What is fluttering breastfeeding?

Understanding Fluttering Breastfeeding
Fluttering breastfeeding is a term that describes a specific behavior observed in infants during breastfeeding. This phenomenon occurs when a baby exhibits rapid, shallow sucking motions at the breast, resembling a fluttering action. It is often seen when a baby is not actively feeding but is instead engaging in a comfort-seeking behavior or trying to stimulate milk flow.
The Mechanics of Fluttering
During a typical breastfeeding session, a baby will latch onto the breast and suck rhythmically to extract milk. However, in the case of fluttering, the baby may be more focused on comfort rather than nutrition. This can happen for several reasons:
1. Comfort and Security: Infants often seek the breast not just for nourishment but also for comfort. The act of fluttering can provide a sense of security and closeness to the mother, which is crucial for emotional bonding.
2. Milk Flow Stimulation: Sometimes, a baby may flutter to encourage the mother’s milk let-down reflex. This reflex is a natural response that allows milk to flow from the breast, and fluttering can be a way for the baby to signal that they want more milk.
3. Fatigue or Distraction: If a baby is tired or distracted, they may not suck effectively, leading to a fluttering pattern instead of a steady rhythm. This can be common during growth spurts or when the baby is sleepy.
Implications for Mothers
For breastfeeding mothers, understanding fluttering can help in managing breastfeeding sessions more effectively. Here are a few considerations:
– Recognizing Cues: Mothers should learn to recognize the difference between fluttering and effective feeding. If a baby is fluttering but not swallowing, it may be time to adjust their position or encourage a deeper latch.
– Responding to Needs: If a baby is fluttering for comfort, mothers can choose to allow this behavior, as it can be beneficial for the baby’s emotional development. However, if the goal is to ensure the baby is getting enough milk, mothers may need to gently encourage more effective sucking.
– Support and Education: Many mothers report receiving inconsistent advice about breastfeeding techniques, which can lead to confusion about behaviors like fluttering. Access to accurate information and support from healthcare providers can empower mothers to navigate these challenges more confidently.
Conclusion
Fluttering breastfeeding is a natural behavior that reflects the complex needs of infants during feeding. By understanding this phenomenon, mothers can better respond to their babies’ cues, ensuring both nutritional needs and emotional connections are met. As breastfeeding continues to be recognized as a vital aspect of infant health, awareness of behaviors like fluttering can enhance the breastfeeding experience for both mothers and their children.

What does fluttering mean breastfeeding?

After a while you will notice that the sucks become more infrequent but you might feel “flutters” with more occasional swallowing (some mums say it feels like their baby is tickling them, or their tongue is vibrating against your nipple). This helps to draw even more fat down the ducts as fat is thick and sticky.

What is flutter nursing?

When a baby or toddler nurses for comfort, the suckling motions are slower and spaced further apart; this is called “flutter sucking.” Comfort nursing can help establish a healthy sleep schedule and even change how babies are affected by pain.

What is considered a Flutter?

Atrial flutter is a type of abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia. It occurs when a short circuit in the heart causes the upper chambers (atria) to pump very rapidly. Atrial flutter is important not only because of its symptoms but because it can cause a stroke that may result in permanent disability or death.

How to tell if baby is hungry or comfort nursing?

If baby is feeding for hours at a time (or all day long seemingly) this is comfort feeding or sucking for non-nutritive needs. Baby is simply not constantly feeding over hours at a time. Babies who are hungry will empty one or both breasts in a feed, and then be done.

Do babies still get milk when comfort nursing?

Comfort nursing is also sometimes called non-nutritive sucking. However, this isn’t entirely accurate since breasts typically release a little milk anytime a baby is attached sucking, and some calories are typically transferred even during comfort nursing.

What does flutter feeding look like?

At the very end of a feeding session, a sleepy or full baby may slow down, stop sucking, and make quivery little sucks. This is flutter sucking. Comfort nursing may include some stronger sucks, but often focuses more on the gentler, spaced motions typical of flutter sucking.

Why does a baby flutters the tongue while breastfeeding?

Your baby is a busy little bee and will be performing between 800 to 1000 such ‘wave-like’ movements during a feed! At the end of the feed, you will notice your baby ‘flutter sucking’ with occasional swallows and this is actually when he/ she gets the fattiest bit of the feed which is essential.

Why does my baby’s mouth quiver when nursing?

Although it sounds like a straightforward process, breastfeeding actually requires a complex series of muscle movements in the tongue, jaw, throat, lips, and face. It’s especially likely in the first few weeks for your baby’s jaw to quiver or tremble due to muscle fatigue.

How do you know if baby is fluttering?

Fluttering, butterflies, or bubbles. You’ll probably start to feel your baby move sometime between 16 and 22 weeks. At first, these small movements feel like fluttering or “butterflies.” Or they may feel like gas bubbles. These first flutters are sometimes called “quickening.”

What does Flutter feeding look like?

At the very end of a feeding session, a sleepy or full baby may slow down, stop sucking, and make quivery little sucks. This is flutter sucking. Comfort nursing may include some stronger sucks, but often focuses more on the gentler, spaced motions typical of flutter sucking.