Benefits of Breastfeeding on Demand
What is Breastfeeding on Demand?
Breastfeeding on demand, also known as baby-led feeding, feeding on cue, or responsive feeding, refers to breastfeeding your baby without any restrictions on length and frequency, anytime, anywhere.
With breastfeeding on demand, you do not need to follow timers, schedules, or switch breasts mid-feeding. It is about letting your baby set the rhythm and feed to their heart’s content.
What are the Benefits of Breastfeeding on Demand?
- Makes Your (Mom’s) Life Easier
You will be able to empty your breast based on your and your baby’s natural cycle when you breastfeed on demand. This will prevent you from experiencing discomfort from having engorged breasts because it is too early for your baby to feed yet, and instead allow your breast to adapt to your baby. Additionally, your baby who is always well-fed will be happier and calmer, which makes caring for him or her easier.
- Helps to Ensure Breast Milk Supply and Quality
The higher your baby’s demand for breast milk, the harder your body will work to supply. Breastfeeding on demand will help you produce enough milk for your baby, as your body is smart enough to match how much milk is needed to know how much it will produce. A study on breastfeeding mothers found that babies whose mothers breastfed them on-demand consumed one-third more milk than babies with scheduled feeds. It is important to make sure that your baby is well-fed for its growth instead of limiting it to schedules. Feeding on demand is also associated with a shorter time needed for mothers to produce mature milk after birth, so the baby will get more nutrient-rich milk and more protection from illnesses.
- More Bonding Time Between Mother and Baby
There are many benefits of skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding, such as reducing babies’ stress, regulating babies’ temperature, helping babies cope with pain, and triggering the release for mothers to produce oxytocin, the hormone that stimulates milk production. Feeding on demand will increase your contact with your baby, providing more comfort and bonding between mother and baby.
- Better Cognitive Development
Past research on 10,419 children found that infants who were fed on demand have better cognitive and academic outcomes. Although this study cannot provide conclusive evidence that breastfeeding on demand affects children’s cognitive development, it is good to consider these potential benefits.
- Other Benefits
Other benefits of breastfeeding on demand, based on research, are infants regaining weight after birth faster, a stronger immune system and a lower risk of jaundice. Babies who are fed on demand are also unlikely to be underfed, which could hinder their growth.
Indeed it is much more taxing to breastfeed on demand, however, it is comforting to know that as your baby grows, they will gradually fall into a feeding schedule, which will allow you to schedule other activities. Breastfeeding on demand is not for every mother, so do what is best for you and your baby.
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