18/11/2025
NewBaby101 pg36 - Just when you think you know what to expect - it changes! Be prepared for your baby to change his pattern of feeding from time to time. This usually coincides with a "growth spurt or developmental leap" and baby will demand feeds more frequently for a day or two. To facilitate the process of increasing/adjusting your milk supply you may need to abandon whatever plans you had for that day and "just feed the baby". If you've missed a lot of sleep overnight because of a feeding frenzy, go back to bed with your baby and feed him whenever he cues and your body will respond by increasing your milk supply within 24-48 hours. These episodes of more frequent feeding are not only about adjusting the volume of milk produced, but also baby's changing nutritional needs. The constituents (recipe) of your breastmilk will also automatically change to suit your growing baby's needs. How this happens is not fully understood, but nature provides perfectly for growing babies when mothers follow their baby's lead. Giving supplementary feeds during this time will interfere with Mother's body's response so avoid giving formula feeds unless absolutely necessary. Growth spurts are fairly predictable in term babies, typically occuring at 2-3 days "calling your milk in", usually again around 2 - 3 weeks, again around 6 weeks, and commonly around 3 months and 6 months. If mothers are prepared to expect these changes to feeding behaviours they are more likely to cope with it appropriately and continue to successfully breastfeed their babies.
