How Often Should I Nurse a 6 Week Old Baby
Breastfeeding after one month: What to expect
Practise you know when your breast milk supply settles down? Or how your baby'due south breastfeeding frequency and elapsing change as he gets bigger and more agile? Notice out in our guide to breastfeeding subsequently i calendar month
Congratulations – you've made it through the first crazy month of breastfeeding. Your breast milk is at present fully mature,1 your supply is offset to calm downwards, and your breasts won't leak every bit much, or at all, any more. Don't worry, you're not losing your supply – your breasts are merely getting more efficient at making and storing milk.ii At six weeks, you'll commencement seeing your baby'due south outset gorgeous gummy smiles, and by two months yous'll have 500 to 600 feeds under your belt. Hopefully any latch bug will be resolved, and now it's a case of maintaining breastfeeding and enjoying the convenience and ongoing health benefits.
When does breastfeeding frequency boring down?
The range of 'normal' breastfeeding for babies aged one to six months is wide – some but feed 4 times in 24 hours, while others have thirteen feeds a day.3
"After he'southward virtually one month old, your babe will begin taking bigger volumes of milk at a feed and may start to go longer betwixt feeds," explains internationally renowned lactation consultant Cathy Garbin. "His tummy is growing so he can have larger feeds, plus your mature milk keeps him fuller for longer."
Feeds can last anything from 12 minutes to nearer an hr – in that location really is that much variability between babies!3 But if your baby is gaining weight and has a feeding pattern that fits into these ranges, you have no cause for concern.
Amazingly however, no matter how often your baby feeds, he'll consume roughly the same quantity of milk per twenty-four hour period at 1 month quondam as he will at vi months, when y'all kickoff introducing solid foods.four
"Having said that, you'll invariably go some days when he wants to feed a flake more or less, especially if he's non feeling well, and you should just become with it," says Cathy.
Does my baby really only need breast milk for the starting time six months?
Yes. Breast milk provides your infant with everything he needs for the showtime six months of life – if he'due south exclusively breastfed, he doesn't fifty-fifty need water!5 In fact, his digestive system is not able to cope with solid foods until effectually six months, and he won't exist able to beverage cow's milk until he's a twelvemonth old.
Breastfeeding throughout this stage likewise prepares your babe for the heady milestones ahead. It exercises his mouth muscles and helps develop his jaw and marshal his teeth,six,7 which are all important for eating and talking. And because the flavour of your breast milk tin be influenced by what you eat or drink, it means your baby can experience new tastes before he even starts solids.8
Not merely that simply if he gets ill, your body will produce antibodies that go into your chest milk to help fight off the infection.9 This means it will continue to protect him as he grows and gets more active over the months to come up.
Once you hit your pace, carrying on breastfeeding is likewise incredibly convenient, as Claudia, mum of ii, U.k., discovered: "Not having to sterilise loads of bottles, brand upwardly formula, cart it all effectually, and then heat it up, made breastfeeding the easy option – especially every bit my babies got a flake older and nosotros went out more."
When will my breastfed baby sleep through the night?
It'due south normal for all babies to wake during the dark. The majority of 1- to 6-calendar month-old babies consume a fifth of their daily milk intake at night, and so these feeds are important to ensure they get enough calories.iii
"Actually, information technology depends on what y'all call sleeping through the nighttime," says Cathy. "If your infant goes to bed at midnight and wakes upwardly at 05:00, some people call that sleeping through and it's certainly better than waking every two hours! I've known breastfed babies who've gone to bed at 19:00 and woken at 07:00 from half-dozen weeks, merely plenty of others continue to wake frequently. Every child is different."
A study of more than 700 babies in Wales showed that about fourscore% woke at least once a night betwixt vi and 12 months, and 25% woke three times or more. There was no difference in frequency between breastfed or formula-fed babies.10
Then, if yous're going to be waking upwards anyway, at to the lowest degree breastfeeding is a convenient pick! Every bit Minette, mum of 2, Australia, agrees: "At night you barely have to wake up – simply let your body and babe keep automated pilot. No planning, measuring or sterilising. It's all ready and at the correct temperature in your boob. Perfect for me."
My infant has started waking upwards more – is he hungry?
