Are There Risks To Extended Breastfeeding
In different parts of the world, the average weaning age is between 2 and 4 years old. Some children are breastfed until ages 6 or 7 in other cultures.
There arent any well-known risks of continuing breastfeeding longer than the first one or two years. There also isnt compelling evidence to suggest that longer duration of a feeding relationship makes weaning more difficult.
continuing breastfeeding with complementary foods until the childs second birthday or beyond. The AAP suggests continuing breastfeeding along with foods until the childs first birthday, or as long beyond that as mutually desired by mother and baby.
Some signs your baby may be ready to wean include:
- being over a year old
- getting more nutrition from solid foods
- drinking well from a cup
- gradually cutting down on nursing sessions unprompted
- resisting nursing sessions
That said, the decision over when to wean is personal. If youre ready to wean before your child reaches these milestones, dont worry. Youre doing an amazing job no matter how you continue to feed your baby.
First Weeks And Months
- As babies grow, their bellies also grow. Your baby will gradually be able to drink more breast milk at each feeding.
- Over the first few weeks and months, the time between feedings will start to get longer. On average, most exclusively breastfedalert icon babies will feed about every 2 to 4 hours. Some babies may feed as often as every hour at times, often called cluster feeding. Or may have a longer sleep interval of 4 to 5 hours.
- How often your baby feeds might change depending on the time of day. Some feeding sessions may be long, and others short. That is okay. Babies will generally take what they need at each feeding and stop eating when they are full. They should seem content and drowsy after feeding when they have had enough milk.
- Your baby will breastfeed about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.
On Day 2 Expect Your Baby To Be Hungry And To Breastfeed Frequently
Today, your baby is likely much more alert and hungry, and will want to nurse every two to three hours . Your baby should be content between nursing sessions.
On day two, you will likely be discharged from the hospital. Your nurse will weigh your baby to determine how well she is feeding. Keep in mind that if she was born at term, shell lose weight in the three to four days after birth. According to Dr. Enrique Gomez-Pomar, M.D., a neonatologist at Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian, Miss. and an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Kentucky, your baby can lose up to 5 percent of the birth weight on day one, up to 7.5 percent on day two and up to 10 percent on day three. If your baby is losing more than that, said Dr. Gomez-Pomar, it could be a sign that your breastfeeding technique isnt working and should be further evaluated.
If your baby isnt latching or nursing adequately, you may need to self-express or pump your breasts for colostrum and feed it to her with a syringe, tube, cup or slow flow bottle. Your nurse or lactation consultant can teach you how. This will be necessary until your baby can breastfeed on both breasts for 10 to 15 minutes per session.
If your nipples are painful, cracked, bruised or blistered, correct your babys latch and positioning to prevent additional damage. To speed healing, apply nipple cream or gel pads to your nipples after nursing.
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How Long To Breastfeed Your Baby
The World Health Organization recommends babies be exclusively breastfed meaning, they consume only breast milk and no other foods or liquids, including water, are provided for at least six months. Once they are six months old, the WHO recommends introducing complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years and beyond. There is no age limit for breastfeeding. According to the American Association of Pediatrics, “There is no evidence of psychological developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer.”
After six months, your baby still reaps plenty of benefits from breastfeeding and breast milk. The composition of your milk changes to meet your little ones evolving needs as they grow while providing important vitamins, nutrients, minerals, and immunities to help him or her develop into toddlerhood.
What If Im Struggling Or Worried About The Number Of Feeds
We know from the experiences of new mums that breastfeeding responsively can feel emotionally and physically challenging .
A baby that breastfeeds frequently can give parents a sense of reassurance but it can also cause worry. Some people may think frequent feeding is a sign of insufficient milk, or that baby isnt getting enough breastmilk during feeds. This sometimes leads to women supplementing feeds with formula milk or deciding to stop breastfeeding .
Try and keep in mind that a newborn baby’s stomach is really small. They need to feed little and often . Its really common for babies to have a good feed and then appear to be hungry again quite quickly. This doesnt mean something is wrong or that theyre not getting enough milk. Its just the way newborn babies feed .
All of this also means that newborn feeding is frequent. In fact, much of the time, its not really a question of clearly-defined feeds with clear beginnings and endings .
Your baby knows your voice, your smell and your taste but they are much less familiar with the ‘world’ outside your womb. Staying close to you gives them a vital sense of safety and reassurance. This builds their confidence that they are loved and cared for .
If youre worried, it can really help to talk through your concerns with a breastfeeding counsellor. So call our Infant Feeding Support line on 0300 330 0700.
