Flutter Sucking – A complete Guide To Baby Flutter Breastfeeding

Flutter sucking is one of the enigmatic bounties for a mother while breastfeeding her baby. It nurtures the health and comfort of the baby as well as the mother. Therefore, comfort sucking becomes the pivotal point during breastfeeding.

Casual Breasting is not enough- Signify Flutter Sucking

For instance, flutter sucking is described as the sluggish or drowsy sucking babies do at the end of a meal. Interestingly, babies do breastfeed for reasons other than nutrition or to satisfy their thirst. Infants suck breasts to feel safe, to relax, to warm up, and to reassure themselves. Also, they continue comfortably sucking to attach themselves to their mother, to relieve pain, to fall asleep, and since they like to suck.

The reasons for breastfeeding, aside from eating or drinking, are sometimes referred to as breastfeeding for comfort, breastfeeding, comfort sucking, “non-nutrient” sucking, or perhaps “using the breast as a manikin”. Therefore, these kinds are categorized as another phase of breastfeeding.

Three Phases of Sucking

While breastfeeding, babies usually go through three phases of sucking that are as follows: 

Stimulate Sucking

The baby’s tongue curls around the breast and the baby’s lower jaw moves from top to bottom as it opens and closes on the breast. The lactation hormones are released when the nerves close to the nipple are activated, and the milk usually starts flowing in a minute or two.

Active Feeding

Once the milk is down (the milk ejection reflex), the mouthfuls of milk intertwine while the babies are actively drinking. You will see the lower jaw moving up and down rhythmically and you may hear a pattern of sips of sucking or a few sucks followed by a sip of milk. An infant can stop while breastfeeding, hold the breast in the mouth for a minute or two without moving the jaw, then resume sucking and swallowing.

Flutter Sucking

Towards the tip of the feed, sucking slows down; the jaw movements get less pronounced. As a result, there are fewer and fewer swallows. Therefore the baby may go to sleep or drop off the breast after they are full. Some people call fluttery, quivery sucking motions on top of the diet “flutter sucking”.

It suggests different things to different people so that some mothers get confused as to whether flutter suction is particularly important from a nutritional point of view or whether it is a kind of comfort suction.

Is Flutter Sucking The Same As Comfort Nursing?

Indeed, Flutter sucking could be a kind of comfort nursing. However, it tends to be accustomed to describe a baby who is sucking lightly without many swallows. Also, the baby is falling asleep at the breast.

Some breastfeeding counselors falsely relate flutter sucking with active feeding. As a result, they encourage mothers to feed on one breast per feed. The underpinning thought is that the longer a baby stays flutter sucking on one breast, the higher calorie milk (hindmilk) the baby will swallow. Therefore the more weight they are going to gain.

However, this is misleading especially for new moms. The flutter sucking is not actively feeding. So, staying on one breast as a general rule could be thanks to reducing the milk supply.

What Are CHINS For Flutter Sucking?

Many people now use the mnemonic CHINS to comprehend comfortable breastfeeding.

C = close: Baby is as near you as possible so that it doesn’t just reach for the breast.

H = head: Baby’s head is tilted so that the baby has its head at the correct angle so that the breast enters the mouth at the correct angle to succeed in the comfortable place where your nipple won’t be damaged.

I = In Line: Your baby’s body is in an exceeding line from, head to shoulders and hips (you wouldn’t drink a cup of tea with it sitting on your shoulder!)

N= Nose to nipple: this suggests the baby is lifting to the breast and also the nipple is within the right place to enter the mouth comfortably this implies you’ll then bring your baby into the breast quickly to latch. They will even latch on their own, just by putting them within the right place.

S = Sustenance: Your position is sustainable.

Is Flutter Sucking Normal?

Indeed, breastfeeding can mark flutter sucking as a normal thing. Whether for hunger or comfort, flutter breastfeeding is typically the solution to whatever is troubling your baby. Also, one can build the bonus of some extra calories and sleep-inducing hormones along the way.

