Sharon writes:

>   I think that for the majority of moms there really is not much
>meaning to the foremilk/hindmilk thing because the babies are
>feeding frequently enough that the rate of synthesis and the fat
>content is fairly constant.  But for some moms, I think that there
>can be a problem.


I think that too....and like you, I struggle to get my head round
foremilk/hindmilk, and a clearer understanding of it would be great
to help me pass on explanations to mothers who need it.

I think - of course - that when bf is done 'right' foremilk/hindmilk
just looks after itself. I get mad (silently!) when mothers contact
me, worried, that they've been told/read that the baby 'must' stay at
the breast for X minutes every time, or 'he won't get the
hindmilk'....often the baby is doing just fine, of course.

But, yes, there can be problems, and I have had great results when I
have suggested to mothers of distressed babies that they deliberately
keep the baby on one side for several hours, as is often mentioned
here.....this is probably a means of dealing with foremilk overload
in the baby, as a result of oversupply....but I suspect it is more
subtle than that.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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