Nursing Questions Answers

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Breastfeeding Questions &amp; Answers
Q. How often should a newborn be nursed?
A. You should nurse a newborn no less than 8 times a day, depending upon how long he sleeps between feedings at night.&nbsp; If he can go four hours between feedings, then you will probably feed him twice between 11pm and 7am.&nbsp; If you feed him right before he goes to bed, then you may only have to get up one time during the night.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
Q. How often should an older baby be nursed?
A. Depending upon the age of your child, you should be feeding him every 3-4 hours during the day.&nbsp; As your child gets older, they will nurse less, but they will be eating more during each nursing.&nbsp; If you are going to nurse after your child is over 6 months old, you should not nurse less than 5 times a day.&nbsp; If your milk supply is decreasing, then you may need to add a nursing or two to your day to help increase your milk supply.
Q. How do I go about dropping a feeding as my baby gets older?
A. The most common change that moms need to make is going from a every 3 hour to every 4 hour routine, dropping a feeding in the middle of the night, or dropping a late-night feeding.&nbsp;
Most of the time you will know when your baby is ready to change their eating habits by a change in their sleep patterns.&nbsp; A baby that has been on an every 3 hour routine normally takes 3 naps a day and if they eat every 3,5 to 4 hours then they may drop the last nap of the nap or shorten one of the other naps considerably.&nbsp; Babies are usually ready to do this at around 3 months of age.&nbsp;
Most babies drop the feeding in the middle of night by themselves at around 6-14 weeks old.&nbsp; You will know that they are ready when you awake in a panic in the morning wondering why your baby did not get you for a feeding.&nbsp; The baby will require more food during the day though, and if you are breastfeeding, your breasts may feel full for a few days, but it is well worth it!&nbsp;
The late night feeding is usually the hardest to let go of.&nbsp; Some parents think that if they do not feed the baby right before bed that the baby will awake in the middle of the night.&nbsp; If you don&rsquo;t think your child can do without the late night feeding, then push it back in 15-minute increments until you are feeding him at the time you would like to.&nbsp; If the last two feedings of the day seem too close together, don&rsquo;t worry.&nbsp; It will all work itself out and you both will be much happier for it!&nbsp; 
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