a week and i can tell you i probasbly am one of those rare people because when i pump i can usually get 5-7 oz out of each breast, but i am known to pump between feedings so that i can have a stash in my freezer (at one point I had well over a 100 oz in my freezer in the first month I had my son)... i say pump 10-15 minutes after every feeding and after a few days you should start seeing extra milk coming that you can put away for when you need to supplement... and try and pump between feedings. and if your baby is sleeping through the night and you still feel like you're not producing enough wake up in middle of night and pump that hsould help you stimulate enough to produce more extra milk. as far as being even i just trade breasts every feeding to try and if i need to switch breasts at feeding i do. my son is now almost 4 mnonths and we still wake up 1-2 times at night and he feeds for maybe 10-15 mintues, not as long as he used thank god, i still get really tired. and during day he feeds for only about 20 minutes each feeding. but i let hem eat until he's not hungry anymore. good luck and you really don't need for mula to supplement your breasts really do provide enough
You've gotten some great advice here, but if you need more, there's a Facebook group called "The Leaky B@@b" that can offer support and encouragement too.
You should feed your baby whenever he's hungry. There is no set time limit like only 15mins per side. Usually the baby will unlatch after they are satisfied (other times, they might get content and keep sucking until they fall asleep! lol In that case, you should gently put your fingers in and unlatch yourself when you think the baby is just "comfort sucking"). The more you feed, the more your breast will develop more milk. (Supply-demand).So, I don't think it's a problem of you don't have enough; you probably didn't let your body build up milk supply. As for spacing out, when you're not available, I guess it's maybe a good thing that you are supplementing formula as well. So it will be an easier transition when you cannot nurse. Good luck with it! And I think you did a good thing. Breastfeeding is the best food for a baby. :)
@smil_ING@xanga - this,
I always recommend feeding on demand. I didnt think the nurse was right when she told me 30 min every 3 hours, My daughter was hungry alot more than that. Infants shouldnt have a feeding "time". I fed on demand for the first year. It was alot easier than timing things... that just seems weird to me.
I'll try and help answer... breastfeeding is tough sometimes and I think everybody has their challenges. I am an on demand breastfeeding mommy .. Wouldn't do it any other way..
1. How/when do you space out feedings? My daughter is 4 months old and still eats every 2-3 hours.
2. How can you make both sides "even" when one breast gets in the habit of producing more than the other? When the baby takes natural breaks, switch after burping.
3. Will I always feed him for 15 mins. on each breast (30 mins. total) during every feeding? Or will he eventually take longer to get what he needs? (Or take less time?)
My at home lactation consultant said to never stop after 15 minutes, thats just how long babies usually take ... but every baby is different... If you stop them at 15 minutes they may not be getting the hindmilk. Let them decide when they want to stop.. My daughter takes less than 15 minutes, I was worried.. but Dr said its ok as long as she's satisfied.. At first she was taking around 20 minutes each breast.. so I guess it does get better (In my case at least)
4. How often and how long do babies usually feed at 3 months old? At 4 months? 5? My kiddo is 4 and a half months old.. She takes about 10 minutes for each (if she decides to take each breast)
5. When you breastfeed on demand, how long will he eat from each side? Who knows... Its not about timing.. Its about them stopping when they're satisfied.. its always different.. Scheduling my breastfeeding didn't work for me.. Every mom and every baby are different.. and for me, every feeding is different.. Just like when we eat..
6. If I let him sleep all night will it hurt my supply? Yes. and you will be engorged in the morning. My daughter has never slept through the night.. most breastfed babies don't.
@averyswife@xanga - Good luck finding it in the off/on Facebook dispute of it getting banned and replaced and banned again.
1. How/when do you space out feedings? I never did. We BF on demand, and unless he slept for more than 4 hours, I just fed him when he was hungry. The first month or so, it was about every 2 hours, 20 minutes on each side.
2. How can you make both sides "even" when one breast gets in the habit of producing more than the other? No momma's boobs are even. That's just kinda the way it is. My left breast would always produce about 2 oz more than my right. Eventually my right dried up completely while I was still producing fine on my left. It's perfectly normal.
3. Will I always feed him for 15 mins. on each breast (30 mins. total) during every feeding? Or will he eventually take longer to get what he needs? (Or take less time?) The older babies get, the more efficient they get at extracting the milk they need. So you may find that it takes the same amount of time for him to eat, which might make you feel like he's not getting enough -- when really, he might just be eating more in a shorter period of time.
