What to Expect when Breastfeeding your Baby

The first few weeks after birth

Many people are surprised and unprepared for how demanding a newborn can be and after leaving hospital it can feel very daunting to bring this tiny little being home. You may encounter many breastfeeding challenges during the first few weeks of having your baby at home. The following covers the main concerns many breastfeeding mothers have during this time.

 

Frequent breastfeeding

Newborns only have a tiny tummy (the size of a marble) and so need to nurse frequently. In the early days you should expect to feed 10-12 times in a 24 hour period (for healthy full term newborns). It is best not to clock watch as babies can be so different, some will want feeding every two hours or even more frequently whilst others may be able to go longer between feeds. Instead of watching the clock, learn to recognise your baby’s hunger cues and put them to the breast as soon as they start showing these signs. It is perfectly normal for a baby to feed every two hours or even more frequently, this frequent feeding helps to establish your supply. It is important to realise that frequent feeding is not an indicator that your supply is low.   We have had it ingrained into our minds over the last thirty years that babies should feed every four hours. This is not the case and if you try and force a routine like this on your baby, it will not only affect your supply, but may also be detrimental to your baby. Do not make the mistake of comparing breastfed babies with those fed artificially. Human milk digests more quickly than artificial milk and places less strain on a baby’s digestive system. As a result, breastfed babies need to be fed more often[1].

Breastfeeding is about more than nutrition

Of course breastfeeding is also more than providing nutrition. There is also a comfort factor. We need to remember that newborn babies have just come from the womb, a warm, safe place, where all their needs have been met into a big world with strange, scary sights and sounds. It is only natural that a newborn would want to have continuous contact with their mother and many babies will want to suck for comfort. Again, this is completely normal and natural and something that should not be discouraged.

How to cope with frequent feeding

Frequent feeding can be exhausting. The best thing to do is to except it and go with it rather than trying to fight it. Ask family members to help with the housework and with older children when they can. You could also try a sling. There are many on the market, which allow your baby to feed whilst you are wearing them. Many mums have found them to be a godsend as you can be mobile, whilst still being able to feed your baby. If your baby is feeding frequently at night, try and get as much sleep as possible during the day to catch up, sleep when your baby sleeps.

Many mums are tempted to use a dummy to help with comfort sucking. Whilst many mums do use pacifiers, they can often cause more trouble than they are worth. A dummy is basically a breast substitute and whilst they can have their uses in a breastfed baby (for instance one could be used for a short space of time if you are absolutely unable to nurse, or babies with colic may find one soothing between feeds), they can also, very easily become habit and adversely affect your milk supply:

“The “pacifier habit” develops when it’s used routinely, for instance, as a way to put the baby to sleep. Ordinarily, if your baby likes to fall asleep sucking, let it be at the breast. You have the best pacifier in the world from baby’s point of view. And more nursing at the breast means more milk.”[2]

As well as adversely affecting your milk supply, using a dummy could also cause nipple confusion (as the technique of sucking a dummy is different to that of the breast). Studies have also shown that mothers who gave their babies dummies tended to wean sooner than those who did not.[3]

There is an excellent blog post here if you would like to read more about breastfeeding and dummy use.

 

Cluster Feeding

Not many new mums know what cluster feeding is, I know I didn’t when I had my little boy, yet it is very common amongst breastfed babies.

Cluster or bunch feeding is when a baby spaces feeds close together at certain times of the day and go longer between feeds at other times[4]. Cluster feeding usually coincides with fussiness and although it can occur at any time of the day it more commonly occurs in the evening and is sometimes followed by a longer period of sleep. You could find yourself constantly feeding every hour or even feeding constantly for a few hours in the evening.