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How To Have A Smooth And Successful Breastfeeding Journey
Given the benefits of breastfeeding, you can take steps to make your post-delivery six months of nursing smooth and successful.
Prioritize breastfeeding:
Many offices have lactation rooms so that you can breastfeed your baby. As per the law, you can even take unpaid breastfeeding breaks from your office.
Educate yourself:
Search online for resources that equip you with breastfeeding knowledge. This will help you prepare for any obstacles that you come across during your lactation period.
Get in touch with a lactation consultant:
Lactation consultants can help you deal with breastfeeding issues such as sore nipples and engorged breasts. While looking for one, consider an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant . You can find them in hospitals and private clinics.
Join support groups:
Search online for breastfeeding communities. Sharing your journey with other moms and knowing about their journey can make you feel at ease. Learning from the experience of others can help you tackle your own breastfeeding issues.
Bottle Vs Breast Feeding Time
Babies suck differently on the bottle compared to at the breast. Some babies have a difficult time with the bottle and feedings can take a long time. But because the flow of infant formula or breast milk from a bottle nipple is steady, a bottle-fed baby with a regular, consistent suck can generally finish a bottle in about 10 minutes.
The flow of milk from the breast is not steady like a bottle. Breast milk may start out slow, then flow faster once the milk lets down. The flow slows down again as the milk empties the breast.
Breastfed babies adjust their suck speed to the flow of breast milk. They suck approximately once per second or slower when the milk is flowing quickly, and speed up the sucking when the milk flow slows down. So the time it takes to breastfeed depends on the amount and flow of breast milk and the baby’s suck.
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How Often Will My Newborn Poo And Wee
What goes in must come out! Colostrum acts like a laxative that encourages your baby do his first poo, called meconium. This can be a bit startling as its black and sticky like tar.11 But dont worry, his nappies wont always be like this in fact, breastfed babies poo usually has an inoffensive, slightly sweet smell.
Heres how many dirty nappies you can expect and when, and what their contents should look like:
Day one
Day four to one month
- Number: two or more
- Texture: seedy . Loose and watery.
When it comes to your babys wee, it should be pale yellow. An average newborn has one wee for each day of his life until about day three, when he should have about three wet nappies daily, and from day five, five or more wet nappies daily. You should also notice these nappies getting heavier over the first few days.11
Breastfeeding Help And Support
If you have any questions or concerns about breastfeeding, there is help and support available. You can:
- talk to a friend or family member who has breastfed
- ask a GP, midwife or health visitor
- look at reliable websites, such as The Breastfeeding Network
- join a local breastfeeding support group ask a health visitor for details
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How To Produce More Breast Milk
At the end of the day, the best way to increase your breast milk supply is to breastfeed more often. Offer your breast to your baby at least every three hours and develop a routine. This process should trigger your body to produce more milk. You can also try doing breast compressions while nursing, which is where you hold your breast between your thumb and fingers, then gently squeeze when your baby is only suckling but not drinking.
If you can, try to keep your baby on one side until your breast has been fully drained of milk before switching sides. In addition, you can pump after your baby is done feeding to make sure that you drain your breast of milk. If you get all the milk out, your body will be stimulated to create a larger amount for the next feeding.
It’s also important to take good care of yourself while you’re breastfeeding. Make sure you eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet, drink lots of water, and sleep as much as you can. Some people also supplement their diet with lactation cookies, herbal supplements, and medications.
Does Breastfeeding During A Childs Vaccine Injections Help With Pain Management
Parents who are breastfeeding should be encouraged to breastfeed children age 2 years or younger before, during, and after their childs vaccination. Several aspects of breastfeeding are thought to decrease pain by multiple mechanisms: being held by the parent, feeling skin-to-skin contact, suckling, being distracted, and ingesting breast milk. Potential adverse events such as gagging or spitting up have not been reported. Alternatives to breastfeeding include bottle-feeding with expressed breast milk or formula throughout the childs procedure, which simulates aspects of breastfeeding.
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When Should I Begin Weaning My Baby
Talk with your healthcare provider about the best time to wean your baby. The following are general guidelines:
- Introduce solid foods at about 6 months. Your baby may show signs that he or she is ready to start eating solid foods. He or she may watch others with interest when they are eating and reach for the food. He or she should be able to hold his or her head up and sit in a feeding chair or infant seat.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about formula. Your baby needs nutrients from breast milk until he or she is at least 12 months old. If you stop breastfeeding your baby before he or she is 12 months old, you will need to bottle-feed him or her formula. Make sure the formula is fortified with iron.
