Types Of Breastfeeding

Joe Fowler
Author: Joe Fowler Time for reading: ~9 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022
Types Of Breastfeeding

On-demand breastfeeding The World Health Organization recommends that breastfeeding be optional on-demand breastfeeding. This means the number of meals and the duration, as well as the interval

When talking about the types of breastfeeding are usually compared:

  • Breastfeeding on request and feeding on schedule
  • Exceptional breastfeeding and mixed feeding

 

Breastfeeding on demand or scheduled feeding?

When we carry a baby inside us, we must prepare that our lives will turn upside down. Perhaps the most difficult thing for many parents is to deal with the unpredictability of their own schedule. For this reason, they decided to create one for greater convenience and for the child. But what does this mean and is breastfeeding the best way to feed your baby?

What kind of diet would you choose yourself?

On-demand breastfeeding - what is it?

Simply put, this means that the number of meals, the duration and the interval between them should be determined by the child.

If it cries, don't look at the clock to see if it's time to eat, just feed it. This method of breastfeeding is highly recommended by most health organizations, including the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics, because babies do not eat out of boredom or habit, they do it when they are hungry.

When the child is born, he should eat almost every 2-3 hours during the day. This means about 8-12 feedings per day. But you do not need to strictly follow this number. Watch the newborn, he will only show when he is hungry. Of course, you can keep an eye on the clock to know how much time has passed, but do not force the baby to wait a certain time to feed. In some cases, breastfeeding is much more than recommended in the first weeks, as newborns eat very often. Their stomachs are small and digest milk very quickly. There may be negative consequences from attempts to schedule breastfeeding of the newborn. This includes reducing milk production and can also affect the growth and weight gain of the baby.

Gradually switch to a more regulated regime in accordance with the already established milk production. Soon after, the duration of the process increases at the expense of the reduced frequency and is usually switched to 7 times breastfeeding. On-demand nutrition satisfies both physiological and emotional needs. The child feels more secure and understands that the mother loves and cares for him.

 

The infant may wish to be breastfed for reasons other than feeding. For example, to be close to you or to feel more comfortable. If you follow a certain schedule, these needs can be missed.

Sometimes in inexperienced mothers, this type of breastfeeding can lead to overfeeding or malnutrition of the baby, as well as to indiscriminate feeding. There are two possible problems that can occur:

  • the child rarely wants to breastfeed - if he is gaining weight, then the reason is in the individual characteristics of the child, but if he is not gaining weight, then a consultation with a pediatrician is necessary;
  • the child very often wants to eat - the reasons for this are either the wrong position during breastfeeding or the child gets tired while sucking.

Although at first it may seem that it engages most of your day as the baby approaches 3-4 months of age, things will return to normal. During this period, you will gradually begin to plan your day (not that this is ever quite possible and easy when raising a baby).

Scheduled meals

Some mothers will prefer to feed their babies on a schedule. Why? Due to the advice of relatives and friends, who encourage the creation of a regime, due to the fact that in a number of books this is recommended - for the greater convenience of the parent and a number of others. Although this can have benefits when the baby is older it is not recommended for newborns. The schedule can make your daily life even easier if you also use a bottle, regardless of whether the baby is exclusively breastfed or formula-fed. Life with a newborn is exhausting and many parents are looking for ways to make their day more predictable.

 

In some cases, a schedule may be a more convenient and good solution if the mother returns to work and the child is left in the care of a babysitter or attends a daycare center. Building a baby regimen has been recommended in our society and in many books for parents, but it is now recognized that this is not the best way to feed a child.

Is it true that babies fed on demand end up being smarter?

Researchers from the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Essex and the University of Oxford evaluated 10,419 children born in the early 1990s. to compare the results of on-demand meals and on schedule. They took into account the education of the parents, the income of the family, the health of the mothers and a number of other factors.

 

The results at the age of 8 years of children show that those fed breast milk or adapted formula on demand have about 5 times higher IQ than those fed on schedule.

And although this is just a study, it will certainly intrigue you and can stimulate you to feed your baby on demand.

Exclusive breastfeeding or mixed feeding?

Exceptional breastfeeding

Exclusive breastfeeding is when the baby takes only breast milk without additional food and drinks (water, tea, juice) until 6 months of age. It is believed that giving water and other fluids, as well as supplementation with milk have a negative effect on lactation - reduce the frequency of breastfeeding and sucking activity of the child.

 

Population-based studies show that exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way to feed babies. After this period, children should be offered additional food, while continuing to breastfeed until 2 years of age or later.

