Feeding Made Simple - Flipbook - Page 55
Answers to the most common feeding questions
from a certified lactation consultant’s perspective
can directly a昀昀ect breastfeeding in ways that can
carry over into bottle feeding as well.
Milk supply 昀氀uctuates in the early weeks. A
baby who seems to be taking the bottle wrong
may actually be responding to a change in the
breastmilk they are used to.
Postpartum pain, exhaustion, and stress can
a昀昀ect the letdown re昀氀ex, which changes the 昀氀ow
baby experiences at the breast and may make a
previously matched bottle nipple feel inconsistent.
Hormonal shifts, especially around the return of
menstrual cycles or changes in birth control, can
temporarily a昀昀ect supply and milk composition.
Babies sometimes respond to this by becoming
fussier at the breast or bottle.
I always remind parents: your body is working
incredibly hard, and your baby is adapting
alongside you. A feeding challenge at 6 weeks is
rarely the same challenge as at 4 months. When in
doubt, reach out to a lactation consultant. We are
here to help you navigate all of it.
Q: Does nipple size a昀昀ect how much milk my
baby gets?
Yes, and this is something many parents do not
realize until there is a weight concern. If the nipple
昀氀ow is too slow for the baby’s stage, they may not
be getting enough milk at each feeding. Signs to
watch for:
→ Baby is gaining weight slowly or as expected
→ Baby feeds frequently and still
seems unsatis昀椀ed
→ Feeds are long, and baby fatigues
before 昀椀nishing
Conversely, if the 昀氀ow is too fast, babies may drink
more than they need before their brain registers
fullness, which can contribute to overfeeding and
excessive spit-up. Flow rate is not just a comfort
issue. It is a nutrition issue.
Q: How do I know when to go up a nipple size?
The timing of nipple size changes is not one‑size‑
昀椀ts-all, but here are the signals I look for:
→ Feeds are taking longer than 30 minutes
consistently
→ Baby seems frustrated or agitated at the start
of the feed
→ The nipple collapses inward during feeding
→ Baby is falling asleep before 昀椀nishing and wakes
up hungry shortly after
→ Baby is hitting a new developmental stage,
around 3 months, and again around 6 months
are common transition points
Going up one size at a time is often the safest
approach. And if the new size causes gulping or
excess spit‑up, simply go back down. There is no
shame in that.
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