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At first, I didn\u2019t really know what to do. Could he possibly be hungry again? Did his hunger mean that somehow I didn\u2019t have enough milk for him? WTF was going on?<\/p>\n
Luckily, I had a very supportive mother-in-law who told me that babies breastfeed pretty much all the time. \u201cWhen in doubt, just feed the baby,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
So that\u2019s what I did. The first little peep or fuss out of him and I offered him the breast. Once in a while, he refused, but most of the time, he took it. Sometimes he would go as many as two hours between feedings, but usually it was every hour, or even more frequently than that.<\/p>\n
For a few months, I felt self-conscious about the whole thing, especially when people asked how frequently he nursed, or when they seemed uncomfortable about the fact that I was nursing him\u00a0again<\/em>. But I also saw how happy and healthy he was, and how quickly was growing, so I knew whatever I was doing was working just right.<\/p>\n Now, having nursed two boys for several years each \u2013 and also having worked with hundreds of moms as a La Leche League leader and lactation consultant \u2013 I can say without a doubt that the whole \u201cbreastfeed every 2-3 hours thing\u201d (or fill in the blank with whatever nursing frequency you were told) is bullshit.<\/p>\n Think about it for a second. Babies can\u2019t tell time or do math. When they were in the womb, they were used to having continual nutrition. Why would they adapt to a very specific feeding schedule suddenly \u2013 \u00a0one that was essentially made up and actually not really even based on anything?<\/p>\n Speaking of which, where do the breastfeeding frequency suggestions come from anyway? I have pored through the research, and I haven\u2019t seen any convincing evidence to back up the \u201cbreastfeed every 2-3 hours, or 8-12 times per day\u201d standard advice that is usually doled out to moms.<\/p>\n In fact, if you look at any science on the subject, you\u2019ll find that\u00a0breastmilk is digested as quickly as every 48 minutes<\/a>\u00a0(as opposed to 78 minutes for formula fed babies) so if anything, telling a mom to offer the breast\u00a0every hour<\/em>\u00a0might make more sense.<\/p>\n Honestly, though, I wouldn\u2019t even want to tell a new mom to breastfeed at any specific interval. My best advice is to keep your baby close to you as much as possible, and to offer the breast anytime your baby shows signs of hunger (rooting, head bobbing, licking lips). Try to offer them the breast\u00a0before<\/em>\u00a0they\u2019ve gotten to the point of crying (that\u2019s actually considered a late sign of hunger).<\/p>\n If your baby fusses,\u00a0make breastfeeding be the first thing you try<\/em>. Trust me, if you baby doesn\u2019t want to nurse, they won\u2019t! Then you can move on and figure out if maybe they need to be burped, need a diaper change, etc.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t try to analyze it too much. In our culture, moms are taught to overthink\u00a0way too much<\/em>, and not go with our instincts. I find that most mothers know by instinct if their baby needs to nurse. Moms and babies have a symbiotic relationship like that. Your breasts sometimes respond to your baby\u2019s hunger cues before you do! Go with that.<\/p>\n Babies have a need to suck and be in close human contact pretty much all the time. It\u2019s normal. Yes, it can be really hard at first. But it gets better. Usually babies start to stretch the feedings out a few months in. But there is no magic date when that happens, and it ebbs and flows (growth spurts and all that good stuff). It\u2019s also totally normal to have a toddler who breastfeeds every hour. My kids did that at times.<\/p>\n All of this doesn\u2019t mean that the burden of feeding this frequently has to fall solely on your shoulders. You don\u2019t have to be the only one holding them\/feeding them 24\/7! Ask for help. Use a baby carrier. If you can get away for an afternoon to be alone, pump and have someone feed your baby a bottle (everyone will survive, I promise). Use a baby swing or bouncy chair if there is no one around to hold your baby and you just need a break.<\/p>\n Lose the mommy guilt and go with what works for you and your baby. Period.<\/p>\n The bottom line is that you shouldn\u2019t think your baby is a freak if they really want to nurse\u00a0all the freaking time<\/em>. Nursing every hour \u2013 sometimes even more than that \u2013 is 1000% normal. And don\u2019t let anyone tell you otherwise.<\/p>\n Wendy is the mom of two awesome boys, a freelance writer and editor, and a lactation consultant (IBCLC). Find her on the web at\u00a0www.wendywisner<\/span>.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n For more on frequent breastfeeding listen to this episode<\/a> of The Badass Breastfeeding Podcast!\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Wendy](\"https:\/\/thebadassbreastfeeder.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/sdhgl.jpg\")
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