Expert: ruth kraft - 5/31/2009

Question
QUESTION: My 5 week old is suffering from a lot of tummy ache. my pediatrician thinks i feed her too often and that's upsetting her stomach. He recommended to feed her every 3 hrs. Now I'm totally confused because everywhere else i read that breast feeding on demand is better. What should I do?
Also, when he says every 3 hrs, do i start counting from the beginning of the feed or the finish? thank you!

ANSWER: Feeding on demand is the best way to nurse. if someone told you that you can only eat so much every 3 hours for 10 minutes, you wouldnt like it either. You want to eat when your body tells you that you are hungry.  At 5 weeks old, your baby is likely getting ready to go through a growth spurt and will nurse more often than even 2 hours and be cranky etc. nothing is wrong, in fact all is right. If all the literature you are reading from all the breastfeeding experts say the same thing, your pediatrician may not be that breastfeeding knowledgeable. and I would suggest finding one who is more knowledgeable, or takeing the advice of the majority of the people vs the one person who says they are all wrong.  OR listening to what feels best to you. I have never known a baby to get a stomach ache from feeding too often. Maybe the doctor is confused with formula as that can happen with formula babies. Nurse on demand is the best way for every homan to eat so we dont overstuff ourself and develope bad habits. eat only when your hungry and many bad habits dissapear. newborns are born doing this, unless as adults, we make them change their ways.

best of luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you for the swift response. I am now reading Tracy Hogg's book called the Baby Whisperer, and she also points out that babies that are fed too often, for example every 45 min or 1 hour, might suffer from gas caused by too much lactose. What's your view on that?
How can i differentiate signs of hunger from other baby needs like gas or being tired? maybe i think she is hungry but she really isn't?
Also, if i wanted to track feeding patterns to tell my pediatrician, how do i count the hours? does it start from beginning of the feeding, or the end?
thank you so much!

ANSWER: I have never heard of a baby getting too much breasmilk. the baby may be a little gassy from latching on and off and on and off more often because each time the baby latches he swallows air. however, babies normally seem to have gas issues. you can try mylicon drops or gripe water from the nutrition store if it is that bothersome. all babies seem gassy to a certian extent. The lactose from you is not the same as lactose from a cow. if your baby was going tobe gassy because of the lactose in you, it woulnt be able to eat from you at all. as even if you take it slowly, it is still the same fluid that baby is increasing.

it takes most moms around 2-2.5 months to start to recognize the difference between hungy and tires etc.... each baby is different so listening to the difference in the way he cries is how that will work.

the hours start from beginning to feeding to beginning.

you are welcome and good luck!




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you so much, this really helps me.
what about the 'bad habit' of snacking?
i went back to feeding on demand again today, and she now feeds every 1 hour for 5 minutes.. it really seems she wants to suckle rather than truely feed.. should i respond to those ''suckling'' rootings and cries with the breast, or with sth else like the pacifier?
should i be worried about her getting a 'snacking habbit', if so, what do you recommend that i do about it

it all feels so complicated even after 6 weeks :( thank you for your help

Answer
She won't have the " bad habit " of snakcing forever. she is likely still going through her growth spurt. if she continues to have such a strong suck reflex after about 8 weeks, then you can go ahead and give her the pacifier as that will help satiate that desire to suck. then, feed her every 2 -3 hours . Also know that mane babies can nurse for 5 minutes and get the same nutrition than those who nurse 15. some babies like to eat meals slow, some eat fast :)  But please wait till 8 weeks to give that pacifier. Right now is a crucial time for nursing.  it will get easier from here...

Ruth Kraft
www.honoringwomen.com