How often do you breastfeed your baby? For how long? (Breastfeeding) Let's talk about this!

Becoming a mother can be one of the most beautiful and challenging experiences of your life. When your little one comes into this world, one of the most precious gifts you can give them is breast milk. While this is a very natural thing, it is very common for new mothers, especially first-time mothers, to have some questions and hesitations about breastfeeding. "How many times a day should I feed my baby?", "How long should I feed him at a time?", "How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?" You probably have a thousand and one questions in your mind. Don't worry, you are not alone. We will talk about all of this clearly and simply today.

How often should a newborn baby be breastfed?

Your little girl or boy will need to breastfeed at least 8 times a day, sometimes up to 12 times, for the first month after birth. "Oh, that's a lot," you may be thinking. But there are good reasons for that.

Why so often?

There are several main reasons for this. 1. Small stomach, fills up quickly, gets hungry quickly: A newborn baby's stomach, or stomach, is very small. Think of it as a cherry or a walnut. So, the amount of milk that can be drunk at one time is very small. Since that small amount is digested quickly, the baby will get hungry again quickly. 2. Breast milk is very easy to digest: Breast milk is a food that is specially formulated for babies and can be digested very quickly. That is why the stomach empties quickly and the baby asks for milk again. 3. Stimulation of milk production: When you breastfeed your baby frequently, your body sends a signal to "make more milk". Just like when people come to a store and bring more goods. Therefore, frequent breastfeeding in the first few weeks helps your milk supply to be well established. This means that the more milk your baby sucks, the more milk will be produced.

What is "On Demand"? Signs that a baby is hungry

In the first few weeks, your baby should be fed "on-demand." Simply put, feed your baby whenever he or she is hungry and asks for it. This is usually every 1 1/2 hours or every 3 hours . Not all babies are the same. Some babies may only need to feed every hour and a half, while others may need to wait for two or three hours.

Important: It is not recommended to leave a newborn without feeding for more than 4 hours, even at night. Some babies may sleep for a long time. If this happens, you will have to wake the baby up frequently to feed him. This is especially important in the first few weeks.

So, how do you know when your baby is hungry? Babies show signs of hunger even before they cry. We call these "feeding cues."

• He moves his mouth, licks his lips.
• Opening and closing the mouth, sticking out the tongue.
• They shake their heads from side to side as if searching for something with their mouths (this is also called the `rooting reflex`).
• They bring their hands to their mouths, trying to suck their hands.
• Getting restless, making small noises.

Don't wait until your baby starts crying loudly. Crying is the last sign that he's hungry. If you recognize the small signs before that and offer milk, your baby will feed calmly without getting upset.

Do you still need to give milk at night?

Yes, absolutely. Newborns don't care about day or night. They will start to cry when they feel hungry. Also, feeding at night helps to keep your milk supply up. In the first few months, it can be a bit tiring for new mothers to wake up two or three times a night to feed their babies. But remember, this is temporary . As your baby gets older, the number of hours they sleep at night will increase.

Will this pattern change as the baby gets a little older?

Yes, absolutely. When your baby is about a month or two old, he will start to nurse less often. At that age, he will usually nurse between 7 and 9 times a day.

Why is the frequency decreasing?

There are several reasons for this: 1. Baby's stomach gets bigger: As the baby grows, the space in his stomach also increases. Therefore, he can drink more milk at one time. 2. Breastfeeding becomes more efficient: As the baby grows, he becomes more skilled at sucking milk from the breast. Unlike in the early days, after a while the baby drinks milk quickly and efficiently and fills his stomach. 3. Changes in the composition of milk: Even your breast milk changes gradually to suit the growth of the baby. Therefore, since the baby gets more milk at one time, he can stay hungry for a long time. This means that the gap between feedings increases a little.

Are all babies the same?

Not at all. Every baby is unique. Some babies may still be nursing every two hours at one and a half to two months. Others may go three or four hours between feedings. Some babies get used to a somewhat predictable feeding schedule. That is, they get hungry at the same times of the day. But some babies don't.

Imagine that your friend Shyama's baby asks for milk exactly every two and a half hours. But your baby asks for milk every two hours some days, and every three hours some days. There is nothing wrong with that. The most important thing is to recognize your baby's needs and feed him when he shows signs of hunger.

As your baby grows, he will develop his own breastfeeding pattern. You just have to pay attention to his signals and respond accordingly.

How do you count the time between two milk meals?

This is a bit of a tricky area for many mothers. When the doctor or family health worker asks you, "How often should your baby breastfeed?", you need to answer accurately.

What is the exact method?

The time between two feedings should be counted, from the time one feeding starts until the time the next feeding starts. Let's explain with a simple example:

• Imagine you started breastfeeding your baby at 6:00 in the morning.
• Then the baby asked for milk again, and you started feeding him at around 8:00 in the morning.
• Then, I fed her again around 10:00 in the morning.

In this case, you could say, "My baby usually feeds about every two hours ." You should count the time from the time you start feeding, not from the time you finish feeding . Do you understand?

Why do you count this way?

By counting this way, everyone (you, the doctor , the family health worker) can get a clear, consistent idea of ​​​​the baby's feeding pattern. This information is very important when talking about the baby's growth and health. Sometimes the baby may drink for 10 minutes on one side, and 10 minutes on the other. Other times, he may drink for about 20 minutes on one side. How long a feeding lasts can also vary from baby to baby and from time to time. Don't think too much about it. The most important thing is that if the baby is satisfied, gaining weight well, and urinating enough during the day (usually 6-8 wet nappies a day), he is getting enough milk.

The most important things for you to keep in mind (Take-Home Message)

Breastfeeding is a very special experience for both you and your baby. There are many people who can help and encourage you on this journey. Get the support of your husband, family, friends, doctors, and family health workers. Here are some things to remember:

• Newborn babies (in the first month) need milk 8-12 times a day . That means on average every 1.5 - 3 hours.
• "On-demand feeding" means feeding your baby as soon as he or she shows signs of hunger.
• Do not let a newborn baby go without milk for more than 4 hours , even at night, and wake him up to feed him.
• When the baby is 1-2 months old , the number of feedings can be reduced to 7-9 per day.
• Count the time between feedings, from the time one feeding starts until the time the next feeding starts.
• Every baby is different. Don't compare yourself to other babies. Identify your baby's needs.
• If you have any problems or doubts, seek medical advice or the advice of a family health worker immediately. Don't be shy or afraid.

Remember, you are a good mother! Breastfeeding is a learning process. Over time, both you and your baby will get used to it. We wish you all the best on this journey!

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