Sharon says,

<< If a baby is nursing well and mom has a good milk supply, I think
 that 2-3 weeks is long enough.  >>

Why do we specify a length of time for anything?  Why do we keep looking at
clocks and calendars instead of looking at the individual baby?  What's magic
about 2-3 weeks or 4-6 weeks or whatever?  Let's look at the baby and
determine when to start a bottle (if that's necessary) based on his/her own
development.  For example, one baby may be ready to have a periodic bottle at
1 week -- another one might not be ready for 4 weeks.  Look at the baby.  Is
she latching on easily and well?  Are mom's nipples sore, or not at all?  Is
baby gaining weight?  Is milk supply relatively well established?  Is pumping
easy for mom?

Babies develop at different rates.  And they breastfeed differently.  I get
really frosted when someone says that a baby has to breastfeed x number of
minutes on each side.  Since when do we time anyone else?  When was the last
time you asked someone how long they ate lunch?  You might ask what they had
-- are they full -- but "did you eat for 7 minutes?  Isn't long enough.  You
have to eat for 13.5 at each meal."  Which of us can MAKE a baby breastfeed?
We can lead the baby to the breast, we can encourage, we can entice, we can
position correctly.  We can even attempt to pull his mouth open and RAM him
on the breast...(better not, but we can do that).  however, baby is in
control, and we can't MAKE him breastfeed.

It's important to teach mothers to watch the baby not the clock or the
calendar. "Oh goody.  It's been three weeks. I can now give a bottle.  Or I
better give one every day or he'll never take one and I won't be able to go
anywhere for 2 years."  Blech.

Getting off the soap box...
Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC
Wheaton, IL
www.bsccenter.org
"Further up and further in."  -- C.S. Lewis

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