Let me start this post with a question. Have you ever wondered why breastfeeding(at least for six months) to infants is recommended by Doctors all over the world?
Many of you might have answer like breast milk contains all the nutrients essential for the baby. And you are Right,no doubt. But do you know that breast milk satisfies not only hunger but thirst of the baby too. Interesting right? Lets get into it a little bit more and along with this you will know the CORRECT WAY OF FEEDING your little one.
There are two terms used for breast milk. Fore milk and Hind milk. Fore milk is used for the breast milk that your baby get in the beginning of breast feeding whereas Hind milk is used for the breast milk that your baby get at the end of breastfeeding.
It would be interesting to know that fore milk and hind milk are not different types of milk. The only difference is in their PERCENTAGE of FAT content. The milk get progressively higher in fat content as the feeding goes on.
The fore milk is higher in volume and low in fat whereas hind milk is lower in volume but high in fat. This information rises question in the mind of many mothers. Whether my baby getting feed properly? Should I increase the feeding time?
But you don't have to worry as long as your baby is feeding effectively and you are not SWITCHING THE SIDES more often. You should let your one side of breast empties completely and then switch your baby to other side. And during next feeding time, start with the one that you fed at the end earlier.
Following this feeding pattern will make your baby to feel full and he will sleep or play for longer period of time and you will also get some time for yourself. But with some mothers it doesn't happen in this way; their babies feed more often. But You don't need to worry at all. Because babies who feed more often consume fore milk with higher fat content than those who feed less often. In the end it all evens out so you don't need to put your baby to feed for longer and longer time.
And its been said that fore milk satisfy baby's thirst and hind milk satisfy baby's hunger. After reading the whole post i am sure you can make out reason behind it.
So keep feeding and see your little one happily growing.