In order for a baby’s digestive system to do it’s job properly their nervous system needs to be in a calm state. – this responsibility falls to the parasympathetic nervous system. The PNS lowers blood pressure, promotes digestion and eliminates waste from our bodies and this is no different for our babies. This is known as rest-and-digest mode. With more time resting and digesting, the body is able to eliminate toxins and metabolise the nutrients a baby needs to thrive.
If a baby is feeding frequently, tummy is filled continuously and may present with reflux or colic, bubs is most likely in a constant fight or flight response.
This doesn’t promote healthy digestion.
Especially breastfeeding mums are told to feed frequently due to baby’s small tummies. This is not the best advice. Yes babies tummies are small and don’t stretch much. But that doesn’t mean they need feeding every 30 minutes to an hour. For a baby to fully empty their tummy and their digestive system to work optimally, 3 hours for a newborn and even longer for a baby older, is a good time between feeds. A baby can also fill their tummy, depending on mums lactation, in 10-15 minutes. Anymore more time is often taken up by comfort feeding. They may also over feed, their tummy will feel over full.
A baby who isn’t sleeping and is feeding frequently doesn’t engage their parasympathetic nervous system to rest and allow the milk to digest.
Giving baby time between feeds will alleviate discomfort, minimise silent reflux and a diagnosis of colic.
Rest to digest is very important to remember.
Normalising cluster feeding, snacking and frequent feeds isn’t in the best interest of your baby and you.
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Dream feeds- here are some simple tips.
Dream feeding isn’t for every baby but it’s worth a try to see if your baby will sleep for longer stretches during the night.
It can work for both breastfed and bottle fed babies.
Great way for babies who are mixed feeding, bottle fed so that dads or others can also help with feeding.
? Dream feds are generally around 10 pm and ideally 2.5 to 3 hours after the last feed.
They need to have an empty tummy to feed properly.
? Baby is still asleep or drowsy. Because babies especially newborns up to 8-12 weeks have involuntary sucking reflex. So with stimulation of the upper palate and tongue they will suck automatically.
? Keep burping to minimum or not at all.
?If nappy isn’t too wet and not dirty don’t change it.
?Back to bed as soon as you can.
Some babies do wake during this process and it may interfere with their sleep cycles so it’s a little trial and error.
What could be wrong?
One of the many reasons why your baby may be fussy on the breast especially later in the day, is because your flow of milk is slower, they are tired or simply not hungry.
Here are some of the reasons that could be contributing to a fussy feeder.
?The milk flows quicker and easier the fuller the breast which sometimes can be frustrating for newborn babies.
?Feeding frequently so less milk supply. The production of milk is consistent so your breasts are never empty but it does take time to fill up the breast for the flow to be better for feeding. This is different for every mum and is also dependant on lactation itself.
? Let-down might be too powerful. Baby is unable to manage the flow of milk.
?Let-down may also be slow. This could be due to your Oxytocin levels being low.
Oxytocin is the milk releasing hormone.
Oxytocin is affected by stress levels. So the more tired and anxious you are especially towards the end of the day, the slower your letdown.
One more thing
Prolactin- a hormone responsible for the production of milk.
This hormone is regulated by oxytocin levels in mums.
If a mums isn’t producing enough oxytocin, the happiness and relaxing hormone, it may later the levels of prolactin which may let to lower milk supply.
This is why stress is a big factor for the production of milk.
Feeding frequently might be great for supply but this can also be counterproductive if you are feeling stressed and sleep deprived.
So a happy medium is key.
#newbornhelp #breastfeedingwithoutjudgment #holisticbaby#Happymum
Prolactin?
This hormone has a lot to do with how successful you will be with breastfeeding.
It’s around in small doses when your are pregnant and slowly increases as your pregnancy progresses.
Towards the end of pregnancy the prolactin levels are very high so this enables milk production.
The sooner the baby starts sucking the sooner your milk will start to produce- hence why many believe the first hour post birth is crucial for both bonding and breastfeeding.
The more baby sucks the more prolactin is produced therefore the more milk is produced.
This occurs due to the brain receiving messages through the nervous system to release the prolactin.
Its a very clever hormone because it also adjust your milk to what your babies needs are.
But there is an important factor that is often overlooked. ?
The prolactin has to have a very positive environment to thrive.
If a women is anxious about her ability to feed, feels judged, may be embarrassed to breastfeed, finds it painful to feed, then prolactin is inhibited and the milk production and secretion will be diminished.
This is not a good scenario for successful breastfeeding for new mums.
Feeling pressured to breastfeed, copious amount of advertising about breast is best, not supportive enough advice in the first 72 hours, feeling confused, overwhelmed will all have a big impact on this little hormone.
Prolactin is best produced under the influence of happiness, confidence, no pain and relaxation.
This is why it is vital that all mums seek supportive and individual advice to help them breastfeed successfully.
Unfortunately majority of postnatal care professionals are blinded by what is important to the mum and baby and the push to breastfeed as a whole.
Reflux – A diagnoses that is so common among babies these days that I have started to look into how easily doctors are giving antacids to babies as young as 2-3 weeks old.
Absolutely babies do suffer from reflux however diagnoses should be done after all other possible symptoms have been eliminated.
Through many years working with babies around sleep and feeding.
I am seeing babies diagnosed with reflux more often, are also having feeding and sleep problems and are readily being diagnosed with colic by many GP’s
I challenge some of these diagnoses.
A 15 min doctor visit in my opinion doesn’t allow for thorough health and wellbeing check and what could be the root of the cause for unsettled babies.
This research is very recent and I am sure there will be more too come.
Yes even if your baby doesn’t have true reflux an antacid will help settle them a little but so will good feeding patterns, sleep patterns and more confidence within our mums.
Why have I shared this you may ask.
I have worked with several babies who have been diagnosed with reflux and have been taken off this medication after getting better feeding and sleep routines in place.
It is still a medication?
If you are reading this and have a baby that may be struggling and showing signs of reflux there are many ways to help your baby without antacids.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/…/sc-hlth-babies-antacids-an…