Feeding frequency??

[LittleBirdy]

First time mom here... I feel so fortunate that in general, breastfeeding has not been difficult for me and my baby. But the frequent feedings are wearing me out. He's six weeks old and eats every 60-90 minutes, and feedings take 30-45 minutes... so I've generally only got 15-30 minutes where he's NOT eating. And he's not a big napper during the day so it's taking a lot out of me. The he starts this cluster feeding/comfort sucking routine around dinner time that lasts until bed time, especially if he hasn't had much day time sleep.

He seems to be gaining well... 8 lbs 2 oz at birth, dropped to 7 lbs 10 oz and weighed 10 lbs at 1 month checkup. (And I got on the bathroom scale by myself and then with him and he seems to be pretty close to 11 lbs now.) So I'm guessing it's not a supply issue?

I think I am especially stressed about this because I'll be going back to work when he's 12 weeks old (he will get expressed breast milk in a bottle at day care). I can't see how that will possibly work if he's still needing to eat this much! Also, having a hard time building up my freezer stash since the only time he stops eating is when he's asleep... which is also when I'M asleep!!

Is this just normal behavior for his age? Will he start to space out his feedings? The whole "newborns will eat 8-12 times per day" makes me laugh - yeah right!

[Hannah32]

This is EXACTLY how my baby behaves. He's almost 11 weeks now and it *seems* to be spacing itself out a bit more. He'll go about 2 hours during the day, longer if we're out or doing something and about every 3 hours at night. Not nearly as much cluster feeding.

I'm not sure it's going to stay this way, so I don't want to declare it outgrown yet.

[crystal_buffaloe]

Expressing milk is going to be different when you're not with him, too. Right now, you're pumping in addition to feeding him (and caring for the baby at the same time). When you're at work, you're going to be pumping in place of feedings (and on break or lunch). I wouldn't worry about not being able to pump enough at all, and you're in a great position to slowly build up a freezer supply over the next six weeks.

Also, I think you'll find the baby mellows out quite a bit as he reaches the three-month mark. And, he'll be more interested in the world around him, and will probably just be a more efficient nurser.

We were using a nipple shield, so it might not be exactly the same, but when I went to a LLL meeting at 4-5 weeks, I asked if it was normal how much she was nursing (all the time -- and for 45 minutes or more at a session). Now she's 15 weeks old, and she's just incredibly more efficient. Sometimes we'll have a leisurely nursing-to-sleep session, but then sometimes I swear, it's just 6 or 8 minutes and she's done, and full, and happy for another couple of hours. (What I mean to say is that I think some of the transition from 45 minutue nursing sessions to 15 minute nursing sessions was ditching the shield, and some was just her getting stronger and her mouth getting bigger.)

[LadyCatherine185]

My DS did the same thing for the first year or so of his life... Although the older he got, the quicker the feedings became. He still nursed every hour or so, but he could drain both sides in 5 minutes once he got a little older.

He will be able to get more milk at a time out of the bottle (the flow is quicker than from the breast). I would suggest introducing a pacifier as well, because it sounds like he has a high need to suck, and if you are working and can't fulfill that need at the breast he will need to have something to suck on to help with that need.

[HappyMommy2]

My DD did the same thing, and yes, the frequency does lessen. (sorry I can't remember exactly when, tho!)

[ShwarmaQueen]

Yes, I second the suggestion of a pacifier- if his latch is well established, it might help him transition to DCP easier. Also now is a good time to introduce a bottle, if you haven't already.

[lifeguard]

The biggest shock to me with ds was the frequency of feeds. It does get better with time. Once I accepted that yes, he was hungry, Again! & just went with what he needed it was much less stressful.

[skfmama]

My son was definitely like this. He nursed all. the. time., especially at 6 weeks. Somewhere between 8 and 12 weeks, he started to get a little more efficient and go about 2 hours between nursings. All of a sudden at about 14 or 15 weeks he got really efficient and decided he only wanted one side per session. Now at almost 6 months he nurses fast - like maybe 5 minutes and he's done (unless he's falling asleep). He's still at 1.5-2 hours in between, when we're home anyway, and maybe a little less often if we're out and there's a lot going on.

Hang in there! Soon you'll be chasing the baby around and not just nursing.