nursing on demand

[Guest guest]

As a lactation consultant/postpartum doula without very limited knowledge about

ayurvedic viewpoints, I used to (14 years ago) say feed the baby on demand. But

then I realized that although this is true the first week or so, when the baby

gets a good feeding and is burped well, he can go a couple of hours easily

without eating. After a few weeks he can go 3 hours easily. I noticed that

mothers nursed the baby whenever he cried assuming that she didn't give him

enough milk the last time (mothers always seem to assume they are not good

enough in some way) so they top him off. Soon the baby is overweight and has

digestive problems and is very gassy. This leads to diagnoses of reflux, etc.,

etc. Usually if you make sure the feeding is a good one, he is burped,

swaddled, allowed to suck on a finger or a pacifier and walked a little he will

go to sleep and sleep easily until the feeding without needing snacks in

between. The snacks lead to no schedule at all and the mom as very little time

to do anything and becomes overwhelmed. There is a balance between scheduling

and demand. But mothers could use encouragement to use their instincts about

trusting that the baby got a good feeding.

Vicky

 

Vicky York, IBCLC, CPD

Postpartum Care Services

Portland/Eugene

http://mypeoplepc.com/members/vmyork/

http://vmyork.ikarma.com

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicki;

I love your explanation - and that I can be not available to the group

for days and still see the knowledge flowing in good direction!

Ysha

 

I noticed that mothers nursed the baby whenever he cried assuming that

she didn't give him enough milk the last time (mothers always seem to

assume they are not good enough in some way) so they top him off. Soon

the baby is overweight and has digestive problems and is very gassy.

This leads to diagnoses of reflux, etc., etc. Usually if you make

sure the feeding is a good one, he is burped, swaddled, allowed to

suck on a finger or a pacifier and walked a little he will go to sleep

and sleep easily until the feeding without needing snacks in between.

The snacks lead to no schedule at all and the mom as very little time

to do anything and becomes overwhelmed. There is a balance between

scheduling and demand. But mothers could use encouragement to use

their instincts about trusting that the baby got a good feeding.

> Vicky