Realizing the need for natural feeding, every established or future mother accumulates a lot of questions regarding the child’s nutrition. In order for breastfeeding to bring positive emotions to the mother and full development to the child, it is important to familiarize yourself with the accepted principles of this process. It is worth stocking up on information on how often to put a newborn to the breast and how long a meal can last for a baby.
These questions are important from the point of view of the correct development of the baby and the success of subsequent lactation. Therefore, even before the lactation period, the expectant mother has to figure out how long a month-old baby and an older baby should suckle, how many times to feed a newborn with breast milk and other basics of successful lactation.
Features of breastfeeding a newborn
Breast milk is complete nutrition for a newborn from the first days of life. Receiving it, the baby grows and develops harmoniously. Milk contains all the vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and other beneficial substances that the body needs.
It is easily absorbed and digested, its temperature is constant, and it is always ready for use by the baby. During attachments, emotional contact arises between mother and child, which has a positive effect on further communication.
Do I need to add water?
Mother's milk is not only a source of nutrition for the baby, but also a source of biological fluid. If the baby was born healthy, then he does not need additional water consumption. Additional water consumption is recommended for children in the following cases:
- to improve the condition of physiological jaundice in newborns;
- to replenish lost fluid during severe intoxication, accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
After discharge from the hospital, the baby should receive liquid only from breast milk. Supplementing with drinking water is advisable in the summer, when the baby’s body overheats.
These recommendations also apply to women who bottle-feed their children with breast milk. If generally accepted standards do not meet the needs of the newborn, then young parents should seek advice from a breastfeeding specialist. In this case, the child will be given an individual feeding schedule.
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Basic Rules
To make the breastfeeding period comfortable, a young mother should know the basic rules:
- Before latching your baby, you should wash your hands and rinse your breasts with water without soap.
- To remove bacteria accumulated in the glandular ducts, you need to express a few drops of milk.
- Having taken a comfortable position, sitting or half-sitting, it is necessary to turn the baby towards you with the whole body, and the head should be in the same plane with the body to facilitate swallowing.
- When sucking, the child should grasp with his mouth not only the nipple, but also the areola, massaging the mammary glands. This stimulates milk production.
- The remaining milk after feeding can be expressed into a sterile container. If necessary, the baby is fed with it using a bottle with a nipple.
- At the end, you should wash and dry your breasts to prevent the formation of cracks and maceration of the nipples.
How to alternate breasts
When everything is fine with feeding and the baby is gaining weight normally, you should alternate breasts, relying on your own intuition and comfort. Frequent emptying increases lactation, while infrequent emptying reduces the amount of milk and leads to stagnation.
You should alternate breasts based on your own comfort.
You can feed the breasts one at a time or completely empty one at a time, leaving the other for later. At the same time, it should be clear that the baby is full - the last milk is richer in fats and calories.
During the day, both breasts normally receive approximately equal attention to avoid the development of mastitis.
Baby's diet
A correctly established regimen is important for the baby and mother. An established schedule for sleep, walks, and feeding accustoms the child to the order necessary for normal development, gives the mother the opportunity to relax, pay attention to herself and the rest of the family.
Duration of one feeding
Each child has individual needs. The duration of feeding can range from 1-3 minutes to 1-2 hours in the first month after birth, the average sucking time is 10-20 minutes.
The duration of one feeding is 10-20 minutes.
After how many hours should I feed?
Even if there is no colostrum, in the first days after birth it is necessary to put the baby to the breast frequently. This stimulates lactation and helps the breasts adjust faster. If the on-demand feeding method is chosen, the infant is fed 10-12 times a day. If they feed on a schedule, then do it at intervals of 2-3 hours.
Timing of first application
After separation from the mother, if the condition of the newborn is satisfactory, he is placed on the stomach and chest of the mother. Skin-to-skin contact should occur as soon as possible after birth. Its significance lies in the need to populate the newborn’s body with saprophytic microorganisms from the mother’s skin. The first minutes of life for a baby are associated with stress: respiratory functions are developing, the baby cries, experiences discomfort from contact with an unfamiliar environment, he is cold and scared. Therefore, due to a stressful situation, the child refuses to take the breast.
The instinctive search for food occurs within 10–20 minutes after delivery. This period is considered optimal for the first application. The duration of contact with the mother for 30–40 minutes helps strengthen the emotional connection, stimulates the immune function in the child’s body, and establishes the process of milk production.
Early application is also useful for the mother in labor to establish close emotional contact in the future; it affects the reduction of postpartum bleeding and helps contract the uterus.
