Let's look at the pros and cons of each feeding approach.
Pros of feeding according to the schedule:
- The biggest advantage for many parents in routine feeding is the fact that the mother is not attached to the baby. A father, grandmother, or any relative can feed a child; to do this, it is enough to express the milk and offer it to the baby in a bottle;
- there is no need for co-sleeping. This is more likely the desire of the parents themselves, and not an urgent need. Mom can fully rest for several hours before the next feeding. Family relationships between spouses do not deteriorate;
- unlike feeding on demand, when feeding according to a schedule, the mother can understand whether the child is crying from hunger or the reason is something else, since in 2-3 hours the child will definitely have time to get very hungry;
- according to many experienced pediatricians, feeding according to a schedule relieves the child of abdominal discomfort, promotes better absorption and digestion of food, and avoids overeating (but this issue is also a subject of debate among pediatricians);
Disadvantages of regimen feeding:
- There is a risk of breast problems if there is not enough breastfeeding. This may manifest itself in a decrease in the amount of milk, stagnation, mastitis;
- strong emotional stress of the child with strict adherence to the regime and unwillingness to deviate from it, the child may cry;
- if the baby is offered a pacifier rather than a breast, this can lead to disruptions in lactation and makes it necessary to wean off the pacifier in the future;
- the emotional connection between mother and baby is not so strong (but this point cannot be taken as evidence, rather as an assumption not supported by a sufficient number of weighty arguments or research);
- the feeling of hunger may not appear after the prescribed 3 hours, but earlier - 1.5-2 hours after feeding, in which case the child will regularly feel hungry;
- If the baby is sick, experiencing discomfort due to teething or stomach problems, then he may eat less during feeding due to lack of appetite. In these circumstances, eating according to the schedule will negatively affect the baby’s weight gain and general well-being during illness;
- the absence of night feedings in the early morning hours inhibits milk production and disrupts lactation. Since it is between 3 and 4 am that the maximum amount of prolactin, the hormone responsible for lactation, is produced;
- All children have different characters, different types of breastfeeding. For some, it is enough to spend no more than half an hour with her, while others may not get enough to eat even in an hour.
Feeding regimen when breastfeeding
When covering the topic of breastfeeding, it is impossible to ignore such a concept as feeding regimen. All mothers know that modern doctors recommend feeding the baby on demand. However, each woman understands what this means in her own way. Some mothers believe that on demand means feeding once every 3 hours, others are sure that on demand means feeding at every sound, etc. Let's try to understand this difficult topic.
If feeding is considered as an act of nutrition, then “on demand” means feeding when the child begins to want to eat. If the child screams a lot, this means that the mother missed the right moment of feeding and the baby has been wanting to eat for a long time.
Signs of hunger
Early signs of hunger:
1. The child’s activity increases - the baby wakes up and moves.
2. Searching movements are made - the child turns his head left and right, searching for the chest with his mouth.
3. Various sounds and smacking appear.
4. The baby brings his hands to his mouth and sucks his fist.
If the mother ignores these manifestations, the baby has no choice but to scream heart-rendingly. The baby's cry in this case will be a signal for the parents, indicating that the child has long needed to eat.
If the baby is crying, but no signs of hunger were noticeable before, then it is likely that the baby is crying for another reason - because of a dirty diaper, too high or low room temperature, tummy pain, need for sleep etc. Or maybe he just misses his mother and wants to be in her arms.
Therefore, it is better to first check whether there are other reasons for crying? Attention! Everything described applies exclusively to older children.
What about newborn babies?
Newborn babies do not yet have a developed sense of hunger. Such babies are in a state of discomfort. During 9 months of intrauterine development, they got used to living in a calm and warm mother’s belly. After which our world seems to them too loud, too bright, too noisy and cold. The only thing that can reduce this discomfort is the taste of mother's milk and the smell of lubricant produced by the glands on the nipple areola. These tastes and smells remind babies of the amniotic fluid they swallowed while in the womb.
That is why feeding babies in the first month of life means putting each squeak to the breast. And it doesn’t matter how often this happens - once every 5 minutes or 2 hours after the previous feeding. Both options are absolutely normal.
