Any Advice on Comfort Nursing?

The breast isn't just about food it's also warmth, security, safety, and comfort. At six weeks old, a lot of comfort nursing is very normal and common. Most babies are pretty attached to the boob almost constantly at that age. It keeps your supply up, keeps you from being engorged, keeps the baby's weight up, and helps them to acclimate themselves into the new world they're now in.

This is a really great link about frequent nursing:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/frequent-nursing.html

Both my babies did this. I just sat them on top of the boppy, and parked myself at the computer, letting them nurse away. Or I had them on the breast and nursed while laying down so I could get some sleep too.

3 moms found this helpful

Honestly, she's so little that if she wants to nurse for a long time, as tiring as I know it can be, let her. When you know she is good and asleep, slip your finger into her mouth and break the suction so you can put her down in her bassinet/crib. If she wakes up, just try rocking her and see if that helps her go back to sleep. Since she is almost there, if you want to, you could try a pacifier. My son wanted to suck a lot, but if I tried to just hook him up to me, he would throw a fit b/c he didn't want to eat, you're lucky!! So, unfortunately, pacifier for him. Also, at around 6 weeks (if I remember correctly) babies have a growth spurt so she could really be hungry even when she's already eaten.

Basically, she is done eating when she isn't swallowing anything after a few sucks. If she is nursing that much, even if it doesn't seem like it, she's making your body feel like it should produce more, so you may very well be feeding her the entire time she's on there. But, if she isn't swallowing anything every other suck or three, she's probably OK to be unlatched and laid down.

Hope that helps! It's been almose a year since Tristen quit nursing so I'm a little hazy. I'm looking forward to reading these responses as I have another one on the way in January!

M.

1 mom found this helpful

Your question has a couple avenues. Are you going back to work? If so, then she is going to have to learn to adhere to a schedule. I was a stay at home mom. I have 3 and my youngest is 9. I am so glad to be at this point in my life, but the one thing that I miss is nursing. If you enjoy it, then enjoy it. It will all pass so fast. I nursed mine until they were a year old. My last one was nursing every hour through the night in his 11th month. I think he sensed it was coming...LOL You are not hurting her by letting her nurse. They will use nursing as a comfort for many reasone. As they get older, and they fall or hurt themselves, nursing is what they use to sooth the wound. It is really a personal choice, but as for me I would never trade the time that I spent with my children while nursing.

1 mom found this helpful

Your milk will change as she gets older, and she will nurse more when she is experiencing a growth spurt. Let her nurse as long as she is still latched on or your nipple may be injured, lol. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

My son did the exact same thing when he was younger. I would just lay him on a pillow and start to read a book or get on the internet with my phone. He would nurse for about a half hour to 45 minutes and then not even an hour later he was hungry again. I know that it can be frustrating to have her nurse for an hour but she might, like most of the other mom's have said, be growing. If it becomes to uncomfortable for you to nurse her for an hour just gently take her off of the breast and hold her close. I had to do that plenty of times with my son. She will do this again when she is teething because it is comfortable for her to be sucking on something soft. Just get a pillow lay her on it and get comfortable for a long nursing section.

J.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi! The mom who said that six weeks is a prime growth spurt was right on. It seems like she couldn't need more, but she does right now, and she is nursing more frequently to signal your breasts to increase milk production a bit to keep up. Your production will go up soon, and it will go back to normal. Just keep nursing - it's so worth it! I know this time is so intensely crazy too. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M.!
I nursed my first son for 14 months, my second son for 12 months, and am currently nursing my third son (he is 11 months old) with no deadline to stop as of now.
Here is the very best advise I ever received...
Let your child tell you how long and how often she wishes to nurse. This won't last forever and when it's over, it's heartbreaking.
It seems to me that you are worried she's using you as a pacifier. I don't see anything at all wrong with this. You soothed her for 9 months in the womb and how special are you that she still wants you to soothe her?!
If you didn't already know, the first part of your milk is called foremilk and it is loaded with carbs; satisfying your daughter's immediate hunger pains and calming her. The last part of your milk is called hindmilk and is loaded with nutrients and much need fat for brain development. Hindmilk continues to flow regardless of how long your baby nurses. Yes, it slows down to a dribble, but you never completely empty. God made Mom's very special that way! Similar to the way amniotic fluid replaces itself each hour, our breast continuously make milk!
I hope you take what I've said to heart and continue to provide nutrition and pacification to your daughter. You are very blessed to have one another!
R. Donahue
Mommy to Cameron, Tristan and Logan

1 mom found this helpful

6 weeks is prime time for a growth spurt- so frequent nursing, around the clock is common for a baby that age. She really _can_ eat and be hungry again a short time later. Think back to your pre-teen growth spurts- when you were just hungry all of the time and could not get enough to eat. Babies get them too:-) It is a good time to take a bit of a "nursing vacation." Clear your schedule, get into bed, or on the couch, load up on healthy snacks and water and make nursing your priority for a few days. Rent movies your partner does not want to watch, read and sleep, nurse round the clock. Have friends/family bring over some food or order out.

Used appropriately, breast compressions can be a great way to see if your baby is done nursing. After your baby has indicated she is done by having loose, open hands and falling alseep at the breast, compress your breast tissue with your hand. A baby who is really done and full, often pulls off, a baby who has fallen alseep but still wants to nurse resumes sucking. The breast compression gives a little shot of milk, reminds the baby she still wanted to nurse, and helps the next let down come.

Another good mother tip is to wait- 5 minutes past when you think your child is asleep to move them, put them down, remove the breast etc. Sometimes waiting a little longer ensures they are in a deep sleep and you will not disturb them.

Warmly,

C.

1 mom found this helpful