What do we mean by Frequent Feeding?
You might have been told that frequent breastfeeding supports breastmilk production. But if you already feel like your baby spends most of the day breastfeeding, what on Earth does frequent feeding look like and how can that fit into your busy life?
The first thing to know is that it is normal for babies to breastfeed a lot. Last century, a lot of attention was given to controlling infant sleep and feeding patterns, leading to a lot of problems with milk supply. Responsive (demand) or “cue-based” feeding follows the individual baby's needs and not the clock.
Typical breastfeeding frequency has been shown to have wide variation between babies. 8-12 feeds in 24 hours is most common but as many as 17 feeds a day is still within the range of normal. We are far more worried about too few feeds than too many. Less than 8 feeds can be a red flag - some sleepy babies struggle to fit in their quota of daily feeds.
A breastfeed is best described as a successful latch which leads to a period of minutes effectively removing milk from at least one breast. Very quick, efficient feeders might achieve this in just 5-10 minutes while babies who enjoy the sensory experience of breastfeeding take a more leisurely 30-40 minutes. Some babies will move to the second breast for a similar period of time, others will feed for a shorter time on the second breast. Some babies never go to the second breast. Following the period of active breastfeeding there can be a short nap before waking to continue feeding. It is normal for a baby to fall asleep on the breast and to be easily disturbed from this light sleep by moving.
Periods of intense breastfeeds too close together to be identified as separate feeds are very common and not a sign of low supply. These are blocks of feeding with unsettled breaks when not actively feeding. We have really done a bad job of describing this feeding behaviour in the past, leading to parents doubting their milk supply or thinking their baby wasn’t feeding well enough to feel full. What is really happening is a complex system of communication between the baby’s body and the mother’s body. Feedback between the two systems happens during time at the breast. Frequent return to the breast signals the need to boost production activity as (typically) day is coming to an end and nighttime approaches. The mother’s circadian rhythm co-regulates the baby’s day/night cycles until their own body clock matures, releasing increasing levels of melatonin into the breastmilk, preparing the baby for night. The closer together feeding sessions are, the higher the fat (energy) content of the milk and the more exposure to sleep inducing factors (like CCK) in the mother’s milk, gradually leading towards a solid block of sleep in the late evening. Nighttime breastmilk is different to that released at other times of the day, which is why some parents avoid giving bottles of EBM as a bedtime “dream feed” as it might actually disturb nighttime sleep,
Whenever babies go through a surge of development, particularly more complex ones, they will seek the breast more often. Growing a human brain and central nervous system takes a lot of energy and breastmilk is the only substance designed to fuel this growth. The baby gains nourishment and much more from the breast. Frequent breastfeeding during intense development is a sign the system is working just as it should.
If a baby is exposed to viral threats, frequent breastfeeding is a vital link to the mother’s immune system. Through the infant saliva, potential threats are identified and specific antibodies are developed and returned to the baby during breastfeeding. A baby might not actually show symptoms and the mother may never even know a threat was identified and managed. If babies do become sick, frequent breastfeeds keep them hydrated. While breastfeeding, the mothers body regulates the infant temperature. Babies who are not breastfed are five times more likely to be admitted to hospital in the first year of life due to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. This constant exposure to breastmilk reduces the risk of dehydration and even the need for pain relief.
Frequent breastfeeds are not really a thing. All breastfeeding intervals have a purpose and it is the rigid nature of scheduled feeding which is unnatural. Babies with unrestricted access to the breast simply feed as needed, changing and evolving feeding patterns as needed. Mothers don’t need to lead, simply follow their baby.