Breastfeeding is not just about eating, it is an important psycho-emotional connection between mother and baby. This is a guarantee of peace and well-being of the child. It is advisable to feed as often and for as long as necessary for you and your baby. Sometimes the baby wants to eat more often and stays at the breast less; sometimes less often, but longer in the breast. Both are the norm. And you shouldn’t be embarrassed by the opinions of your grandmothers/friends/neighbors. Only you, as a mother, can learn to understand your child and correctly perceive his signals about readiness to eat or a desire to be close to you.
Now I would like to take a closer look at feeding on demand
Benefits of on-demand feeding for mother and baby:
- the baby gains weight better, he is not limited in breastfeeding either in time or quantity, which means he has the opportunity to receive food in sufficient quantities;
- Regular presence near the mother, near the breast, is important from a psychological point of view. It helps the baby to quickly adapt to the new environment, gives a feeling of security, helps to establish close contact and emotional connection between mother and baby (this issue can also be called controversial, since there are situations when breastfeeding is impossible for various reasons, but this does not make the connection between the baby and mom is not getting worse);
- Feeding on demand is a good prevention of lactostasis, even during milk crises, the child himself can regulate the amount of milk he needs due to frequent and unlimited feedings;
- Children who are fed on demand are less likely to experience this phenomenon in the first months of a baby’s life, such as regurgitation, and these phenomena end earlier than in children “on a regimen.”
- Regular breastfeeding helps in the production of oxytocin, which helps the mother recover faster after childbirth (active contraction of the uterus, reduction of discharge).
Disadvantages of feeding on demand.
It is worth noting that there are more disadvantages for parents, in particular for the mother, than for the baby.
- the mother cannot be absent for a long time, since there is no clear schedule for when the baby can “demand” the breast.
- Feeding on demand involves the baby and mother sleeping together in the same bed. Not all parents can accept this; many mothers cannot fully rest, they are afraid of harming the child by accidentally touching him in his sleep.
- According to many specialists in the field of pediatrics and gastroenterology, frequent breastfeeding may not allow food to be completely digested and cause colic and bloating in the child.
- Frequent breastfeeding increases the amount of milk, which means the baby's breastfeeding period increases. The mother may simply get tired of breastfeeding (WHO advises to continue breastfeeding at least in the first year of the child’s life).
- By receiving the breast on demand, the child may develop a so-called association - to calm down, to fall asleep. The baby will ask for the breast not only when he feels hungry, but also on any occasion.
It is worth noting that the older generation often has a negative attitude towards the now popular feeding on demand. Mothers of the 20th century were confident in the need for a routine, additional water and the unsafety of sleeping together for the baby. Let's try to figure out what the essence of the generational conflict is, what principles, methods and opinions about feeding existed then and what has changed today. And is it possible to find a compromise on this issue, based on the experience of generations and new trends and recommendations.
Newborn feeding regimen
First of all, you need to understand that the feeding regimen depends on whether the baby is breastfed or receives formula. If the child is artificial, on-demand feeding is not possible. The mother needs to control the amount of food the baby receives; this is only possible with a clear regimen. The standard break between feedings is 3 hours (the time, of course, may vary slightly). It is better to determine the serving size together with your pediatrician. Remember the golden rule of artificial feeding - it is better to underfeed than to overfeed. Due to the development of its gastrointestinal tract, the baby simply will not be able to digest excess food, and this will result in a number of problems. To avoid digestive problems and for the child to grow healthy and strong, it is important to choose the right mixture. Dry adapted infant formula Valio Baby is as close as possible to the composition of breast milk. It is made from natural Finnish milk and is enriched with vitamins and microelements necessary for a growing body. No matter how good the formula, the best food for a newborn is breast milk. The choice of feeding regimen for a baby depends on the mother. Most experts today recommend feeding an infant on demand (at least for the first few months of life). First of all, this allows you to take into account the individual characteristics of the baby. All babies suckle differently: one sucks out a sufficient amount of milk in one go, another needs to be attached to the breast several times. Children have different temperaments, not everyone will be able to get used to a strict regime, and it is possible that nothing but crying, anxiety and mother’s nerves will come out of this idea. Don’t forget that for a newborn, breastfeeding is not only a way to get enough. The child’s connection with his mother is very important, and during close contact he receives the attention, care, and protection he needs. The baby sometimes needs his mother’s breast to drink (remember that the so-called first milk is liquid, it quenches the baby’s thirst well). Application helps relieve discomfort and pain in the tummy. If you have the opportunity, do not deny your baby the breast as soon as you notice his anxiety and need.
