Can I trust that DS knows how much breastmilk he needs? Need advice!

[mrs.t]

Ok, so my 4 mo DS has totally changed his nursing pattern. He is still nursing 8 times or more in a 24 hour period, but his daytime feeds are quick and more spaced out than they used to be. He was always an efficient nurser, finishing in an average of 7 minutes. Weight gain and dirty diapers were always very normal. However, being that he is nursing less times during the day, I'm concerned that he's nursing for shorter periods of time, like the last feeding was 3 minutes!!! I mean, 3 minutes? Can he seriously be done? I tried burping him and offering the breast again but he got all agitated (whining, arching away from the breast) so I gave up. He seemed very happy when I put him down and then he dozed off.

My question is, should I trust that he is taking what he needs, and that he is getting enough? I always fed on demand, so I'm trying to follow his cues, but lately I can't tell when he's hungry! He's always mouthing everything so that isn't reliable anymore. He seems content and happy, and he nurses through the night, waking up every 3 hours. I'm just worried that he doesn't seem hungry or that maybe I'm misreading him? I thought that as he got older he would need more, not less.

Also, when I nurse from one side the other side leaks...so does this mean he's not taking as much and now I have oversupply? I'm so confused and concerned. I don't want to just presume that he knows what he needs and then end up with a decreased supply or finding out that he isn't gaining as well or something. Help!

[OdinsMommy0409]

Yes, I would definitely say you can trust that he's getting what he needs. Around 4 months, my DS started nursing for significantly less time but just as frequently. He maintained the same growth pattern.

I also continued to leak from the other side for many months, but this results not from oversupply but from the letdown response that triggers both breasts. Around 11 months, I stopped leaking from the other side (though it's been known to happen on occasion at night).

[ShwarmaQueen]

sounds normal to me. Both my kiddos have slowed down in weight gain and milk intake around 4 mos and became extremely distractable. Going into a dark, quiet rooms helps some, but mainly they seem to take what they need and I don't really worry.

[mamazee]

They get more efficient at nursing and so it can take less time as they get older. So long as he's acting satisfied (which it sounds like if he dozes off) and has enough wet/poopy diapers, and he doesn't seem to be losing weight or anything, he's fine.

[mrs.t]

Thank you for the replies...I feel a little better!

So how do I know when he's hungry? Lately I just offer the breast every 2-3 hours and see if he'll take it. Should I wait for him to let me know?

[tibeca]

What you decide to do from here is really up to you. You can continue offering, or you can wait for him to signal you in some way that he is interested. You can try beginning baby sign language if that is of interest to you. Or, just continue offering. It really is up to you.

[Super~Single~Mama]

I would keep offering. I would also keep in mind that he's probably super distracted. my ds got super distracted at that age, and the only way I could get him to take a whole meal during the day was to go in a super quiet dark room and nurse him laying down. Then he would nurse forever and just drink and drink and drink! Have you hit the 4mo sleep regression? If so, then he's making up for not nursing during the day by nursing more at night maybe.

[rhiOrion]

My DD is a day younger than yours and she is a super fast nurser, too. Sometimes she'll sit down and nurse for a while, but mostly she just keeps her mouth rested on my nipple without actually sucking very much at all. Her active sucking is probably about 5 minutes most of the time. But she's doing fine. She does nurse a lot at night. do you cosleep? Is it possible he's nursing a lot at night and you just aren't really aware of how much?

[mrs.t]

Yes, it's entirely possible he is nursing for longer periods at night. He gets his last feed around 9 or 10, then he'll wake up around 12 or 1 for another. At this point I end up moving him out of the co sleeper and into the bed with me, where he stays until morning. Being that I'm half asleep and I don't really keep track of how long he is nursing, I don't know for sure, but I'm almost positive he does longer feeds at night. I know he is definitely waking up every 3 hours b/c after the 12 or 1am feed he will wake up when DH gets out of bed at 4am, and then again one more time before he is up for the day.

He could be nursing more than that, cause half the time I'll wake up with my shirt up and not remember nursing him.

I guess I should just stop obsessing!

[Super~Single~Mama]

As long as he's gaining, and seems happy and content (meeting 'milestones' and all that) I would just let him nurse when he wants and not worry about it! It he starts having trouble with weight gain, then you can figure out how to fix it.