When cluster feeding, babies tend to be fussy and may feed, pull of the breast, fuss/cry go back on the breast, feed, pull off, fuss etc etc. This can be very demanding and frustrating, especially since in the evening you are already tired. Periods like this can also shatter your confidence and you may feel that you do not have enough milk to satisfy your baby. Please be rest assured that this it not the case and there is no need to supplement your baby with formula. Supplementing will just tell your body that milk isn’t needed at this time of day, which just exacerbates the problem. Cluster feeding is NORMAL and will not last forever.

What causes cluster feeding?

No one really knows why cluster feeding occurs. Some believe that it is the baby’s way of filling up before a big sleep. Others think that it is because milk volume is lower in the evening (although the fat content is higher), or that the flow is slower, causing baby to become frustrated. Cluster feeding also often coincides with growth spurts (see below). But whatever the cause, it is important to remember that most newborn babies, regardless of how they are fed have fussy periods, especially in the evening. It just may be that at these times, babies just need comforting more than usual.

How to cope with cluster feeding

Again, it is best to go with the flow rather than fight cluster feeding. After a few nights you may well be able to predict when cluster feeding will start and finish. Therefore try to get everything you need to get done before the feeding starts, prepare and make yourself unavailable for this part of the evening. Be lead by your baby, nurse when they want to be nursed. Also ask for more help/support in the evening e.g. ask family/friends to bring you water/food during this period, or if you need a break ask that someone takes your baby for a couple of minutes whilst you get some fresh air and regain your composure. 

Remember that cluster feeding will not last forever and is completely NORMAL. It is not a sign that you have a low milk supply and it doesn’t mean that your baby hates you. It is a phase that WILL pass. You do not need to give a bottle of formula; this will undo all of your hard work and may affect your supply. If you do find yourself struggling, phone one of the breastfeeding helplines where you will be able to speak to a breastfeeding counsellor who will be able to support and reassure you.

 

Growth Spurts

Just as you think you have cracked breastfeeding, your baby may start to feed more frequently, maybe feeding for 20 minutes every hour. This more frequent feeding may also coincide with increased fussiness. You may start to wonder whether you are providing enough milk and well meaning friends or relatives may make remarks that your baby is not getting enough milk. Ignore such remarks, increased feeding like this is normal and is most probably a growth spurt.

A growth spurt is when a baby’s appetite temporarily gets ahead of their mothers milk supply[5]. A growth spurt can be caused by physical growth along with hitting developmental milestones such as rolling, crawling, walking and talking, after all breastmilk is brain food as well as body food. In order for your baby to increase your milk supply to match their needs, they need to feed more frequently:

“Twenty minutes of fairly vigorous nursing every hour or so is more effective in building up your milk supply than less frequent, longer sessions at the breast”[6]

Growth spurts generally happen at around 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months[7], although all babies are different and some may go through growth spurts at different times. Growth spurts generally last for 48 hours, but it has also been known for them to last longer, even for up to a week.

How to cope with Growth Spurts

The best bit of advice to cope with growth spurts is to have a ‘Baby Moon’. Stay in bed with your baby for as long as possible, have plenty of skin to skin and feed your baby when they want to be fed, sleep when your baby sleeps. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up on any TV programmes, books or DVD box sets. If it is not practical to have a Baby Moon, then again a sling may help as you can feed on the move.

Again it is important to remember that a growth spurt, whilst exhausting does not last forever. Also, as with cluster feeding it does not mean that your supply is low. You do not need to supplement with formula, which will do more harm than good. Remember that the amount of milk your body makes is based on supply and demand, if you do supplement, your body will think that milk is not needed and will make less milk, exacerbating the problem.

If you do find yourself struggling, phone one of the breastfeeding helplines where you will be able to speak to a breastfeeding counsellor who will be able to support and reassure you.

 

Need Support?

If you do find yourself struggling with the feeding demands of a newborn baby, remember that you are not alone. There is now an increasing number of local support groups where you can go along and talk to other mums who have/are going through the same. You can find breastfeeding support groups local to you by visiting The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers website or the Breastfeeding Community website.