On 4 Sep Katherine Dettwyler wrote: 
< I nursed my children several times an hour, instead of once every several hours, for at least the first 8 months or so.  This is more in keeping with the type of primate humans are, and the composition of the milk.>
My question to Katherine, or anyone else, is: Why do so many babies nurse for long periods, then sleep for a few hours?  This seems to happen without any conscious manipulation on the part of the mother.  We know that with good attachment at the breast, a healthy infant can ingest a large volume of milk in the first few minutes of the feed, then continue nursing contentedly for 10/15 minutes more.  After a brief pause this infant may repeat the process on the other breast.  This baby will possibly sleep for several hours, then wake up hungry and do it again.
I wonder if you could describe the nursing patterns of babies who feed several times an hour, in the first couple of weeks.  Does this baby spend only brief times at the breast?  
Many thanks,
Joy Johnston, Midwife FACM IBCLC
Melbourne, Australia