At around four months, your baby's sleep patterns may change as he starts to cycle between periods of deep and light sleep, simply like an adult. As a issue, he may start waking more frequently at nighttime. "At this 4-month phase you may be dealing with a sleep issue non a feeding issue," says Cathy. "It tin wearable you out, but try to go with the flow and ride through it."
Some people refer to this as the 'four-month sleep regression' but a more than apt word is progression. While it may feel like a footstep dorsum, your infant is budgeted an important developmental phase. He'south learning rapidly, becoming more than aware of the world, gaining better depth-perception, and perhaps starting to experience separation anxiety. Crying for you when he wakes, feeding and existence close to you is a way of seeking reassurance.11–xiii
Don't be tempted to give a 'height-up' of formula or innovate solids early in a bid to make your infant sleep longer. Your chest milk contains hormones that cause drowsiness and assist both of you relax. And studies show mums who breastfeed actually get more slumber each dark than those using formula or mixed feeding.14
How will teething affect breastfeeding?
Teething often starts from well-nigh four months. Your baby might become fussy and pull off your breast, crying with discomfort, if his gums are sore, which can be frustrating.
Yet, breastfeeding can as well be soothing. A study showed babies who are breastfed during immunisations cry less and recover more than rapidly from the pain,fifteen and this calming effect could also help your baby while he's teething.
An unwanted side effect may be that your baby starts to utilize your breast to try out his new teeth."Occasionally some babies will have a little game and bite their mum playfully. If this is about to happen, you might detect a subtle change in your baby during the feed – he'll accept to move his tongue out of the mode earlier he bites," says Cathy. "Information technology's not usually a big problem and might merely happen for a couple of feeds. Merely stop the feed, tell him gently that it's not expert to bite, and he'll soon cotton wool on."
How can I keep breastfeeding if I'thou away from my babe?
There may be occasions while you're still exclusively breastfeeding during the offset six months when yous demand to leave your baby for a couple of hours – or even longer if y'all have to return to work or get away for a day or two.
Don't feel like you take to give up breastfeeding at this indicate. Yous can nonetheless continue giving your child the benefits of breast milk by pumping milk that can be fed to him while you're not there, equally Cathy explains:
"Express milk for a couple of days beforehand, taking small quantities – maybe twoscore to 60 ml (i.iv to ii.1 fl oz) at a time – so y'all have a bank ready for whoever volition be caring for your babe. Past taking small amounts, you won't affect your milk supply.
"If you lot're returning to work, talk to your employer to get a plan in place. Many mums breastfeed their infant at dark and practice the first and terminal feeds. And then they limited at lunchtime to ease any discomfort and provide milk for the next solar day.
"Information technology's ordinarily much easier than people call up it'due south going to be, and many workplaces are prepare for it these days," she adds. "Breast pumps are efficient and volition aid you manage this juggling act easily."
Natalie, mum of one, US, describes her routine: "I feed Dylan as before long as he wakes, and sometimes again earlier I become to piece of work to go my supply going and have that connection. I pump twice at work for the adjacent mean solar day (he has two bottles of chest milk while I'g at work) and then hurry abode for his evening feed. At the weekends, I don't pump and he goes back to only breastfeeding."
Tin can I proceed breastfeeding afterwards introducing solids?
When your infant is showing an involvement in nutrient and sitting up unsupported, at around six months, he's ready for you to commencement introducing solid foods. However, this doesn't have to be the end of breastfeeding, equally Cathy explains: "Your baby's stores of iron, congenital up during pregnancy, have been used by six months and he needs to outset getting more," she says.
"Introduce foods around this fourth dimension, but remember breastfeeding will remain more of import as a source of calories and nutrients until your baby is around eight to nine months quondam. He'll be eating a lot more nutrient past that point, merely you may still be giving breastfeeds 4 to five times a twenty-four hour period, depending on your baby. By the time he gets to 12 months, yous could exist breastfeeding anywhere between two and six times a day. All babies are individuals and he could still be getting one-half his calories from breast milk."
And don't forget, your breast milk can also be added to your baby's offset solid foods, such equally cereals and purees, so he tin experience a familiar season at meals. If possible, apply information technology freshly expressed (not defrosted) and mix in merely before serving, and so the alive components and nutrients are not destroyed.16
You may experience social pressure to end at half-dozen months, but the longer yous breastfeed or express, the more benefits there are for you both.
How long tin can I proceed breastfeeding for?
