Many 1st time mums are advised to breast feed the baby each time the baby cries. This typically causes the baby to become unsettled and cry a great deal. Lets talk about feeding regiments.
In my experience babies who are fed under 2 hours display all the symptoms of a 'gut ache'. When feeding is so frequent and only sucks for a very short time, then falls asleep, the baby gets more 'fore' milk and less 'hind' milk. Fore Milk is high lactose milk withOUT cream. When taken exclusively and frequently it causes a lactose intolerant effect equal to colic. These bouts of collic like symptoms are usually followed by frequent either frothy or very watery poos and a reddened sore bottom. Hind Milk is the high lactose with cream. It greatly reduces the the 'colic' factor as it is absorbed more slowly. It also increases weight gain. Bub needs both Fore and Hind Milk for healthy development.
Of course a baby will want to suck when feeling unsettled, but it does not always mean the baby wants food. If you feel your bub wants to suck, try a dummy, instead of feeding.
A practical demand feeding regime is 2 to 3 hourly initially, as the stomach capacity is smaller and most babies cannot hold bigger volumes yet. Towards the 3rd to 4th week, a 3 to 4 hourly regime will suffice for a healthy baby. The timing allows the stomach to empty and allowing the baby to sleep during that time.
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