#PROMO_BLOCK#
In the first time after birth, the baby will be attached to the breast very often - he is still weak and eats in tiny portions. Gradually, the break between feedings will increase naturally. The diet is usually established around the 6th week of life (stressful situations such as vaccination or illness of the baby, of course, will make adjustments to it). Pay attention to the fact that the grown-up child has the opportunity to spend time on his own - if he is interested in toys, he will not “hang” on his chest, and you will have time to do things.
Not all mothers can constantly be near the baby and feed him on demand. In this case, they need to introduce a feeding schedule by the hour. It was he who was accepted into the USSR, and now he is being sharply condemned. There is no crime in this approach. Firstly, it helps the child get used to the regime (we have already written about its benefits), and secondly, the mother can plan her affairs and combine motherhood with work or study. By the way, there is a possibility that the child will be more comfortable this way.
Consider the individual characteristics of your baby and remember that there are no universal solutions. Find your own comfortable regime and be healthy!
What has changed in the approach to breastfeeding over the past 20 years
Opinion 1. Feed the baby strictly according to the schedule at regular intervals (3-4 hours), observing a six-hour night break.
Of course, this approach used to be convenient when mothers went to work early and children went to nurseries from 6 months. The child immediately had to get used to the feeding schedule.
What changed:
Feeding the baby is a priority. It is worth applying to the breast on demand, regardless of whether enough time has passed. Night feedings are mandatory, as they increase the amount of milk and maintain lactation.
Opinion 2: Introduction of complementary foods at 5 months.
Pediatricians recommended introducing complementary foods, citing the lack of sufficient nutrients in milk. In fact, this led to a significant suppression of lactation.
What changed:
It has been proven that the properties of mother's milk do not change at 6 months, or at a year, or at one and a half months. It is recommended to start introducing complementary foods at 6 months.
Opinion 3: Eat for two. More fatty foods
Eat a lot (only permitted foods), drink tea with condensed milk, nuts, etc.
What changed:
It has been proven that the amount of food or certain foods do not affect the amount of protein-fats-carbohydrates a child receives. This amount can be influenced by properly organizing breastfeeding and latching the baby correctly.
Opinion 4: “Non-dairy” woman.
If women in the mother’s family breastfed for a short time or did not breastfeed at all, then this “breed” means that the young mother will not be able to breastfeed either.
What changed:
The concept of “non-dairy” does not exist. It has been established that every woman in labor is able to feed her child. Even a “non-dairy” grandmother could, but due to reasons this did not happen: she rarely breastfed, used a pacifier, and did not feed at night.
Opinion 5: Express to the last drop.
It was suggested to express until the breasts were completely empty.
What changed:
In medical circles, the opinion has been established, confirmed by experiments, that during feeding, as much milk is produced as the child needs. Full pumping increases the amount of milk produced, which leads to stagnation and mastitis.
As you can clearly see, over time, many approaches and opinions about feeding have changed and improved. Whatever feeding option you choose, you should take into account all the pros and cons, the experience of previous generations, and also take into account the basic feeding rules of a particular approach.
Feeding on demand: rules
These rules are based on recommendations from the World Health Organization.
- We apply it to the breast at the baby’s first request. We do not limit the time the baby spends at the breast.
- We do not use “substitutes” for the mother’s breast – pacifiers, bottles. If it is necessary to give your child medication, we recommend using a spoon or measuring syringe.
- the ability to apply to the breast correctly for high-quality emptying of the breast.
- Offer both breasts during feeding.
- We express the breasts after feeding, not until they are completely empty, but until they feel relieved.
- postpone the introduction of complementary foods until the baby is 6 months old.
- Continue breastfeeding for as long as possible (at least a year).
