Breast feeding on-demand

Re: Breast feeding on-demand

• mommatotwo2 member

  July 2014 edited July 2014

  Most pediatricians will tell you to feed baby every 3 hours minimally, at least until they gain back to their original birth weight (most babies lose a little weight initially). If you end up with a good sleeper right away, you will need to set an alarm. It is also important for your supply to nurse frequently, at least every 3 hours, for at least the first 6ish weeks while your supply is being established. For many moms, once they've been given the ok from the pedi to let baby go longer than 3 hours, especially overnight, they'll still set an alarm and wake up to pump for stash and/or bottle practice. This really depends on the mom.
  
  Movement or making sounds is not a good indicator of hunger, newborns move around and make all sorts of sounds while they are asleep. Crying is often a hunger indicator, but a late one and when you get to know baby, you will start figuring out when they are hungry and when the need other things.
  
  Edit to add (because I didn't answer one of the main questions): Common hunger signs are fists in the mouth and rooting at the breast. I pretty much just made sure LO had a clean diaper and was warm and comfortable and then if she was fussy, I just put her to the breast. She'd eat if she was hungry, or comfort suck if she just needed comfort. Both good for supply
  
  Best of luck to you!
  

  

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• flcl member

  July 2014

  Both ladies offered great advice so instead of repeating their tips, I wanted to offer some other thoughts.  Some moms have no issues at all but I just want to give you a heads up that it's ok if you feel that BFing is stressful or overwhelming.  The beginning weeks were so difficult for us and I found so much support from this board, kellymom.com and a local LC.  Also, on those days where you feel like LO is glued to the boob, make sure you are somewhere comfortable, everything you need is within an arms reach, and that you've peed first.  Good luck!

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• des737 member

  July 2014

  thank you for the tips. so appreciated !

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• Smirp member

  July 2014

  You will be ultra alert, but in the first days I did set my alarm every 2 hours during the day and every 3 at night, only because she was jaundice, and I wanted to be sure she was getting enough. most of the time she nursed a lot more often, you pretty much are nursing constantly the first few days. Embrace it, line up some shows on Netflix, find some good blogs, keep snacks by your comfy spot. I suggest the breast friend pillow.
  I also suggest drinking tons of water. Remember it will get easier, and the first day, get rest while baby's still sleepy.

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• Justtee33 member

  July 2014

  I only have my experience to go by and very little facts but I co-slept and kept him close to my bed from day one. I'm a single mom so no one else was listening for his cries. He woke me up every 2 hours. He never slept more than those 2 hours. He would stir and cry and I heard him every time, no problem. I kind of decided that he was pretty good at letting me know he was hungry and didn't worry too much about it. Those were some long, difficult days but not impossible! Good luck!

  

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