Breastfeeding Support
Breastfeeding is SO Much More than Food
It’s always struck me as interesting how breastfeeding/nursing has somehow been reduced to milk going into a baby.
Breastfeeding ≠ only milk
Families are often told, “Breastfeed your baby for X number of minutes then switch sides for the same amount of time,” or “Your baby needs to nurse every 2-3 hours (or 8-12 times in 24 hours).” So, most parents begin to think about feeding as a timing and quantity thing, that baby should be “good” until the next scheduled feeding.
But what happens when baby wants to nurse sooner?
Parents are led to think that baby simply wants to suck rather than actually need the breast (often leading to pacifiers being introduced too soon) or that baby is “just snacking” instead of getting a proper “full meal” (in reality, both are completely normal). As a result, many parents don’t know what baby is asking for or what the “right” thing to do is.
Let’s clear that up.
First, think about where your baby came from.
For the last 8 or 9 months, your baby has been in a completely different environment. They were inside the placenta where they…
- Received constant nutrients through the umbilical cord
- Never felt hungry or thirsty
- Never dealt with it being too bright or too loud
- Always felt warm and cozy
- Always in a constant, full-body hug
(Sound pretty awesome right about now, doesn’t it?)
After birth, they’re introduced to an environment that’s brighter, louder, and colder, while still needing nutrition and comfort at nearly the same rate.
Their whole world has changed in an instant.
Where they used to get an effortless stream of nutrients, now to get fed they must…
- Ask for milk
- Go to the breast
- Latch on to the breast
- Suckle to make the milk flow
- Suck and swallow to get the nutrients
With all that in mind, let’s get into how breastfeeding is so much more than food.
Newborns need milk in small amounts, very very often.
Breaking down the balance between the milk you produce and your baby’s stomach…
First, keep in mind that baby consumes human milk, which is digested very quickly (within 60-90 mins for at least the first 8 weeks after birth). This means they may be hungry just 1-1.5 hours after the start of the last feeding.
Additionally, baby also has a small stomach, which limits the volume of milk they can take at a time. This also means you cannot “make” baby take a bigger feeding by making them wait longer to nurse – making them wait only leads to less milk over 24 hours.
Once we understand this, it makes sense why frequent feeding is normal and expected behavior, and why most babies need to eat way more often than the minimums we’re told.
“We never want to withhold milk from an infant.”
So when baby is asking, give them the milk they need!
Don’t forget, frequent feeding also establishes a regular milk supply, since your body produces milk based on how much is removed – keeping your breasts healthy throughout feeding.
Skin-to-skin contact is important for newborns.
There is a lot of new science coming out about the importance of skin-touching-skin for the healthy attachment and development of newborns.
While your baby doesn’t yet understand the language of spoken words, they understand the language of touch and breastfeeding automatically creates this opportunity for contact.
Give baby the love and connection they need without you having to think twice.
Newborns are instinctively being held.
From an evolutionary perspective and the cave-dwelling days, being placed down alone was unsafe for babies and their survival, which partially explains the need to be held so much in the newborn days.
A baby being held feels safe and secure, something they cannot yet provide for themselves. All the holding and hugs during breastfeeding keeps baby’s stress levels low, reduces the release of cortisol (the stress hormone), and increases the release of growth hormones.
Breastfeeding meets baby’s needs for hugs and cuddles, so hold them every time they ask for it.
Newborns build a foundation for communication.
Breastfeeding is a big part of your baby’s communication system, providing an emotional connection with the most important person in their early life stage.
When baby asks and you respond by feeding, this is their first introduction to communication. This call and response action begins to teach them to trust that their needs will be met quickly and easily.
Studies show that babies that are responded to quickly, who cry less and are held more, meet developmental milestones sooner. Child psychologists even talk about how these quick responses lead to development of healthy attachments that can last a lifetime.
Encourage baby that they will be fed every time they ask.
Suckling is a pain reliever for newborns.
As your baby faces growing pains and adjusting to life outside the womb or any discomfort with the after-effects of birth or being in utero, nursing is your answer. Breastfeeding is the world’s best, non-addictive, pain management and relief tool for your baby. How cool is that?
Give baby all the pain relief they need and nurse them every time they ask.
So what does this all mean for you?
Each of the points above are all important for your baby’s overall growth and development, and milk is just one of the reasons that your baby will ask to breastfeed.
There is no wrong reason to breastfeed your baby.
Whether baby is lonely, cold, uncomfortable, or just needs a hug, breastfeeding in an appropriate and effective response – and also gives them the bit of milk they need at that time.
Babies under 6 months of age don’t have wants, they have needs. And don’t worry, you can’t “spoil” them or cause “bad habits” by nursing them every time they ask. Follow your instincts – feed them, hold them, hug them whenever you also feel the need!
Meeting needs = settling baby = healthy attachments
You wouldn’t want your partner to refuse you a hug if you asked for one, so let’s not reduce baby’s request for love!