When I say "on demand,” I want you to understand that you should feed your baby when they want, not on a set schedule. You should expect your baby to be hungry every 2 to 3 hours during the first 6-8 weeks after birth. If your baby sometimes needs to feed before 2h, that's ok. If that's the case always, that is a yellow flag that things might not be going super smoothly.
Feedings are too frequent
If you find yourself feeding your baby 14-20 times a day, your nipples are not sore, you are happy with extra cuddling time with your little one, you are not feeling deprived (of sleep or time for yourself), and your baby is growing well (not too little, not too much)... it's all good! If that's not the case, you could seek help from a lactation consultant. Frequent feeds might sign your baby isn't getting as much milk as they could per feeding session. A lactation consultant can help you understand the case, what is causing this, and what to do about it.
Feedings too spaced out
If your baby sleeps way too well - meaning they nurse only a few times a day and give you long stretches between feeds, take a second to analyze this. Things might go well in the first few weeks, but you might have issues soon. So, see a lactation consultant, even if the baby is gaining weight. As I mentioned before, the human body was designed to feed every couple of hours or so in the first few weeks after delivery. That helps your body understand how many babies you had, and how much milk they need, so you are not producing too little or too much. If your baby isn't nursing frequently enough and you are not significantly emptying your breasts at least 8 times a day, your supply might dip and not be enough to keep up with the baby's caloric demand in a few weeks.
Not too little, not too much...
Yes. It is a balanced and flexible act. If you understand that, at times, your baby might need to nurse more or less frequently, but the average number of feeds from birth to 6 months remains more or less the same 8 to 12 times a day, you're ahead in the game! If you notice something deviating from the norm, it might be an excellent time to seek professional help.
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