Couldn't agree more with Nikki's comment " There is no way to have enough
breastfeeding unless the newborns are in their mothers' arms, or so close to
her that she responds to every little cue and wiggle."
The sensory stimulation available skin-to-skin with mom is the best
encouragement for frequent suckling, and for very young babies, if mom is a
foot away, she might as well be on the moon.
We also need to keep in mind that a just-born baby has a tiny stomach -
about the size of a marble - and research indicates that for the first three
days or so, that tiny stomach doesn't stretch. (Does anyone know how/if
this is different for preemies?)
Among the things we know about colostrum is that it is vital to the human
immune system, and that it acts as a laxative / jaundice preventative. We
also know that it is produced in very small amounts, just right for that
tiny, non-stretchy tummy. Because the baby isn't overwhelmed by volume,
suckling for comfort is also an option.
For a variety of reasons, I have watch a LOT of mama cats raise their
broods. In the early days and weeks, mom is hardly ever away from her
babies, and they hardly ever stop nursing. Whenever one kitten wiggles
about to latch, the others wake up and join in.
A couple of years ago, there was a rash of 'rescued' kittens found
'abandoned' (mom was probably out hunting), and we ended up with a couple of
nearly dead, days-old babies, because we were fostering a lactating mother
cat. I tried putting them on the mother cat, opening their mouths and then
putting them on the mother cat, wiggling them around on the teat - nothing.
Finally, I put them in bed with mom and her much older litter, thinking they
would probably be dead by morning - but they weren't. Being in the right
environment (on mom), without my interference, they were quite capable of
making their way to the teat, even in their weakened state, and despite the
competition of the older kittens. They continued not to be dead by morning
for several weeks, and while they never achieved their full size potential,
by the time they left us to be placed for adoption, they were totally normal
developmentally, as far as I could tell.
Just another example of nature knowing what she's doing.
Ingrid
Ingrid Tilstra
La Leche League Canada Leader
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nikki Lee
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 1:32 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: breastfeeding frequency in the first days of life
Dear Lactnet Friends:
De Carvalho, and Yamanouchi and Yamouchi both published about bf frequency;
that 8-9 breastfeeds a day for the first 3 days virtually prevents
physiologic jaundice.
I remember post long ago on Lactnet, was it someone quoting Chele Marmet,
that newborns in Japan with unrestricted access to their mothers would nurse
20 times a day.
warmly,
--
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC craniosacral
therapy practitioner www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
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