Go Back   MotheringDotCommunity Forums > Breastfeeding > Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Welcome to the Breastfeeding forum! This is your main stop for breastfeeding info, including (but not limited to!) preparing for breastfeeding, the early days and first year of breastfeeding, common breastfeeding challenges and concerns, and general breastfeeding questions.

Support MDC


Shop Mothering
Premium Memberships
Place a DDDDC
Buy from Amazon
Buy Herbs









Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-04-2009, 09:01 AM   #1
mrscompgeek
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 1,823
Newborn eating constantly?

My 2-1/2 week old baby has been eating almost every hour during the day the last few days. Is that normal for a newborn? At night she goes anywhere from 2-4 hours between feedings. I assume its a growth spurt or she is just not on a schedule yet?? I know its not that she isnt getting enough each time because this morning I pumped after she ate both breast and I got 2 oz's yet.
__________________
Shannon, married to the love of my life since 9-15-07. Home birthin', breastfeedin',cloth diaperin', baby wearin' Mama to Kianna Brielle born on Oct 18th, 09
mrscompgeek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2009, 09:17 AM   #2
boobs4milk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: AMELIA IS HOME!
Posts: 2,143
perfectly normal shannon. grow spurts are at ~3 wks, ~6 wks, ~3 mos, and then they vary from then on out. amelia was doing the same thing last week (she's 7 wks tomorrow) and the last few days has been going a bit longer. good thing, too because i thought my boobs would fall off.

just watch wets n poops. good luck!
__________________
Jen-loving Bill, mama to Teryn 17, Kalyn 14, Ricky 11, Natalie 3, Zoe 5/30/07 and Amelia Rae 9/17/09
boobs4milk is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2009, 09:24 AM   #3
Bokonon
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 316
Yup, sounds totally normal to me too! My DD is 6 months old and still eats at least every 2 hours all day and night, whereas some babies her age nurse every 3 hours during the day and STTN...just varying shades of normal.
__________________
Alison, -obsessed, mama to DD Peepers 4/30/09 and DS Doodlebug 6/3/05
Bokonon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2009, 10:24 AM   #4
mamazee
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,673
Most babies that age nurse very very frequently. It's common. The first several weeks it feels like they are constantly being nursed, having their diaper changed, or (occasionally) sleeping. Just go with it. It won't last forever.
mamazee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2009, 11:38 AM   #5
Llyra
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: in a foreign universe, apparently
Posts: 6,999
It's normal and biologically appropriate for an infant, especially a newborn, to nurse very often. It sounds like you're doing very well! I would strongly advise against trying to space out feedings or put baby on a schedule-- those kind of approaches are not appropriate for breastfed babies. They can lead to poor weight gain and a compromised milk supply. The best way is to follow baby's cues.
And hang in there-- I know how it feels to be attached to baby for hours and hours and hours each day. It doesn't last forever. It passes so quickly.
__________________
me and my three
Llyra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2009, 01:16 PM   #6
HydeParkB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,258
Sounds about right to me! DS is 4 weeks as of Tuesday. On those days when he just seems to nurse all day long, I try to have a book or movie available to help pass the time. It breaks up day for me when I'm pretty much tied to the couch or bed.

Keep up the good work.
__________________
Bridget. Momma to DD (4), expecting DS - 9/09, wife to SAHD. Gardener, coffee addict, urban dweller.
HydeParkB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2009, 07:04 PM   #7
lifeguard
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: In the Prior
Posts: 3,141
Normal!!! I wish we were just told up front that newborns nurse a LOT more than seems "necessary"!
__________________
Contentedly living in my messy house with dh & ds Oct 25, 2008 & our 2 :: & 2 ::
lifeguard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2009, 07:25 PM   #8
PatioGardener
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,603
Quote:
Originally Posted by lifeguard View Post
Normal!!! I wish we were just told up front that newborns nurse a LOT more than seems "necessary"!
!!
PatioGardener is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2009, 09:44 AM   #9
lilysmama1124
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 716
My 10 week old twins are have been nursing between every 45 min and hour and a half this week...last night they finally let me get some sleep and only ate every three hours...my mantra is "this to shall pass"
lilysmama1124 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2009, 12:48 PM   #10
Bena
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 141
Quote:
Originally Posted by lifeguard View Post
Normal!!! I wish we were just told up front that newborns nurse a LOT more than seems "necessary"!
Yup to that too!

I'm on the verge of tears right now, knowing that this is normal and actually good. I'm finding breastfeeding to be waaay more challenging that I thought it'd be, and I'm more exhausted from doing it that I was from birth!!!
I'm soo, soooo, soooo relieved to know it's all ok!
__________________
Outdoor loving mama to Baby Florence, born Oct. 28th 2009
Bena is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:23 AM.