Feed On The First Side Until Your Baby Does A Couple Of The Following:
-
appears relaxed and calm
-
has relaxed hands
-
is not restless and has decreased movements
-
has long pauses between suckling
-
unlatches themselves
When they finish the first side, offer the other breast. If they take it, great! If not, offer that breast at the next breastfeeding session. Always alternate the side you start with.
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To Stop Or Continue Breastfeeding For How Long
Breastfeeding is crucial for your baby’s well-being right after birth. Different people have different opinions on how long to breastfeed. Know that you and your doctor are the right people to answer the question how long should you breastfeed? Its an individuals choice to enjoy the feeling of being a mama who likes to nurse beyond six months or even a year. Know that breastfeeding beyond toddlers’ age is normal.
So to sum it up, if you’re a lactating mother, then make an independent decision on how long to breastfeed your baby as nobody knows it better than the ‘mothers gut.’
Latching Baby Onto Your Breast
In the beginning, it might take quite a few tries to get your baby into the right position but keep trying.
First, its essential to know a good latch, since improper latching is the most common cause of breast discomfort. Baby’s mouth should cover both your nipple and the areola, so that babys mouth, tongue and lips massage milk out of your milk glands. Sucking on just the nipple will not only leave your infant hungry because the glands that secrete the milk wont be compressed, it will also make your nipples sore and cracked. Heres how to get that latch going:
Is baby having trouble properly latching on? Break the suction carefully by gently inserting a clean finger into the corner of her mouth or by pressing on your breast near the mouth. Then begin the lip tickling anew and let her latch on again properly, with the nipple and the areola in the mouth.
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How Often Should I Feed My Baby
- Babys stomach is small and breast milk is easily digested so it will leave the stomach in 1-2 hours. This means you should feed your baby often in the first few weeks but eventually the time between feedings may be longer.
- Always feed your baby when he is showing signs of hunger, even if the baby just ate an hour ago.
- Your baby is doing well if he feeds a total of 7 to 19 times a day when counting each breast as a separate feeding.
Changes Your Body May Face
When you stop breastfeeding, your body may change. You may have changes in the following:
-
Breast size and shape. Your breasts will likely get smaller again. However, this may take several months. They may end up a slightly different size or density than they were before you got pregnant. If they feel engorged, or too full, try using your hand or a pump to release a little bit of milk.
-
Fertility. If youre feeding your baby only breastmilk, your chances of getting pregnant are very low. Breastfeeding can delay the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. But its not a guaranteed way to prevent pregnancy. Your chance of getting pregnant goes up when you drop nursing sessions or stop breastfeeding.
Online Medical Reviewer: Bowers, Nancy, RN, BSN, MPHFoley, Maryann, RN, BSN
Date Last Reviewed: 4/12/2016
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Going Overboard: Waking Exhausted Mothers Who Are Recovering From Childbirth
Some maternity wards have a policy of waking mothers to breastfeed once every 3 hours. Because mothers are subjected to other interruptions as well by people performing medical tests, hospital administrative duties, and janitorial tasks this can leave mothers with very little time to sleep before they are awakened by yet another visitor.
Given the physical stress and sleeplessness associated with childbirthand the risks that sleeplessness pose for the development of postpartum depression is such a policy justified?
Ive seen no evidence for it, and its certainly not natural, not if by that you mean consistent with what humans do in the absence of hospital care.
For example, contemporary hunter-gathererswhose lifeways most closely resemble those of our ancestorsnurse their babies 2-4 times an hour . But even they recognize the needs of mothers who have just given birth.
The common pattern in hunter-gatherer societies is to let mothers to recuperate for the first 24 hours. If the baby is hungry and the mother is asleep, somebody else nurses the baby.
Are there lessons here for us? I think so.
Yes, early initiation of breastfeeding is important for success. Yes, mothers need to nurse frequently to stimulate production of mature milk, and ensure adequate milk supply.
But I can find no evidence that families suffer when exhausted mothers are allowed at least one 4-hour stretch of postpartum recovery sleep.
When A Baby Is Unable To Breastfeed
Occasionally, there may be times where your baby is not able to breastfeed for a while. Hospital grade electric breast pumps can provide the needed suckling stimulus for your milk production and are readily available. At first, you may be able to only express a few drops of milk. This is very common, especially if this is your first baby. Begin double pumping as soon as possible and continue pumping on a regular basis . Your milk supply will increase over time. Do not worry about how much milk you are pumping. When you are able to breastfeed your baby, your milk production will be better.
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