How often should you breast feed your newborn baby?

Every 3-4 hours: Depending on the number of wet diapers your baby is producing, this can be altered. Breastfeeding should occur regularly though in the first couple of months. Talk to your pediatrician about your baby specifically.

As the baby needs: A key is not to breast feed too long on one breast at one time-especially in early days. The nutritional part of brest feeding is accomplished in less than 5 minutes. Your skin's integrity needs time to toughen to prevent "cracks" and infection.

On demand: It is advisable to feed your baby on demand, on his or her schedule. Consider breast milk may be digested in an hour to two hours as opposed to formula that can take 3 to 4 hours to become digested. That is why breast fed infants feed very frequently and it is not unusual for them to feed 10 t0 12 times in 24 hours. Newborns may loose a little bit of weight the first week and then start gaining.

Dr Altman agreed

Depends: Try to set a good pattern & reap benefits.Allow baby up to 2hrs sleep during the day & wake them at the breast, feed for 5-15min/side then do body maintenance/ play until tired & put down for rest. Repeat after 2hr rest continue thru day. End your day as baby goes down ~11p & let baby wake you at night. Feed/clean put down & start the day routine.My moms usually get 5-6 hrs sleep by 1wk in.