However, sometimes mothers view comfort nursing negatively through the health care workers, friends, or relatives. The main reason is that some people seem to think that a baby uses it as the simplest way of manipulating the mother with unreasonable sucking demands.

Does Comfort Nursing Points To a Problem?

Certainly, every mother and baby is unique. Certainly, comfort nursing is normal baby behavior for a baby who is breastfeeding well and growing appropriately. Occasionally it can indicate an underlying problem with breastfeeding. Imagine a baby is “feeding all the time”, but is not gaining much weight. It might be an indication that they’re not breastfeeding effectively. Also, they are not having comfort nursing because they remain famished.

Another thing is baby does not breastfeed effectively even with a giant mouthful of breast tissue. The reason can be the nipple. Due to this the milk supply can drop quickly. With less milk available, a baby’s energy levels go down giving less energy to feed actively causing lower milk intake, lower energy, and then on in a very downward spiral. Also, when left unchecked, breastfeeding can become long sessions of flutter sucking with little or no milk swallowed.

Flutter Sucking: Baby Falls to Peaceful Sleep

Once sucking slows down and there are hardly any swallows and your baby’s eyes have closed, your baby has fallen asleep. Many babies prefer to do it with the breast in their mouth after they need to finish feeding.

The shallow movements of a baby flutter sucking without swallows indicate a baby who is dreaming about sucking. Some babies do still feed well in their sleep, but in this case, their mouths are going to be moving more deeply than tiny shallow quivers and you may hear swallows.

How Do I Know If The Baby Is Comfortable Sucking?

Every mom has wondered if her baby could be that hungry to require to eat all day. Indeed, feeling glued to him all hours doesn’t feel good, either.

Adding to it, there is nothing wrong with nursing for comfort. This can be one of the simplest ways to bond together with your baby. Also, it could be an effective trick to soothing and quieting your baby down.

However, you may face an occasion when your nipples are becoming chafed and blistered from the constant sucking. How are you able to tell if he’s crying out of hunger or comfort?

Check how your baby is sucking

How are you able to tell if your baby is waking from hunger or habit? Check how he’s sucking.

If he latches on well and takes long, drawn-out pulls, then he’s likely hungry and truly drawn-out if his sucking motion is shorter and shallower, then he’s probably sucking for comfort.

You can also check whether he’s swallowing the milk. Listen for a swallowing sound, and check if his throat moves with each gulp. If you see it move, then he’s swallowing milk, but if it stays still, then he’s only moving his mouth to comfort suck.

Your baby fights the pacifier

Once breastfeeding has been established, a pacifier may be a fantastic alternative to comfort sucking. So, after you notice that your baby fights the pacifier, outright spits it out and everything, more than likely, he’s hungry. This is often very true if he normally takes to the pacifier, but sometimes wants nothing to try and do with it. He wants food, not comfort, and is crying for milk.

Does Comfort or Passive Sucking Increase Breast Milk Supply?

The production of breast milk is dependent on the hormone Prolactin. In other words, Prolactin is responsible for the breast’s capacity to deliver breast milk. Moreover, Prolactin is present within the breast of any mother with a newborn. However, the hormone affects the breast and produces breast milk only if the breast does not have milk. This means that once the baby empties the breast of milk through breast milk. Thus, more milk is produced right after the action of Prolactin. Otherwise, intense breastfeeding has nothing to do with preparing breast milk. The important thing is for the breast to be empty of milk. Breast milk also generates oxytocin, a hormone that causes milk to reach the nipples.

Functions of Breastfeeding

Thus, breastfeeding has two functions:

• It helps Prolactin to affect breast function and produce more breast milk.
• It generates oxytocin which delivers milk to the baby.

Why Flutter Sucking is Mandatory during Breastfeeding Tenure?

Some mothers have made a strong commitment to breastfeeding even before they become pregnant. Some mothers have decided against it. Many mothers are indifferent, insecure, or ambivalent once seen while pregnant. Also, some have relatives or friends with strong perspectives on the subject. The greatest concern of a pregnant woman is, however, the birth rather than the following.