"The World Health System recommends giving toddlers chest milk aslope solid foods until they turn two and beyond, as it still has a vital role in supporting the immune arrangement," says Cathy. "Information technology's besides an important manner to offer emotional back up when they're feeling overwhelmed or poorly."
At eight months onetime, y'all may exist giving your baby 4 feeds a solar day simply after he's a year onetime, you could be feeding as little equally twice a twenty-four hours. You tin observe a pattern that works for you both and fits into your lifestyle, as Jane, mum of two, U.s.a., constitute. She breastfed her children until they were around the age of 2: "I'd feed when I was around in the evenings and at weekends, when they wanted to feel close to me," she says. "It was a great assistance when they were sick, and my go-to method of comforting."
"As my son grew older and became more adventurous, he'd oftentimes come back to me to nurse, as if to ground him and allow him to recharge," remembers Amy, mum of two, Canada. "When he encountered bumps and bruises along the way, breastfeeding was a swell condolement to him."
If yous breastfeed your baby into toddlerhood, other people may comment that he'll never want to stop. But, given the freedom to choose, toddlers oft self-wean between the ages of two and four years.17
"I never prepare out to breastfeed for so long only am still feeding my four-year-old and 22-month-old," says Susannah, mum of ii, UK. "I feed my youngest before and subsequently work and pump during work trips. My eldest has a little condolement feed before bed or when she'southward upset – it'south a great way to reconnect. When I'm wearied or feeling touched out, I focus on the amazing health benefits and comfort I'one thousand giving them. I'g at present planning to follow infant-led weaning and let them stop when they're ready."
Find out more nearly what you tin can expect, along with lots of support and advice, in Breastfeeding challenges after the beginning month
References
References
i Ballard O, Morrow AL. Human milk composition: nutrients and bioactive factors. Pediatr Clin Due north Am. 2013;60(1):49-74.
2 Kent JC et al. Principles for maintaining or increasing breast milk production. J Obstet, Gynecol, & Neonatal Nurs. 2012;41(1):114-21.
3 Kent JC et al. Volume and frequency of breastfeedings and fat content of breast milk throughout the day. Pediatrics. 2006;117(3):e387-395.
4 Kent JC et al. Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to vi months of lactation. Breast Med. 2013;8(4):401-407.
v Almroth S, Bidinger PD. No need for water supplementation for exclusively breast-fed infants nether hot and barren conditions. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1990;84(4):602-604.
6 Victora CG et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong consequence. Lancet. 2016;387(10017):475-490.
seven Peres KG et al. Outcome of breastfeeding on malocclusions: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Acta Paediatr. 2015;104(S467):54-61.
eight Mennella JA, Beauchamp GK. Maternal diet alters the sensory qualities of human milk and the nursling'south beliefs. Pediatrics. 1991;88(four):737-744.
nine Hassiotou F et al. Maternal and infant infections stimulate a rapid leukocyte response in breastmilk. Clin Transl immunology. 2013;2(iv).
10 Brownish A, Harries V. Infant sleep and night feeding patterns during later on infancy: Association with breastfeeding frequency, daytime complementary food intake, and infant weight. Breast Med. 2015;10(5):246-252.
11 Baby slumber information source. [Internet]. Normal Babe Sleep Development; December 2017 [cited 2018 February]
12 Babe sleep science. [Internet]. The-Four-Month-Slumber-Regression-What-is-information technology-and-What-can-be-Done-About-it. March 2014 [cited 2018 Feb]
13 The Myth Of Babe Slumber Regressions – What's Really Happening To Your Baby's Sleep? [Cyberspace]. Pinky Mckay; December 2017 [cited 2018 February]
fourteen Kendall-Tackett K et al. The effect of feeding method on sleep duration, maternal well-existence, and postpartum depression. Clinical Lactation. 2011;ii(2):22-26.
xv) Harrison D et al. Breastfeeding for procedural pain in infants beyond the neonatal menstruum. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;10.
sixteen Czank C et al. Memory of the immunological proteins of pasteurized human milk in relation to pasteurizer design and practise. Pediatr Res. 2009;66(4):374.
17 Weaning from the breast. (2004). Paediatr Child Health, nine(iv):249–253.
Source: https://www.medela.com/breastfeeding/mums-journey/support-after-one-month
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