I see babies & moms in this predicament frequently.
Without getting into details or exceptions, here is my
general observation:
Sometimes babies nurse often but not long enough or
“correctly” because:
-- forceful letdown
-- mom anxious to put baby to 2nd breast before baby
falls asleep content or comes away content w/ pursed
lips
-- “oversupply” or erratic supply due to mom’s work
schedule, illness, tandem nursing, new attempts at
scheduling, etc
-- baby forced to nurse in sub-optimum positions . . .
(Once a mother demonstrated her normal nursing
position for me: baby’s bottom NE at mom’s left
shoulder / baby’s head SW at right breast / baby’s
arms flailing in-between…)
-- pacifier or thumb subs for comfort nursing
-- baby swallows air crying, choking on let-down,
gulping at breast while repositioning frantically,
taking bottles/pacifiers, etc
-- somebody’s reading a book, not a baby
-- pattern has now developed resulting in
self-fulfilling prophecy of unhappiness (could be mom
or baby, usually both)
So many mothers are helped to know that babies can
nurse frequently and one-side-at-a-time that this has
been my standard suggestion to expectant moms for
years. Of course, “frequency” must be discussed
thoroughly, as well as what is meant by “one side.”
Most mothers who tell me nursing is working out
beautifully reflect Kathy D.’s observations, and the
observations of many others who study newborn bf
patterns. They tell me the baby is velcroed to the
breast. They tell me babies nurse on & off, only want
one breast at a time, don’t want to be put down, &
pass out in ecstasy. Clockwatchers tell me babies
like to nurse every half hour or so. Happy moms
sometimes just want to know if it’s ok to hold their
babies all day & all night & nurse off & on like so
many kisses. Oh yes, I say.
Granted, many mothers (& fathers) do not care to nurse
& hold 24/7 (as Lynn observes so well in her 9/18
post). It doesn’t change the biology but it does
change the routine for these families. I find mothers
are very open to the idea that there is a biological
norm, but that they can choose to work with it or coax
it into a “schedule” they prefer. Starting with the
“norm” gives us language to work with & explanations
for the obstacles. Most mothers embrace this tactic
because they have just had a wakeup call in their own
bodies – you just can’t order breasts around like
bottles. Breasts have a biological life of their own
during lactation. Just like babies. Understanding
there is a symbiotic relationship is a great first
step. Hopefully, “schedules” become less rigid with
understanding. And sometimes they do.
Susan Johnson MFA, IBCLC
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