Best for the Baby

1. Breast milk meets all your baby’s nutritional requirements for the first 6 months.
2. Mammary milk changes during breastfeeding, but over months and years, to meet your baby’s changing nutritional, immunological, and developmental needs.
3. Regular skin contact and closed interaction during lactation promote mutual reactivity and attachment.
4. Breast milk contains many anti-infectious factors that help protect your baby from diseases such as gastroenteritis and infections.
5. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of overweight, obesity, and diabetes in children and adults.
6. Infants who are breastfed have higher IQ scores and better jaw development.
7. Breast Milk is more easily digested than other kinds of milk and nappies smell less offensive.

Best for the Mother

1. Early suckling minimizes bleeding after birth and helps your uterus return to its pre-pregnant state.
2. Breastfeeding aids a faster return to pre-pregnancy weight because it uses kilojoules to create the milk.
3. Full breastfeeding delays the return of fertility.
4. Breastfeeding may reduce the chance of pre-menopausal breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Best for the Family

1. A healthier baby means reduced costs in doctor’s visits and medicine.
2. Breastfeeding is reasonable compared to formula feeding.
3. Breastfeeding is safe and convenient.

How Does Comfort Nursing Stimulate Milk?

Comfort Nursing boosts levels of the hormones that increase your milk. However, several factors stimulate milk in the mammary glands during flutter sucking.

ROLE OF YOUR BRAIN

When your baby suckles, it sends a message to your brain. The brain then signals the hormones, prolactin, and oxytocin to be released. Prolactin causes the alveoli to start making milk. Oxytocin causes muscles around the alveoli to squeeze milk out through the milk ducts.

When milk is released, it’s called the let-down reflex. Signs of milk release are:

1. Tingling, fullness, dull ache, or tightening within the breasts (although some moms don’t feel any of those sensations).
2. Milk dripping from the breast.
3. Uterine cramping after you set the baby to the breast during the primary few days after birth.

Tips To Stimulate More Milk Production

To encourage your milk to release, try the following tips.

1. Find ways to relax, like visiting a peaceful place or trying deep breathing.
2. Place a warm compress on your breasts before breastfeeding.
3. Massage your breasts and hands to express a touch of milk.

Once you have been breastfeeding for a long time, the let-down reflex can happen. For instance, the milk releases once you hear your baby cry. Another reason can be reminiscing about your baby. Also, it can happen at any time, you always breastfeed your baby, whether or not your baby is not around.

ROLE OF YOUR BABY

Your baby helps you create milk by suckling and removing milk from your breast. The more milk your baby drinks, the more milk your body will make. Frequent breastfeeding or milk removal (8-12 times or more every 24 hours), especially within the first few days and weeks of your baby’s life, helps you create a decent milk supply.

Your milk will still vary per your baby’s needs. Every time your baby feeds, your body knows to create more milk for the subsequent feeding.

The number of milk you create will go up or down betting on how often your baby eats. By nursing for as often and as long as your baby wants, you’re helping your body to create more milk. At first, you will be doing nothing but breastfeed. Soon, you and your baby will get into a pattern that works for both of you.

Increasing Your Milk – Make Breastfeeding Solutions a Priority!

Following are some valuable techniques to enhance your milk production.

• Breastfeed as often as possible—at least 10 times in 24 hours. Wake your baby if necessary.
• Encourage active breastfeeding on the primary breast until it feels soft and cozy. Then offer the second.
• Use breast compression.
• Instead of breastfeeding at set intervals, encourage ‘cluster nursing’— breastfeeding fairly often occasionally when your baby is willing to.
• Encourage breastfeeding for comfort moreover as food. It can help your milk production. Stop using any dummy— breastfeed instead.
• Night feeds facilitate you making more milk. In the reduction of touch on solid foods if your milk production is dropping.

Try Laid-Back Breastfeeding (Biological Nurturing)

instinctively many babies seek the breast and feed frequently. Soon, they will snuggle up near their mother’s chest for longer periods. Therefore, try letting your baby lie on your body, skin-to-skin or lightly dressed, as you recline.