It is important for an accomplished mother to learn feeding techniques, choose a comfortable position, and control the position of the baby at the breast. With the correct grip, the nipple is located in the baby's mouth along with the areola, the mouth is wide open, the chin touches the chest. Pay attention to the feeding position that is mutually comfortable for mother and baby.
The medical staff of the maternity ward do not practice earlier application in the following situations:
- in case of severe condition of the mother in labor (loss of consciousness, postpartum hemorrhage, etc.),
- cerebrovascular accident in an infant,
- with depression of the newborn's central nervous system,
- if the child has trouble breathing,
- in case of prematurity with sluggish or unexpressed sucking and swallowing automatism,
- in case of detection of galactosemia.
The success of subsequent natural feeding depends on the condition of the baby and mother. The earlier and more intensively the suckling begins, the more milk iron can be produced in the future. Therefore, it is important that the baby is “introduced” to the mother’s gland within a few hours after birth.
Frequency and number of feedings
For a long time, feeding by the hour was recommended, when infants were applied to the breast every 3-4 hours. There are 6-8 feedings per day. Modern pediatricians prefer the on-demand technique.
On demand
This is the name for a technique in which there is no strict frequency of applications. The child himself determines the interval between rest and nutrition, which is the main condition for proper development.
Upon request, the child himself determines the interval between feedings.
Determining needs
Determining when to breastfeed is not difficult. The child is worried, turns his head, smacks his lips, opens his mouth, grunts, and begins to suck on a fist or a corner of the diaper. You should not wait to cry - this leads to unnecessary nervous tension.
The benefits of frequent breastfeeding
Frequent feeding stimulates milk production in sufficient quantities. The child receives all the nutrients necessary for the full development of the body, strengthening the nervous and immune systems.
Frequent feeding stimulates proper lactation, regulating the required amount of milk, and allows you to establish psycho-emotional contact between mother and baby.
When to change the number of applications
With the on-demand feeding method, the frequency of feeding is individual. The baby asks for the breast 8-12 times a day. It is normal to want to breastfeed 20 times a day; breast milk is quickly absorbed. As the baby develops, the appetite grows, the female body begins to adapt and produce more and more milk. There is no need to worry and supplement feeding with formula - the baby will ask for the breast himself when he feels hungry.
With the timed method, first feed every 2.5 hours, then once every 3 hours. An interval of 4 hours is done after 6 months, when the baby is already strong enough and gaining weight.
How often to feed breast milk
When feeding your baby, take into account both the duration and frequency of feedings per day. The more often a woman feeds, the more actively lactation is maintained. It is customary to distinguish two feeding options - on demand (free feeding) and by the hour (by schedule). In the first case, the child receives food, signaling to the mother about the feeling of hunger by crying, restlessness, and searching movements with his mouth. In the second, the mother deliberately waits some time between feedings; the waiting interval increases with age. Today, the need for feeding on demand for child development and subsequent lactation is increasingly emphasized.
As the volume of the stomach increases, the interval between meals increases. In the first days, the baby “asks for the breast” from 6 to 12 times throughout the day.
Is there enough milk?
Lack of breast milk is associated with improperly organized feeding regimens, frequent stress, poor nutrition, incorrect attachment to the breast and other reasons.
Many young mothers worry that the baby is not getting enough to eat. If after feeding the baby looks happy and content, he is getting enough food. If he cries, fusses, or sucks his fingers, he may still be hungry. Although these may be signs of gas and infant colic.
You can make sure that there is not enough milk by regularly weighing yourself. A healthy child gains at least 120 g per week.
Organizing a nutritious and regular diet, frequent feeding at night, drinking plenty of fluids, drinking special tea, showering and bathing will help increase lactation.
Correct feeding technique, timely consultation and family support also play a big role in producing breast milk in the required quantity.
Feeding frequency
In order to maintain harmony during lactation, the young mother is advised to follow a feeding period. Today, feeding a newborn on demand is recognized as the gold standard. When a young mother takes into account the desires and needs of her baby, the child can independently regulate the amount of food consumed.
The volume of a newborn baby's stomach does not exceed 2 ml. By the end of the first week of life, this figure increases to 65-70 ml. That is why a nursing woman should prepare herself in advance for frequent breastfeeding. During the first week, your baby will need food every hour. By the time of discharge from the maternity hospital, the interval between feedings will be at least 1.5 hours. The intervals between feedings depend on many factors, including:
- general condition of the newborn baby;
- the baby's temperament and activity level;
- birth weight, maturity of the body, and timing of birth.
That is why the frequency of feedings is individual for each baby.