4. How often and how long do babies usually feed at 3 months old? At 4 months? 5? By the time he was 3 months, I was back at work, so I was pumping close to full-time. But when he did nurse, he'd nurse for a long time, I think because he missed it (and it's better "from the tap!")
5. When you breastfeed on demand, how long will he eat from each side? 20 minutes or so? It would really depend. Sometimes he nursed because he was hungry, sometimes he just wanted to nurse.
6. If I let him sleep all night will it hurt my supply? There's really no way to say. If he sleeps through the night on his own -- as in, he's developmentally prepared to sleep through the night, no sleep training or any artificial motivation -- then, chances are, his digestive system is matured enough that he won't NEED that night-time feeding and will adjust his daily appetites accordingly. If you're asking if you can sleep-train him now to try and get him to sleep through the night, then he might not be able to adjust his body to demand more milk during the day. What really hurt my supply was trying to space his feedings out too long, too early. Then again -- my son is 15 months, and STILL goes through periods of night-waking. My only advise as far as sleeping through the night is to just learn to treasure those night-time snuggles, 'cause, I'm afraid, you're in for the long haul now!
7. Is it possible to put my 11 week old son on a three hour feeding schedule of breastfeeding only (or possibly just much less formula supplementation) AFTER having had him on our current schedule? Of course! Our bodies are miraculously adaptive devices, and babies are very acommodating. 11 weeks is still PLENTY within the body's regulatory period. You may find that YOU could benefit from supplementation (More Milk Plus capsules, eating oatmeal, drinking Blessed Thistle tea) to help boost your supply in the mean time to help get back on track, and you might want to buy a good electric breast pump for extraction while you're at school if it will be longer than a few hours. (It's an investment, but look at it this way: If you switch to formula full-time NOW, even if you go straight to whole milk when he's a year, you'll still be spending upwards of $75 every two weeks on formula!) As long as he's seeing a paediatrician regularly to ensure he's on track for growth, there's no reason to doubt your body's ability to nurture the baby it created.
You're going great, momma -- keep up the good work!
bottom line-
you want to breastfeed more? and have a better supply?
STOP THE BOTTLE.
that is all.
I can't believe a real LC told you that! That might start as a guide line but baby's do not look at their watch and then switch sides! I always fed on demand no matter what. Most of the other mom's I knew thought I was crazy to still wake up and feed her in the middle of the night after the 3rd month, but she was hungry. I refused to put my child on a "diet" because I wanted more sleep. I heard one mom say how proud she was that her 4 month old twins slept through the night starting at 3 1/2 months. Really? That blew my mind.
I think you've gotten some really great advice here- persistence pays off. The more you stay away from the bottle the better your supply will be as your body will adjust to the babies needs! You're doing a great job! Keep up the good work! It really pays off in the end even if it seems hard right now!!!
The 15 min. per side every 3 hours thing is just an average/estimation. I've always fed on demand, and at first my daughter ate for 5 minutes total every 30 minutes to an hour. Now, she eats for about 10-20 minutes every 2-4 hours. Every baby is different, even in terms of appetite.
Babies, especially when breastfed, usually are able to determine when and how much they need to eat. Comfort eating is more learned than instinct. My baby will be very quick to tell me is I try to feed her when she's not hungry. Depending on her mood, she'll either turn away or start fussing. Another benefit of feeding on demand is that your baby will still get plenty of food even during a growth spurt. Increase the amount of time you feed if your baby is still hungry. If you have to supplement, there's nothing wrong with that, but let the baby suckle for a bit to stimulate production, or try pumping, and you should be able to produce more fairly quickly.
Also, there are other ways to increase breastmilk production. Certain teas are made to do just that, but if you want something easier/less expensive, try eating a bowl of oatmeal once a day.
Holy crap. That consultant should be taken out back and beaten with a stick.
1. You should always nurse an infant on their own schedule and NEVER by a clock. Breastfeeding is not like bottle feeding, and even bottle feeding should only be done on a loose, flexible schedule. If baby fusses, offer a boob. If baby roots a little, offer a boob. Sucking fingers, lower lip, binky, or anything else? Offer a boob!
2. One side will always produce more than the other, and sometimes they'll trade places. Don't worry about it. Get yourself a Milk Band (http://www.milkbands.com/) to help keep track of the side you started with the last time, and start on the opposite side. So, if you started on your right the last time you nursed, start on the left. I always offer both sides, just to make sure my little one is really done.
