Sorry if I am repeating something already said.  We have had problems
getting LN since our server did an update over a week ago and am just
now getting cought up.

The advice we give mems in the hospital is what I call "demand plus" for
the first days until the supply is established and both mom and baby
have gotten the knack of nursing.  We discuss baby's cues, then
recommend she nurse whenever baby shows the cues and in addition OFFER
if it has been more than 2-3 hours during the day and 3-4 hours at night
in the first days.  We really emphasize that she "offer" not that she
"must feed" at those intervals.  We point out that many babies go
through a "zonked out" period especially in the first 24 hours or so.
There are several reasons for these recommendations:
1. Something (even if it is only an attempt) goes on baby's record at
those intervals so noone can think the baby is being ignored.
2. There are more opportunities for us to work with the mom/baby if
there are latching problems.
3. If baby will nurse more often, milk supply kicks into full production
sooner, jaundice may be reduced, etc.
4. First fedings, with low milk volume, are the "training" feeds for
both mom and baby.  The more practice sessions baby can get before
he/she has to also learn to cope with a faster/higher flow, the better
baby may be able to handle the change in volume.
5.  It seems that some babies "don't realize the free ride is over and
they need to ask for and work for their food" (parents get a kick out of
that description.) By attempting feeds rather than letting baby totally
set the pace, we may be helping baby realize the "rules" have changed.

We make sure we tell moms that once the full supply is established and
both mom and baby have become "pros" at feeding, she can just let baby
set the pace.  When we discuss diaper "count" as a way of knowing if
baby is getting enough, we suggest attempting more frequent feeds if
baby has less than the expected minimum wet and or dirty diapers.  We
also suggest that if baby winds up consistently sleeping more during the
day than at night she might try for frequent daytime waking to see if
hers is one of the babies that can be coaxed to switch. On the other
hand some babies won't change until they "realize that days are more
interesting than nights".  Again this is offered as a suggestion, not a
"rule" and with emphasis that it's for parental convenience-it doesn't
do baby any harm to be a "night owl".

Winnie

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