The vital importance of responsive breastfeeding

Recently I’ve been seeing a lot of new mums who have been told to feed to a schedule, sometimes by a health care professional, sometimes by a maternity nurse, sometimes by a family member.

There are two main reasons why scheduled feeding is not evidence-based and why UNICEF, the WHO, the NHS and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend responsive breastfeeding: 

1) Breastmilk production relies on a baby signalling to their mother’s breasts how much milk that particular baby needs. Each mother’s milk supply is different and each mother’s breast storage capacity is different. In fact both may change with second and subsequent babies. 

In order to get enough milk, some babies may only need to breastfeed 8 times in 24 hours, while others will need to breastfeed 14 times, or more in 24 hours. (N.B. Very few women will be able to produce enough breastmilk if they’re not feeding from both breasts at least 8 times in 24 hours.)

At each feed, some babies can get everything they need from 5 minutes on one breast, while others will need to feed for 45 minutes and to always feed from both breasts. 

Anyone who understands the physiology behind breastmilk production will understand why scheduled feeding is risky for establishing and maintaining milk production. 

Here’s my article about how breastmilk production works: https://www.cordeliauys.co.uk/how-breastmilk-production-works

And here’s Emma Pickett’s excellent article for UNICEF on why spacing feeds isn’t a good idea: 

https://www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com/blog/the-dangerous-game-of-the-feeding-interval-obsession

2) Scheduled feeding is often very stressful for babies. Breastfeeding provides both food and hydration for babies, as well as comfort. Even as adults, we seldom go more than 3 hours without having a drink, and if we were feeling thirsty, I doubt any of us would think: ‘ooh I had a drink of water an hour ago, I’d better wait another 2/3 hours before having another drink.’ 

There’s an abundance of research showing that when a baby’s needs for food, comfort and love are met, by responsive feeding and responsive parenting, they will be calmer and grow up to be more confident. 

https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/04/happybaby_leaflet_web.pdf

https://www.cordeliauys.co.uk/kathryn-stagg-on-the-importance-of-responsive-parenting

https://www.cordeliauys.co.uk/how-many-times-a-day-do-you-eat-and-drink