3. Younger babies take longer to feed than older babies. Their suck is weaker, they're less experienced, etc. There will eventually come a time when baby will finish a feed in 10-15 minutes, and I mean BOTH sides. However, there will also be times when s/he wants to suckle each side for 20 minutes. On those extra-long suckling days, it's all about the comfort, or boosting your supply, or both. I've always tried to let my babies suckle as long as they like, unless they're hurting me or they're sleeping.
4. Pretty often, and for a while. lol Around that age I think my youngest (currently 10 months and still bf-ing) was still nursing every 3-5 hours, for 10-15 minutes/side, morning and night. It was difficult, but totally worth it for both of us.
5. As long as he wants, whenever he wants. Honestly, the clock is not your friend when it comes to breastfeeding.
6. It could, but you can always pump or express manually before going to bed. I have a really easy letdown reflex, so all I have to do is go take a warm shower, think of my baby for 5 minutes, and wait for the super-soaker effect to stop. lol But your body will also adjust to the needs of your baby.
7. Again, it's a REALLY bad idea to put a breastfed baby on a schedule. If I were introduced to that person who told you to schedule, I would personally rip her a new one. Loudly, with lots of cussing. I would even report her to anyone I could possibly report her to. It's downright dangerous to put a newborn on a breastfeeding schedule. They HAVE to nurse on demand or else they can dehydrate and fail to thrive. That person has no business advising any woman on anything whatsoever, and I'm SO GLAD you went looking for more advice.
I haven't read the other comments, but my advice is to take a week (or a weekend if you're working) and just stay home doing nothing but being with your baby. Screw dishes, housework, laundry, etc. Whatever. It can wait, or someone else can do it. It'll probably be difficult for you both because your body isn't used to having to meet all of his demands, and he's used to getting more than your body can provide right now. Feed yourself well, nurse him on demand, pump for at least a few minutes after each feeding. (I don't do well with pumping, and have never been able to afford a GOOD pump, but it's my understanding that it's better to pump at a comfortable level of sucktion for 5-15 minutes than to crank up the pressure and go for 20-30 minutes.)
You really can breastfeed exclusively, without any formula supplementation. It gets harder when you're away from your baby for several hours at a time and you have to rely on a pump to maintain your supply, but it can be done if you're able to find times and places to pump. There are a lot of herbal teas out there for breastfeeding moms, and most of them have fenugreek. They really do work, and I strongly recommend one if you're trying to kick formula and build up a back-to-work/school supply.
Also, this is a really handy link about state laws and breastfeeding. http://www.ncsl.org/issuesresearch/health/breastfeedinglaws/tabid/14389/default.aspx
Good luck!
1. I fed on demand. My 1st- every hour to two/three hours. My 2nd- Every four hours like clockwork. And I nursed until they stopped... they fidget if they need to burp in my experience. I never ended the feeding based on any amount of time.
2. I switched breasts with each feeding if I could remember what one I last used. If one felt heavier than the other, then I'd use that one.
3. Both my boys never nursed longer than 7 minutes per feeding. With my first I was sure he was starving himself but he had more than 8 wet diapers per day and always had at least one poo diaper a day... that is the best way to measure. (I once pumped an engorged breast and got 8 ounces in 5 minutes... I guess I had a heavy let down???)
4. My boys never took longer than 7 minutes. During growth spurts they would nurse more often maybe but never longer at one time.
5. Both mine... only 7 minutes and only one breast per feeding. My oldest was 20lbs at 4 months while his formula fed sister was only 16lbs at a year old. Breast milk for only 7 minutes did a better job.
6. Your supply should always adjust to their sleeping habits.
7. I don't know I didn't believe in schedules. I fed on demand and they created their own schedules.
I would (IMO) give up the formula feeding. Breast milk does it job. Increase feedings if needed. But really, I just fed on demand. They are now 10 and 7 and that time went by so fast! I nursed them both on demand for the first 12 months and then when it was a good time for me the second 12 months. (I believe in extended nursing.)
Lots of good posts here. The La Leche League Handbook is also helpful, as are their meetings. In all my life I only met one doctor who tried to get me to nurse my son on a rigid schedule. I pretty much blew him off. I never made any more appointments with him. I knew he didn't know what he was talking about.
I recommend nursing on demand. If he is hungry between feedings nurse some more. He is trying to build up your milk supply. Formula feeding will only cause your milk supply to decrease. Attempting to nurse on a schedule would also affect your supply.
As far as nighttime feedings go, some babies sleep with mom and nurse during the night. They tend to help themselves. I would recommend reading up on co-sleeping or The Family Bed--it's a book--before attempting this.