So both his chest and stomach are against you. These laid-back breastfeeding positions give your baby many opportunities to breastfeed, even during light sleep. A soft carrier or sling is another great way of keeping your baby close and inspiring breastfeeding.

What A Mother Should Know Before Flutter Breastfeeding?

All women who have given birth will produce milk unless they have retained some fragment of the placenta. A good majority of ladies are ready to provide enough milk to breastfeed their babies exclusively for around six months. Otherwise, they can carry on breastfeeding for as long as they need.

They can continue comfort nursing even if they introduce the baby to solid foods. The dimensions of the breasts and the shape of the nipples don’t seem to be important for breastfeeding success. Also, antenatal preparation of the breasts and the nipples aren’t necessary.

What A Mother Should Know To Support Flutter Sucking/Comfort Nursing

Physicians and experienced family members should encourage the new mom to speak about her concerns and expectations about breastfeeding and parenthood. For this, one should emphasize the following.

• Pay special attention to a girl who is single, very young, has previously had difficulties in breastfeeding, or has other special needs.
• Encourage and support the lady to trust her own body.
• Make the girl feel that it’s she who controls her pregnancy and parenting. Don’t take over this control.
• Avoid excessive monitoring of a healthy pregnancy, as this might make the woman unsure of herself and her abilities, and negatively affect breastfeeding.
• Explain the importance of the primary hours following delivery for establishing a decent breastfeeding experience.
• Prepare her for the sight of a wet, possibly bloody, and unwashed neonate, because it is going to be presented to her immediately after delivery.
• Update the lady on how breastfeeding works, as briefly and easily as you can. Stress the importance of excellent attachment and baby-led feeding.
• Make the lady confident that if there are any difficulties with breastfeeding, 99% are resolved.
• Read benefits of breastfeeding here

Communication and Counseling for Breastfeeding

The mother may or might not be prepared for breastfeeding and parenting during pregnancy. No matter what, she needs your reassurance that she is going to try and do well, so she may be a good mother. Not only what you say, but the way you say it is very important.

• Bear in mind that mothers often feel they must not bother busy health workers with their “small” difficulties, even when the difficulties are not small.
• Let the mother know how much time she will spend with you so that she knows what to expect.
• Sit at the identical level because the mother so she doesn’t feel intimidated by you.
• Try and learn without asking questions, through the subsequent techniques.
• Hear the mother. Avoid reading and writing while she is talking.
• Show your good attention along with your eyes, your face, and little sounds of agreement.
• Wait and see. Don’t interrupt the mother. She might have to repeat herself.
• Reflect the mother what she has been saying, e.g. “So you feel you are not having enough milk.” Then gently explore the explanations for what she says.
• Suggest that the mother offers her baby a breastfeed and watch the mother and baby carefully to spot possible difficulties. Use the checklist on page 14 as a reminder.
• Ask open questions that require a full answer, not a “yes” or “no” (i.e. not “Do you have sore nipples?” but “How do your nipples feel?”).
• Avoid too many questions. Ask barely enough to fill in gaps in what the mother has told you. Base your questions on what she has already said, so she knows that you just are listening.
• Show the mother your approval of everything she is doing well. Even if she seems to be doing everything wrong, you’ll praise her for having the great sense to consult you.
• Watch out to not argue or criticize, regardless of what she says.
• Make the mother feel that you just respect her feelings.
• Give the information that can enable her to assist herself if she has any difficulties.
• Practice your communication skills by asking people to elucidate in their own words what you have been saying to them. Awareness of how others understand you is very important for effective communication.
• Once you end the session, reassure the mother that she will be able to indeed breastfeed her baby. Whether or not she is unsure within the beginning, she will soon be an excellent expert on her own baby’s needs.

Summing Up:

Flutter sucking or comfort nursing acts as an important element in the period of breastfeeding. It not only enhances milk production but also pacifies the baby. One can encourage the new mom with tips and tricks for breastfeeding. Also, a mother understands the benefits of it upon her body and baby. Therefore, flutter sucking completes motherhood and strengthens the bond with the infant.