- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- babies today articles
- babies today q&a
- toddlers today articles
- toddlers today q&a
- breastfeed.com articles
- breastfeed.com q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Growing Up and Chowing Down
Growth Spurts in Breastfed Babies
By Felicia Hodges
"It takes between 48 to 72 hours for Mom's milk supply to adjust to Baby's increased demand," says Lactation Consultant Debbie Strelevitz. "Because during the two to three days the growth spurt is happening a baby seems to want to nurse almost non-stop, it usually takes a bit for Mom to catch up with her milk supply."
Unfortunately, many moms who may be breastfeeding for the first time mistakenly think that they just aren't producing enough milk to keep their infants adequately fed. "They might start thinking that their bodies aren't making enough milk or that their milk supply is decreasing," Strelevitz says. "Some may even be ready to give up nursing at that point."
Dr. Christina Smillie, a pediatrician who specializes in breastfeeding, says that it is not really possible for a mother's milk supply to get smaller unless she is weaning her child. Therefore, when Baby enters a growth spurt, more frequent nursing is actually the solution.
"Only in our [society] do we have a whole culture of women who were taught to only feed at 10, 2 and 6 o'clock – every four hours," Dr. Smillie says. "The result is a whole generation that passed on the concept of not making enough milk. A lot of mothers don't realize that it is the baby's job to determine how much milk is needed. Milk is made on demand; when Baby needs more, Mom will make more."
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
