10/07/2025
One of the biggest pitfalls we see again and again… If your baby is feeding more than the books or relatives tell you they should, it's probably completely normal. But if it goes against what you’re being told “should” be happening, it can be really distressing.
Do I have enough milk? Why is he so hungry? Is she not getting what she needs from me? What if my milk’s not good enough… It’s really easy to slip into a dark place.
Simply because we haven’t been given the right information.
Professor Amy Brown - Breastfeeding Uncovered and Emma Pickett IBCLC say it best:
"Breastfed babies feed lots, and I mean LOTS. If you listen to great aunty Mable she might tell you babies should be fed every four hours on the dot. Indeed, in the 1950s babies were brought from the nursery to their mother every four hours for a feed.
You’ll still find books telling you this is how babies should feed. However, this advice, quite simply, is nonsense." Prof Amy Brown
"Somehow, somewhere, new mothers got the message that the gap between when a baby stops a breastfeed and the time they start to need another one matters a very very great deal. 24 hours a day.
It seems to matter beyond all logic and reason. They see this magic number – 90 minutes, 2 hours, 3 hours – as a measure of something sacred. And it’s crap." Emma Pickett
Your baby’s tummy is tiny, breastmilk is easily digested, and babies feed for comfort, antibodies, pain relief and all sorts of things as well as food. Some days, it might feel like feeding is all you do.
The more milk we remove from the breast, the more we make. Regular and effective stimulation, especially in the early months, helps establish milk supply for the months ahead.
So get water, snacks, the remote, get comfy, and get ready to whip those magic b***s out way more often than you might think is reasonable.
Trust your body, and trust your baby!
Read Amy and Emma’s articles, read what other mothers have to say on the matter, and find the info and reassurance you need here https://human-milk.com/pages/frequent-feeding-is-normal
And if you have still concerns, you’ll find the support you need here https://human-milk.com/pages/find-breastfeeding-help
