2006-11-30 23:26:33 · 11 answers · asked by Caro 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
The first several weeks after giving birth, you body is trying to heal and make milk. A newborn baby should want to nurse very often. I think this is natures way of telling new moms to slow down, rest, relaxe, read a book and bound with baby.
Then once you get past the first weeks, the baby will want to nurse even more. This is one of the many growth spurts that your baby will experience. This is another time to get a good book and read. This lasts about a week but will start back again a few weeks later. I think there is 3 growth spurts in a short time frame after birth.
I always nursed on demand. My babies made a sound, I was offering the breast. Sometimes I was nursing every hour on the hour, other times I was nursing every three hours.
When you nurse, you have no idea how many ounces the baby is taking in. And breastfeed babies will act like they are hungry and use our nipples for pacifers because they have a need to suck but don't want to eat. So if you schedule feedings, you don't know if the last time your baby was at the breast if he was nursing or using you as a pacifier.
If your baby is soiling and wetting 8 diapers a day, seems content and is growing, then you are making enought milk and shouldn't worry about when to nurse. Your baby and breasts will let you know when it's time to nurse again.
2006-11-30 23:55:46 · answer #1 · answered by Holly C 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Okay, here's the REAL DEAL.
If you want to breastfeed successfully, DON'T LOOK AT THE CLOCK. Babies need to nurse very frequently, especially in the first few weeks, to establish mothers milk supply. If we hinder that connection by imposing a clocked schedule, you'll end up with an inadequate milk supply, a supply that takes more then 2 days to "come-in" and so on.
*Your* baby will be different than anyone elses, so don't think he/she will follow a schedule like some of the Mammas here. The one with inverted nipples could have breastfed, thats too bad she didn't have the proper support and information.
Formula fed babies are more scheduled.
Breatsfed babies take different amounts at every feed so we have to trust that they will tell us how often they need to nurse.
The best indicator of how much baby is getting is to watch what is coming "out". Newborns up to 24hrs old should be pooping meconium and peeing about 2-4 diapers. After that the wet diapers should increase to 6-8 a day with 3-4 poops as well.
Just because your baby fusses doesn't mean he's super hungry and your breasts aren't providing....babies need to re-connect with Mom often.
Don't doubt yourself. God made your body perfect to nourish your baby, trust that :)
2006-12-01 03:11:09 · answer #2 · answered by Gr8fulmom 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Watch the baby, not the clock. You can't nurse too often. Following baby's lead in the early days is what will help you establish a good milk supply and learn your baby's cues.
In the early weeks, I'd say all of mine nursed about every 90 mins to 2 hours from the start of one feeding to the start of the next. Breastmilk digests in about 90 minutes and baby's tummy is the size of his fist, so all this is normal.
2006-12-01 05:00:21 · answer #3 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seemed pretty constant to me. Definitely more often than every two hours. Sometimes my husband and I would jokingly call me "Mommy cow". It got better, though. Newborns' stomachs are the size of a golf ball, so they have to eat all the time.
2006-11-30 23:45:07 · answer #4 · answered by AerynneC 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
every 2 hours
2006-11-30 23:31:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately my nipples are inverted so I never got the opportunity to breast feed. But with the bottle you feed every 2-4 hours depending on the age of the baby.
2006-11-30 23:37:50 · answer #6 · answered by fever 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
every 2 hours
2006-11-30 23:51:19 · answer #7 · answered by lady luck 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
my babies were fed on demand. i breastfed when they were hungry. the first week or so, use your body & the baby as a clock. the more i nursed, the more milk i had and the quicker my sore nipples healed.
as long as he/she has wet diapers & some poop... let'em eat when they please!! once breastfeeding has been established you'll develop more of a time schedule.
good luck!!
2006-12-01 04:31:28 · answer #8 · answered by farmcitygirl 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Every 2hrs during the day, she slept in 4hr blocks at night. It's usually NOT every 3hrs like you might see someplaces. Let your baby guide you.
2006-12-01 01:05:40 · answer #9 · answered by MaPetiteHippopotame 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The normal feeding patten is every three hours unless your baby is hungry.
2006-11-30 23:29:37 · answer #10 · answered by regie811 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