I know ppl saying mums should feed on demand when babis first born. But I believe having a routine is more important - even if you are breastfeeding!
Frineds of mine who are breastfeeding, their babies didn't sleep through the night until they were 6 months+. Cos the health visitors say babies will sleep better after they have solid food. But I want a good night sleep as soon as I gave birth, not when my baby is 6 months old...so...this is y I don't listen to the health visitor>.<
This is how I do...
1-4 weeks
I fed Willow every 3-4 hours. I always try to push her to 4 hours if possible, if not, 3 hours at least.
Pattern: wake her up by changing her nappy->feed her one side, give her a 10-15 mins break+burp her, feed her the other side->play with her a bit to make her nackered->sleep
If she fall asleep after her feed during the day, I just let her sleep. But I always try to keep her awake before the last feed at night to make her sleep longer.
It's hard to start a routine at first but soon your baby will learn the routine->life will be so much easier! And you'll know all that hard work it's worth it. Bare in mind, If you have a 3-hour routine, don't feed your baby in less 3 hours - keep your time, even if he/she cries mentally. Crying won't do them any harm, it's good for their lung (not neccessary true but...this thought makes me feel better when I leave her to cry.)
If your baby do cry, tryy to put him/her in a carrier (I highly recommend!!! It do the trick!)
4-6 weeks
I graduly push her routine to 3.5 hours, then 4 hours. She is now very used to her routine. Sometimes I can even leave her for 4.5 hours- need to wake her up and feed her.
*How to get rid of the wind
I sometimes put willow on her front (not recommend by docs cos of cot death but it really helps her to get rid of the wind!)
Put baby over your shoulder and pat on your baby's back (I always pat her quite hard...if you pat your baby too gentle, it doesn't work as well)
put ur baby on your lap on their front and gently rub his/her back
idealy, put a cloth on ur lap b4 u put ur baby on...he/she may sick on u!
benifit:
babies like lying on their front, if u put them like this when they are crying, they will stop very soon.
this position can help them get rid of the wind.
And you won't have any back + arm ache with this position
Let your baby sit on your lap facing one side, put your hand around his/her neck on his/her chest and rub their back.
仲有呀, 聽到BB喊唔使咁心UP GA. 我成日同自己講,佢地喊得多,對個LUNG 好D GA (醫學上未必啱,但咁諗...個心都好過D) 而家我個B好少喊LU. 有咗ROUTINE之後, 就好易知道佢點解喊添- it's a hungry cry if she cry around her feeding time, if not...probably colic.
1-2 week 我大約餵15-20min, 只餵一邊
2 week+ 兩邊餵晒, 10-15min one side, 10-15min break, then feed her the other side. Sometimes she is full after having one side so she doesn't take much on the other side. But sometimes she can make my both sides empty! So I always offer her both sides, she can either take it or leave it. And that makes sure she is full every feed and can last for at least 4 hours.