Mothers should not have to follow rules about how often or how long they breastfeed
The number and length of feeds varies considerably from one infant to another and, for a given infant, even from day to day, depending on the child’s nutritional needs and physical proximity. Moreover, breastfeeding influences milk production: the more milk an infant takes, the more the mother will produce. These two factors explain why mothers should not have rules about how often or how long they breastfeed. During the first few weeks of breastfeeding, most children want to be fed often, as much as 8 to 12 times a day. That should not be interpreted as a problem; in particular, it does not indicate a lack of milk.
Tip
Breastfeed the infant whenever he or she wants to be fed, as often and for as long as the infant wants (see point 3), without setting any minimum time between feedings or a maximum length for any one feeding.