How often should I nurse my 2 month old?

Question

She nurses on 1 breast per feeding, always refuses the other side. Some days it seems like she wants to eat every hour. Is it time to schedule?

Answer 1

Feed her on demand - whenever she needs it. Feedings should be scheduled by her - not you. If she wants to eat every hour, feed her every hour. That's how you keep your milk supply up, and that's how she grows. They will go through growth spurts where they will want to eat more often, but they will usually pass within a couple days.

Answer 2

Feed her whenever she seems hungry. Feeding on a schedule can cause overeating. They'll let you know when they're hungry. Every two hours is pretty normal for this age. Some babies prefer one breast over another; and nursing on one side per feeding is also totally normal. They do go through growth spurts as well and might be nursing more frequently.

Answer 3

My son nursed every 4 - 5 hours and was like a clock.

My daughter who came after him, breastfed every 5 - 6 hours (shocking I know) and she only drank from one breast at each feeding, which only lasted about 10 minutes.

I would always offer the second breast but she would either be asleep or refuse it.

This went on till she was about 2 months old and eventually she was hungry enough to drink more often like every 3 - 4 hours and she would take both breasts.

My personal preference is to feed when they are hungry.

Answer 4

feed her as often as she wants it. If she's not hungry she won't eat simple as that. Sometimes they prefer one over the other. And sometimes it does seem like their nursing forever, but they eat until they're full. I don't believe there is a need to schedule but if nursing is getting in the way of other things, than maybe you should. Do what is comfortable to you, but I think your doing fine, Mom.

Answer 5

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html

Low supply and how much/often baby eats is the most common worry for new (and experienced moms too!) especially since breast aren’t see though and don’t have ounce markers on them.
You CAN'T nurse too often--you CAN nurse too little. It is normal for newborns to nurse every 45 minutes to ever 2-3 hours. They have tiny stomachs (only about the size if their little fists) and breast milk is fully digested in approximately 90 minutes!

Studies show each woman has a different storage capacity for milk, which means each woman delivers a different amount of milk at feedings. “It was also noted that the women who had larger storage capacities often nursed at longer intervals, whereas women with smaller storage capacities nursed at more frequent intervals. Breast size was not always a good predictor of production or storage capacity, and all of the women had the ability to produce plenty of milk over 24 hours. What varied was the amount of milk that could be delivered at one feeding. “

Infants, thrive best when allowed to feed as they indicate their needs. NURSE ON DEMAND!! At the very least, this should be every two to three hours during the day and every four to five hours at night for a total of eight to 12 feedings every 24 hours. Calculate the time between feedings from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next. Most feedings usually last 20 to 40 minutes, but do not watch the clock during the feeding. When your baby is a newborn nursing sessions can sometimes seem to last so long that you barely have any time to get anything done before the next session begins. This is normal and it will not last forever.

DO NOT TRY TO PUT YOUR BABY ON A FEEDING SCHEDULE. A study found “ that many women experience success in schedule feeding their breastfed babies during the first couple of months. However, these women have an unusually high rate of milk supply failure around 3-4 months”


During the 1st 6-8 weeks, he will perfect his nursing skills so that he will need less time to consume the same amount of milk. Keeping him near you at all times will help you to be aware of his early hunger cues (rooting, fussing, etc.) so that you can feed him without allowing him to work up into a hungry, stressful cry. Minimizing your baby's crying in this way will also be less stressful on you and the other members of your household.

How old is your baby? They go through 2-3 growth spurts in the 1st 6 weeks! During growth spurts baby will nurse constantly. Breast milk is a system of supply and demand. Baby suckles more so you will produce more milk to meet his growing needs. This is normal and does not mean you don't have enough milk. Do not supplement, as this can be detrimental to the delicate balance of the supply and demand system.


Do not supplement with formula-this will make mom produce less milk!!
Don’t use a pacifier -a study has documented that pacifier use is associated with a shorter duration of breastfeeding, while another study found that mothers who utilize pacifiers for their infants frequently exercise a higher degree of behavioral control while breastfeeding, often leading again to shorter duration of breastfeeding overall.



Also, if he is comfort nursing there is nothing wrong with that, that is part of breastfeeding, bonding and comforting your child. Babies also require nearly constant human contact for proper development. A newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts, and the security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three. - Dr. Grantly Dick-Read

Under 6 weeks you are still building your supply, the non-nutritive sucking helps to make sure you have enough milk. Breastmilk is all about supply and demand. If you don’t let your newborn suck at the breast during the 2-3 growth spurts they have by the agr of 6 weeks, you will have problems with supply, a fussy baby, a frazzled mom and it will all lead to early weaning.

Newborns simply love to be touched and cuddled. The skin to skin touch helps you and your baby bond, comforts your baby when she is upset or uneasy with gas or colic problems. Hence, touch is a critical part of growth and development

DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS
Get plenty of rest
Eating oatmeal daily works for some woman
Fenugreek supplement 3 capsules 3 times per day

The time between feedings will eventually stretch out and feedings will become part of life rather than your whole life! ;) Your baby will establish more of a feeding pattern, which will make life more predictable. The patterns that he establishes, however, will be his patterns and will be appropriate to his unique emotional and physiological needs. And these patterns will change as he grows.

Answer 6

when ever she is hungry otherwise directed by her pediatrician if breast feeding her becomes to much pump it and put it in the fridge til the next time

Answer 7

when she is hungry she will eat. she won't eat if she is not hungry. so don't worry. breast feed babies seem to eat more often then those on forumla. since formula is thicker then breast milk. prefectly natural.

Answer 8

You might try pumping and see how much food she is getting...