Any new mum knows that adjusting to breastfeeding can be quite stressful. We worry about all sorts of things- Is my baby drinking enough? Are they feeding too often/not enough? Should they be waking this often at night? It never ends! Well Medela has released new breastfeeding research that shows that huge variations in the number of feeds/amount of milk taken and many other things we worry about is completely normal.
Medela's research was conducted with babies aged 1-6 months and revealed that:
- anywhere between 4-16 feeds a day is normal
- Babies feed for between 12-67 minutes each feed. So no need to worry if you have a speedy feeder or one who likes a long, leisurely feed!
- Babies feed to appetite- so if your baby drains the breast one feed but only has a little in the next feed, that's perfectly normal.
- The average amount of milk a baby gets from each breast is 75ml but it can range from 30ml- 135ml! (but it's normal to have one breast produce more milk than the other.)
- In a single breastfeeding session a baby can drink from 54ml to 234 ml. And did you know boys need more milk than girls?
- Night Feeding is NORMAL! (Phew!!) 64% of babies still feed in the night so don't feel pressured to night wean- your baby still needs that milk.
- In a 24 hr period a baby will drink from 478 ml- 1356ml of milk. So as long as your baby is gaining weight and seems happy and healthy there is no need to stress that they aren't getting enough- even if they are speedy feeders who only eat infrequently!
So if you want to breastfeed your baby I hope this new research helps give you the confidence and reassurance that there is no 'normal' and breastfeeding varies for every baby. So trust your baby and your body and enjoy your breastfeeding journey!
Medela provides real solutions for breastfeeding mothers to get over any hurdles in the early days and to support their long term breastfeeding goals. Through its extensive range of breast pump products and other breastfeeding products, Medela is committed to promoting the benefits of breast milk and encouraging long term breastfeeding. For more information visit: www.medela.com.au I www.facebook.com/medela.au
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