First few feeds?

[golcarlilly]

When you first start to bf, I mean like the very first ones just after giving birth, how long is LO supposed to suck for when they are not really getting anything out?

 

[mummy_k]

well when my MF finally showed me how to do it properly (when baby was nearly a day old ) LO was sucking for about an hour, its one of the best feelings ever

 

[golcarlilly]

I can just vaguely remember when I was trying with my DD the nurses kept helping me latch her on and she just kept coming off every two minutes then I gave up!! I just want to be prepared this time round!

 

[mommyof3co]

When Hayden was first born, first time he latched he nursed for an hour, he did that a few more times then started doing about 20min on each side. Casen never did an hour though, he did about 10-20min per side from the first time, he would come off more often too but he got the hang of it pretty quick

 

[Mervs Mum]

My LO fed for an hour and a half that first feed. It's not just about being hungry - they arent born hungry as such but they need you close and they have the urge to suck. They have 'reserves' from you feeding them in your womb and their tiny tummy has never been used.

What do you mean 'they are not getting anything out' ? You will be feeding colostrum for the first few days but thats exactly what they need to line the gut. They dont need ounces and ounces of milk in a tiny tummy. What they are having is designed specifically for newborn humans.

Infant stomach & colostrum

Dont worry too much about lengths of feeds - BM is so easily digested they will eat little and often and lengths of feeds will vary as they try to learn the most effective way of eating

 

[golcarlilly]

I thought we only produced a tiny bit of colostrum to begin with - like drops or something? Or is that wrong - god sorry I am so clueless!!!

 

[golcarlilly]

Thanks for that link - very interesting reading I am going to read the whole site!!

 

[Mervs Mum]

I suppose you are right though about it being a small amount but you just have to get your head around it being that way for a reason. We have only had man made milks for 100 years out of the hundreds of thousands that humans have existed and BFd their young. Nature knows that that's what a baby needs at that time - it's not a design fault! It supposed to be that way! The colostrum prepares the gut and passes lots of anti bodies but it's also a small amount as the babies tum is so tiny. If you over fill it in those early days it will stretch and need more and more to fill it. So the colostrum is thick and rich but not huge in volume for that reason. Once it's paved the way the more plentiful milk will come in just at the point that it should.

Trust your body honey. Do you trust it to nourish and grow your baby now with out questioning it? Basically yes! We have proffessionals to help us but nature has grown and fed your baby from a cell that we couldnt see to a full grown human - why would your body stop providing for it properly when he's born?

 

[golcarlilly]

Thanks Mervsmum - sound advice as usual! I had never read up on bf before and was just really clueless about it all, I think that is why I failed last time -just a complete lack of education about it!

 

[mommyof3co]

And keep in mind all moms are diff, you will produce exactly what YOUR baby needs. I had TONS of colostrum with 2 of my kids, but not with 1 of them. But they were all equally satisfied