Feeding on Cue

1. Feeding on cue simply means feeding your baby whenever he/she is ready to eat and shows you feeding cues.
2. Feeding cues include mouthing movements, tongue protruding, rooting, hand-to-mouth movements and hand sucking.
3. Crying is a late hunger sign.
4. Feed your baby whenever the baby wants, for as long as the baby wants.

1. Since sucking and emptying the breasts determines milk supply, feeding the baby as often and as long as the baby wants means you will make as much milk as the baby needs.
2. Frequent feeding in the first few weeks after birth builds up milk-making tissue in your breasts assuring a good milk supply for months to come.
3. Your baby latches and feeds better when you catch his early feeding cues, such as tongue movements and rooting. If you wait until he/she is crying, it may take more time to calm the baby before feeding.
4. You bring comfort and pain relief to your baby when you feed on cue. Nursing is for comfort as well as nutrition. Babies cannot be “spoiled” or” held too much.”
5. Newborns are used to constant closeness and feeding. Frequent feedings gives them that connection.
6. Babies gain weight better.
7. Babies have less jaundice.
8. Mothers have less engorgement.
9. The overall duration of breastfeeding is longer.

1. The sucking action on a pacifier or bottle is very different from how a baby latches the breast.
2. When a baby sucks a pacifier or bottle, the breast does not get stimulation to make milk.

These include mouthing movements, tongue protruding, rooting, hand-to-mouth movements and hand sucking. These signs mean it is time to put your baby to your breast. Crying is a late hunger sign. Try to feed your baby before he/she gets too fussy. Calm your baby down to get him/her to latch better.

• That way, you will supply all he/she needs. Milk production functions in a cycle that starts with the baby. Sucking and emptying the breasts calls in the order for milk. Your body responds to the baby by producing enough milk to satisfy the baby’s needs. Frequent feeding causes your body to produce more milk.
• It is helpful to think about life from the baby’s perspective. The baby doesn’t know that he/she was born! When you were pregnant, your baby was fed and carried all the time. He/she heard your voice and heartbeat. Your baby felt your motion and your warmth. After your baby is born, he/she is not ready to go several hours without feeding, or be content by himself/herself. Nursing is comforting to your baby – it is more that just obtaining food. Babies feed frequently because they are growing a lot, their food is rapidly digested, they have small stomachs and they need the closeness for comfort.
• During the first two weeks after delivery, your breasts are developing milk-making tissue. Frequent feedings make your body produce the hormones that increase this milk-making tissue. Developing a lot of milk- making tissue during this time will assure a good milk supply for many months to come.
• After the first two weeks, regulation of milk supply is solely based on supply and demand. Your body will make as much as your baby needs, so continue to feed according to your baby’s cues. Babies go through growth spurts when they will feed very frequently for a day or two. Your supply will increase to meet his/her demand. These may occur at two weeks, six weeks, three months and six months. The more you nurse your baby, the more milk you make.

• At the beginning of the feeding, the baby gets the watery protein portion of the milk, called foremilk. Toward the end of the feeding, the baby gets the fat part of the milk, called hindmilk. This fat helps the baby feel full, gain weight and sleep better.
• By letting the baby finish the feeding, you know that he/she got the fat-rich hindmilk. The baby is finished when he/she releases the breast or falls asleep. Burp the baby and then offer the other side.
• Baby may not feed as long on the second breast. Start on this breast at the next feeding.
• It is normal for your baby to breastfeed often. Many feedings in the first few days help with hormone stimulation that helps breasts make more milk. Your baby will be happy to breastfeed often.

• Your body does not know when your baby sucks on a pacifier/bottle and does not get the signal to increase your milk supply.
• Sucking a pacifier or bottle is different than sucking on the breast. At the breast, the baby’s jaw is relaxed wide open, his lips are flanged out and the tongue comes forward to bring in the milk. On a pacifier or bottle, the baby’s jaw is tight, his lips are pursed and the tongue is bunched behind the nipple or pacifier. Once a baby has sucked a bottle or pacifier, he/she may not latch well on the breast.
• Pacifiers mask feeding cues. You miss your baby’s feeding cues when he/she is sucking on a pacifier.
• Nursing is comforting for your baby. If baby remains fussy, check to see if he/she needs to be changed or burped. Other comfort measures are swaddling, swinging, bouncing, rocking, walking and making comforting sounds close to the baby’s ears, such as singing, shushing or talking.