Another Breastfeeding Question

[ElizaDee]

My MIL who has had 6 kids said that you should not let bubba go any longer than 4hrs between feeds when they are a newborn as they need the nourisment. Is this true? :confused:

I only ask as since she has had 6 kids she might know, but then again the youngest is 35. So not totally sure if this is a comon thought now days?

At the moment Spencer doesn't sleep more than 4hrs at a time anyway, so its no issue but it could be......

[Mum&bubs]

I'm not 100% sure but my mum told me this as well :confused: I never really had that problem as my DD never slept that long. But yes I have heard that before.

[Funkychicken]

I think she is probably right-babies do need regular nourishment and more than four hours is a long time. But-if a baby sleeps well and feeds well and has plenty of wet nappies, going beyond four hours may just be when the baby is having his long sleep. I have found with all three of mine, that they have a long sleep at one time of the day (you hope that this is when you are asleep!). So there may be a stretch once a day that I wouldn't be too concerned about. If this was happening all day, then you would probably need to wake him and offer the breast more often. :)

[rynosmum]

I think she is probably right-babies do need regular nourishment and more than four hours is a long time. But-if a baby sleeps well and feeds well and has plenty of wet nappies, going beyond four hours may just be when the baby is having his long sleep. I have found with all three of mine, that they have a long sleep at one time of the day (you hope that this is when you are asleep!). So there may be a stretch once a day that I wouldn't be too concerned about. If this was happening all day, then you would probably need to wake him and offer the breast more often. :)

I agree completely. DS was having a longer stretch of sleep (5 hours) at a certain time of the day and I had a lactation consultant come around to ensure all was going well when he was about 2 weeks old. To my surprise she told me to never wake a sleeping baby - unless he wasn't producing enough wet nappies or we had concerns about his weight gain.

[missie_mack]

I guess it depends on the bubba. My DS is just over a week old and was born at 9 pound. He is a great sleeper (and Im not complaining) and a midwife told me I had to wake him every 3 hours to feed him. When I mentioned this to my Dr she was horrified and said a baby of his size could probably go 5 - 6 hours without needing to be woken to feed.

If in doubt check with your Dr based on your baby would be my opinion.

[lovemybub]

When I first had DD it was explained to me by a lactation consultant that babies need a certain amount of milk in a 24 hour period, and if they don't get it during the day, then guess when they will want it!

Most babies don't go longer than 4 hours anyway, because they have little tummies so they need to be fed regularly because they can't hold that much at a time. But if your baby goes longer than that, if they're still having 6-8 good wet nappies every 24 hours then they're getting enough.

I wouldn't worry about it until (and if) it happens. Heaven knows there's enough to worry about without thinking of all the possibilities as well!

[Pixie]

I have no idea lol I just offer Eliza the boob ALL THE TIME and if she wants it she takes it if not she doesn't and then we're all happy :D

[Seekrit]

I was told that until they're 2 weeks old (which is tomorrow for you anyway) to wake them every 4 hours as otherwise they'll sleep through and not realise they're hungry. Except at night, always leave a baby to sleep at night ;) After about 2 weeks they wake up when they're hungry etc :)

:hugs:

[ElizaDee]

seek if only mine would sleep at night! :banghead: He seems to scream and want boobie all night long, would limiting his day sleep and feeding him more then help?:confused: