How Often Should a Mother Nurse Her Baby?
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Nurse Regularly During the First 6 Weeks
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If you are a nursing mom, your baby should be nursing 8 to 12 times per day during the first 6 weeks, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. As you start to develop a breastfeeding relationship with your baby, you may want to let baby nurse an unlimited amount of time on one breast and then offer the second breast. Newborns should not go more than about 4 hours without feeding. If your newborn is very sleepy, wake her to nurse if 2 hours (daytime) or 4 hours (nighttime) have gone by without her nursing.
Babies also tend to give hunger cues to let Mom know that they are hungry, and learning these cues can help you meet your baby's needs appropriately. Hunger cues can include sucking on fingers or fist, making small sounds or rooting toward Mom's breast. Feed your baby before she starts to cry.
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Feed "On Demand"
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Once your milk supply is established, breastfeeding should be "on demand" to meet your baby's hunger needs as they present themselves. As newborns get older, usually they nurse less; however, it may vary from baby to baby, and looking for hunger cues is important to know your baby's needs, states LaLeche League. If your baby is hungry, don't deny him food just because a certain amount of time has not passed; instead, feed when he is hungry. "On demand" feedings tend to be approximately every 1 to 3 hours.
Bottom Line
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Following your baby's hunger cues and feeding "on demand" will help ensure she is nursing often enough.
References
- Photo Credit mother and baby image by Iryna Shpulak from Fotolia.com
