Normal length of feeding times for a 7wk old?

[beep]

My son tends to eat for 40min-1.5hrs per feeding, about 7-8 times per day. Sometimes I've tried giving just one breast, sometimes both; it doesn't seem to make a difference. I can usually pump 1/2-1oz per breast after a feeding, so I think there's not a supply issue. (Unless he needs that long for multiple letdowns? I don't really feel the letdown.) I think it is nutritive sucking, though I'm not totally sure I'm seeing him swallow ever (but clearly he does do it!). If I take him off sooner he often fusses a little and then is always hungry sooner. His latch has never been great; it often takes several tries to get him on well but he does manage it and settle in eventually. His weight gain was very slow at first and now is OK though he sits near the bottom of the growth curve (5th-10th %ile).

He scarfs down a bottle so quickly--we can maybe stretch it to 15 minutes if we really try. Is it normal for breastfeeding to take so long?

[kdescalzi]

If you see him swallowing and can hear that "cah cah" sound than he is really eating and is maybe going through a growth spurt. If you don't hear the swallows and his chin is not actively moving then maybe it is just comfort nursing. Being so very young, besides sleeping, I think that is pretty much all a newborn wants or even knows how to do. As long as you are comfortable and your lo seems content I would not even look at the clock...just go with what your babe needs/wants. I think you are doing a great job.

[itsajenism]

It could be normal for him. He's still tiny and some young babies just nurse for longer than others.

On the other hand, you mentioned latch issues and bottle feeding.
It he's not latched properly, it can take longer to get what he needs from you. Also, bottle feeding can cause him to become a lazy sucker (it's far less work to drink from a bottle than it is from a breast), which would also make it take longer to get what he needs from you.

Just some ideas.

I agree with the PP, though. If he is continuing to grow as he should, I wouldn't worry about it and would stop watching the clock and follow his cues.

[beep]

I would really like him to nurse for shorter periods--of course, if that can give him adequate nutrition and satisfaction--because I need to get work done during the day and am deeply tired at night with 2-3 long feedings. (I have not been able to manage nursing comfortably lying down--my breasts are big enough they need holding for positioning, and my baby seems to latch even worse in that position without me to manage getting him on as effectively.)

I do not know how to fix his latch problems. He does OK, not great, most of the time. However, I need to position the nipple very carefully and pull his head onto the breast every time. He does not have (and never did) a rooting reflex, so he doesn't naturally try to get his mouth in position. He often does not open his mouth quite wide enough to get his lower jaw/lip well positioned, or clamps down at the last second. So sometimes we try multiple times and eventually succeed. Even so, I suspect he is often not getting the nipple quite as far back in his mouth as would be optimal. I believe he is swallowing throughout the feeding, though he will take "breaks" in the middle when he sucks with less effort for a few rounds and/or stops sucking for about 15 seconds.

We only feed the bottle when needed, which is a few times a week and never twice in a row. I have not noticed the bottle feeding (which we started at 4.5 weeks) making a difference in his latch or the time he takes to feed.

Thanks for your thoughts.