This issue of when has the baby had enought always comes up very quickly
in my classes, often even before I've had a chance to lay the groundwork.
 I always try to frame feeding issues by asking moms and dads to think
about their own eating habits, about how sometimes they are really hungry
for a big meal and sometimes only for a snack or something to quench
their thirst.   Babies have the same needs, but they can't tell us
directly at the time what they want.    If the baby has nursed at one
breast for a while, the breast is feeling much softer and the baby is
sucking rapidly to try to induce another letdown, then the obvious thing
to do at that point is to put the still hungry baby on the other, fuller
breast.  If the baby is satisfied after only one breast, then that is OK,
too, obviously that is all the baby wanted (for newborns, I do emphasize
trying to wake the baby up if he falls asleep and offering the second
breast before letting the baby sleep soundly, also breast compressions to
pique interest).  I use this line of reasoning also to explain frequency
of feeds, asking my class how often one of them goes for three or four
hours during the day without putting at least something - stick of gum,
an apple, a drink of water, etc. - into their mouths and how they would
feel if they were denied the chance to take a drink of water simply
because a sufficient period of time, say two hours, hadn't elapsed since
that last drink.  You can almost see the lights go on when you relate
their baby's behavior to their own.  I remember one mom saying how she
made sure that her animals had access to fresh food and water at all
times, and yet we deny the same to babies.  Nice analogy, i thought.  At
least it gets the parents to start thinking of their babies as real
little human beings with real needs that need to be met as the
circumstance requires, not as it says in a timetable in some book they
read.  Of course, this is one of the problems with breastfeeding for some
moms - they really like schedules and timetables and being in control
(even if it is just an illusion).

Well, starting to ramble now, time to go.  Have to visit an ongoing case
of thrush/poor latch/poor follow-through mom.  Would be so much easier to
stay here and read more mail (only 500+ behind).

Sharon Knorr, BSMT, LLLL, IBCLC
Lactation Consultant Services
Rochester, New York
mailto:[log in to unmask]

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