How Often Should I Breastfeed My New-Born?

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                       Your newborn should be nursing 8 to 12 times per day for the first 2-4 weeks.  Frequent feedings will help stimulate your milk production during the first few weeks. By 1 to 2 months of age, a breastfed baby will probably nurse seven to nine times a day.

Before your milk supply is established, breastfeeding should be ‘on demand’ (i.e. when your baby is hungry), which is generally every 1½ to 3 hours. As newborns get older, they’ll need to nurse less frequently, and may develop a more reliable schedule. Some might feed every hour and a half, whereas others might go 2 or 3 hours between feedings. However, newborns should not go more than about 4 hours without feeding, even overnight.

Babies tend to go longer between feeds when they become more practiced and expert at feeding, and when they start to take more of an interest in their surroundings. Even when your baby starts solids, breast milk will still be an important food source. But your baby may choose to cut down naturally after six months, and even be happy with just two to three breastfeeds a day.

One thing to remember is that your baby will have growth spurts from time to time, and be hungrier because of this. She may want to feed more frequently, or for longer periods, or both. Offer your breast as frequently as she wants to feed, and for as long as she needs it. That way, your milk supply changes to suit her requirements. Your supply should go up within a day or two.

Demand feeding is simple, as you don’t have to think about when or how long to feed. By breastfeeding your baby whenever she requests it, and letting her feed for as long as she wants to, she’ll get all the milk she needs.