When we try to push off a feed, many things can happen. Most often we do it by giving the baby a pacifier. When the baby sucks on a pacifier, it releases CCK (cholecystokinin) a hormone that will make your baby feel as though they ate. Yet they haven’t. So yes, they will fall asleep, but your breasts will have also missed a feed. If you miss too many feeds like that, eventually your body will think it doesn’t need to produce as much and will slow down production. Then you get into the vicious cycle of rushing to get formula and so on and so on as you will find that your baby has a slower weight gain.
It is normal for a baby to go through cluster feedings. This is different for each baby. It could be every 30min, 45min or more. It can last a day or 5. What’s important is to monitor their output and weight gain. As I have mentioned in previous articles, the weight should be measured from 24hr’s post birth if there were any drugs or fluids given during labour and delivery. It’s about supply and demand. Specially in the first few weeks. The more they feed, the more your body will produce.
Around 3 months, you may feel like your supply has dropped as your breasts feel soft. That is not the case. Eventually our bodies just begin to regulate themselves to our baby’s needs. They just know what they need to produce and don’t need to overdo it anymore. It’s a good thing. As usual, the only thing you should be monitoring is output and weight gain.
Breastfeeding is also a great excuse (ssshhhh, don’t tell your husband) to say ‘Honey, I’m nursing now. Can you please go give Aaron a bath? Or do the dishes, or change the sheets, or do the toilets J. Sit down, lie down, relax and enjoy the time. It’s not going to last long.
Happy breastfeeding!
