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.

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

Like others have said, 6 weeks is a major growth spurt. Her pacifying on you is exactly what she should be doing. Frequent nipple stimulation causes milk supply to increase, and thats what needs to happen now. She is getting bigger, stronger, and is burning more calories, and therefore needs the extra milk to satisfy her.
In a week or so (If you continue to let her pacify) your body should get the message to increase production and she will be satisfied sooner.

I want to commend you for breastfeeding, it's a wonderful beautiful way to bond, and so so very healthy for your baby. (As I'm sure you know!)
Wait till she gets older and starts petting your chest and holding up a hand for you to kiss! It keeps getting better I promise!

I'm not big on pacifiers (and fortunately neither was my pedi). My oldest loved to comfort nurse which was okay for a short time after feeding, but it became uncomfortable after a while and I needed a break. Her doctor showed me that if I would continue to hold her but substitute my clean pinky so it was laying against the roof of her mouth (your nail has to be really short and smooth) she would continue to get the comfort from sucking and still be in my arms. A great plus to this is that her dad was able to hold her at times when she wasn't hungry, just wanted the closeness and needed to to be comforted.

Dear M.,

How do you know how much she is getting? That is a magical question in my mind too. Maybe you can get some really good answers from the other mommies. Also go online to www.drgreene.com and About.com and look for pediatricians.

At least you know where her comfort zone is - right there at your breast. So sweet. C. N.

Hi M.,
I am a mom of 3. My youngest is now 5yrs.old. From my experience the reason she still crys is because breast feeding is not enough for her. you might want to consider giving her 2 to 3 ounces of formula also twice a day (especially night time before you sleep). If you only like to breast feed you just have to drink plenty of liquid and eat more.:)Good luck!
R.

That is exactly how myson was. I asked the doctor and he aid if they are actively nursing for 15 min then switch sides for another 5 mins that should be an ample amount of milk to fill the babys needs. I fed every 2 hours.. He was never full. But he is a healty 3 yr old boy no and he is in the 95 % of his age for his heght. He is doing justfine.. So I guess the doctor new what he was talking about. Good Luck
T.

I am currently going through the EXACT same thing with my 5 1/2 week old. She wants to nurse on me ALL the time.

I am working full time now though, so I pump during the day, and when I get home...she is frantic for the breast. Once she has it, she wont let go. She wants to comfort nurse for 4+ hours.

It's irritiating, but I am letting her do it. I guess its my way of making up for leaving her all day with her daddy...

My Doctor told me to keep her off the breast except for feedings. To hold out those feedings for every 2 hours and then give 15 mins on each side.

I'd do it if I didn't feel guilty.

Try a pacifier...my daughter is doing that too...when she was born she used a pacifier for a few days...but then she hated them...but now she is likeing them again. I know alot of people hate pacifiers but it's that or you will have to have your baby on you all day. There is only one pacifier that works for her...and I love the design...I got it from the hospital...you can only get it online from a medical supply company....I like it because it cups to their face but does not block the nose at all and it comes in three sizes...oh and they come in vanilla scent...it seems to help comfort my baby as well.
They are called GumDrop pacifiers. It is the only thing they sell to the public by the way.
I suggest when your baby starts to nod off slip the pacifier in...it may take a few tries.
http://www.hawaiimedical.com/

Six weeks is still a little early to be teething and it sounds like a teething situation.
However, I have 3 kids and one of mine was totally into comfort nursing. He would latch on like a Barracuda and hold on till I spoke to my acupunturist and she mentioned 7 minutes on both sides and then the binky or teething ring..or as he got older teething biscuit. Dip the binky (pacifier) into the mother's milk and put it in her mouth........the first time then....just put it in after 7 minutes on both sides......A growth spurt is when it is non-stop nursing for 3 days and then back to normal schedule.
M.

Hi M., my son did this also. I finally broke down, cried my eyes out, and then offered the pacifier. My son knew the difference, but I was able to coax him into using the pacifier if I kept him in the position I breastfed him in, popped me out, and plugged him quickly. The other thing that helped was the Moby wrap (you can probably use whatever sort of carry device you like). I carried him constantly. I still do, even though he's getting heavy (almost 20 pounds at 6 months!!!). We also encouraged him to suck his thumb (in case he lost his pacifier) which works well. He's not really attached to either, but if I don't have the time/patience/energy to comfort nurse he'll satisfy himself with an alternative. He did take about a week to agree to the pacifier and about 2 weeks to consistently "find" his thumb. Sometimes they just want to suck. When you're done, give her something else to suck besides you, it isn't bad and don't feel guilty because you need to keep your sanity. Good luck and just remember whatever you decide is right for you and your baby! Oh, and yes, we are still nursing several times a day and I truely love every moment we spend nursing together.

I had a baby who also liked to comfort nurse. She is now 10 months and no longer brest feeding but in the beginning I let her comfort nurse but if I had to get up and do something or just didnt want her latched onto me. I would slip a pacifier in there and she was fine. I got into the habit of just letting her stay on me which I think is good because it gives the baby comfort. I dont know how you feel about pacifiers but give it to her, rock her and she will be fine.

Distract her after feedings. I suggest you don't stay in the same position after feedings. Get up & walk around. Give her to someone else if you can. She knows you and knows she can't nurse with someone else, like dad.

I'm going through the exact same problem with my 4 month old. I took her to the doctor about a month ago and he said I'm feeding her too much. Even though I think there isn't much milk, she's getting too much. I have to agree because she throws up a lot just after eating. He says it's because she's too full.

I try to give her the pasifier (sp?) but she absolutely refuses it and wants me. Now if her dad has to supliment because I'm away, then she eats what he gives her & she's content.

She feels very safe and secure in your arms. I held my son and nursed him most of his first year and it was relaxing for him and i both. Like you said she could be doing this for comfort. I say as long as your home and able to to this enjoy it while you can! She will be mobile, won't want to be held and won't have time to nurse before you know it. Once you know she is good and asleep and isn't swallowing anymore you can probably use your fingur to unlatch her but, if she is anything like my son was she will wake up the minute you try to put her down.