To enable mothers to establish and maintain exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, the World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend:

  • start breastfeeding within the first hour of life;

 

  • the baby should receive only breast milk, without any additional food or drink (even water);
  • breastfeeding on request - as often as the child wishes (day and night);
  • do not use bottles, pacifiers or pacifiers

                               

Why is it recommended?
  1. Breastfeeding is an unsurpassed way to provide the ideal food for healthy growth and physical, mental and emotional development of children.
  2. Babies recover faster from colds and infections. Breast milk also protects children from getting sick. Studies show that feeding exclusively on breast milk leads to lower mortality from respiratory infections (pneumonia) or diarrhea.
  3. It also has many benefits for the mother (reduces the risk of postpartum depression, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, anemia, burns calories and more).
  4. It saves the family budget - it is not necessary to buy bottles, pacifiers, formula and others.
Early watering - a common practice? Why is that?

The practice of giving water and other liquids (tea, juice) to infants in the first months is still widespread. The reasons for this are different in different cultures. Some of the most common are: 

  • necessary for life;
  • quench thirst;
  • soothe capriciousness;
  • prevent and treat colds and constipation;
  • relieve pain (in colic).

 

How breastfed babies get enough water

Depending on the temperature, humidity, weight of the baby and the level of activity, the average daily fluid requirement in healthy babies varies from 80-100 ml / kg in the first week of life and 140-160 ml / kg between the 3rd and 6th her month. These needs are only covered by breast milk if breastfeeding is exclusive and unrestricted (on request).

For the most part, breast milk is water. At the beginning of each feeding, the baby drinks less milk, which quenches his thirst, and at the end of the feeding, the milk is more filling.

And when the weather is hot?

The water in the milk exceeds the needs of the baby in normal climatic conditions and therefore it is not necessary to add it in hot and dry climates. Studies show that healthy, extremely breastfed babies do not need extra fluids for the first six months of life, even in countries with extremely high temperatures and low humidity.

Can giving water during the first six months be harmful?

Yes! This can increase the risk of malnutrition, as the baby's stomach is small and when he drinks water, it is always at the expense of breast milk during the subsequent feeding. The risk of disease also increases, as water and other beverages can get pathogens into the baby's body.

Breast milk is the natural first food for babies, providing them with the necessary energy and nutrients during the first months of life. It continues to meet half or more of the child's nutritional needs in the second half (6-12 months of age) of the first year, and up to a third in the second year of life.

Mixed diet

Combining breastfeeding and formula feeding is known as mixed feeding.

 

Some mothers decide to switch to a mixed diet when they return to work, have a problem with regular breast pumping, but do not want to give up breastfeeding altogether. Others may make this decision when their baby is not getting enough breastmilk to grow and develop properly, and still others in desperation from lack of sleep, rest, breastfeeding problems, or simply wanting to provide more time for other members. of his family.

Whatever the reasons for supplementation, keep in mind that any breastfeeding is better than none. So, the longer you can breastfeed your baby, the better (even if it's once or twice a day).

The introduction of formula along with breastfeeding can have its advantages but also its disadvantages.

 

For the baby, they are that he will continue to take the nutrients he needs from breast milk, and through it many of your antibodies will pass into his body. However, with the introduction of formula, the baby will no longer be so well protected against allergens in the gastrointestinal tract. Another factor to consider is that milk flows faster and easier from a bottle than from the breast, and the baby does not need much effort to receive it. Too early and frequent supply of bottled milk can lead to improper breastfeeding, which will lead to problems in the breastfeeding process.

As for you - mixed feeding can affect the amount of breast milk, especially if the baby is still very young (6 weeks ago). Breast milk is produced on a supply and demand basis, ie the more you offer your baby formula, the less milk will be produced.

 

Many mothers worry that they do not produce enough milk for their children and therefore switch to a mixed diet.

More information in the topic: Is there enough milk for your baby?

What are some of the signs that my baby needs extra nutrition?

First and foremost, always talk to your baby's doctor if you have concerns about weight gain, height, or eating habits. Here are some signs that may give you a reason to talk:

  • the baby does not gain weight or lose a percentage of its weight;
  • you do not feel your breasts soft and empty after breastfeeding;
  • less than six wet diapers in 24 hours;
  • nervousness and lethargy most of the time.

If you decide to switch to a mixed diet, know that you can always try to return to exclusive breastfeeding, but there is an opportunity to completely give it up.

 

 

More on the topic:
  • What is mixed feeding in babies and how it is done
  • Principles of feeding the baby
  • Transitional food - what it should be and when it is included in the menu
  • What should be the diet of children from 1 to 3 years of age

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