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Infant feeding

So what really happens at 6 weeks?

8 replies

blob2be · 06/12/2006 09:12

My DS is 6.5 weeks old, and I have heard so much conflicting advice about what is supposed to happen at this stage. My HV says that at 6 weeks my milk will have reached the peak of fattiness and so DS should start to go for longer between feeds. But then I'm hearing about a 6 week growth spurt! About a week ago DS started to go for 3 - 4 hours between feeds (had previously been 2 - 2.5 hours). But yesterday he wanted feeding every 1.5 - 2 hours! In the night he went 3 hours without a feed (although was wide awake so no sleep for me!), then 1.5 for the rest of the night. When will he start to go for longer? My friend with a baby daughter the same age is getting 7 hours unbroken sleep a night! Help!

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PortAndLemonaid · 06/12/2006 09:17

Hmmm. From 5-8 weeks DS was feeding about every hour and a half (graaaaagh!), then at 8 weeks it spaced out to about every 2 hours (that was partly me very strongly encouraging him to do that, though), then he gradually spaced them out until at around 3 months he was feeding around every 3 hours and waking 2 or 3 times at night (I'm a bit vague on that because we started cosleeping around then so I could get more sleep).

All babies are different, and your friend is lucky enough to have a sleeper. It doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong in the slightest.

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deaconblue · 06/12/2006 13:37

My ds had huge growth spurt at 6 weeks and fed every 3 hours (previously it was only 4-5 hours)but it all settled down by 9 weeks when he started going from 10pm to 5am. Hang on in there, it won't last for long.

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mamijacacalys · 06/12/2006 14:04

Agree with the other posts.

Don't know about the 'milk fattiness' thing, but didn't really get into a 'routine' with my DD until about 10 weeks, when she started going a bit longer between feeds. At this time also she came out of the mosses basket and we started co-sleeping. She started going 7-7ish and is still doing at 22 weeks, although still has feeds at 1 and/or 5am.

I also know someone who's baby daughter (about the same age as mine) has slept 7-7 since birth! There's always someone you know who claims this!!

Agree with Shoppingbags - it'll get better!

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mummyplonk · 06/12/2006 14:10

Yep, agree with all others both DS's had feeding frenzies at 6 wks and fed every hour or so then calmed down. They are all so different, DS2 now 6 months and still dosnt sleep through (sob), "shoppingbagsundereyes" Love the name

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USAUKMum · 06/12/2006 14:10

Hi -- Congrats to getting to 6 wks with the bf! Both my DD & DS dropped down to every 1.5 hrs at 6 wks between feeds (and they fed for about 45 at a go too!). After the growth spurt passes, he should start stretching out again. Though my children never went longer than 3 hrs during the day, and both still had a night feed until 10.5 mths (they were uncanny in their similar feeding patterns). I know some bf babes that slept through from 5 wks, and some not until a year! So really depends on your DS. I co-slept with DD on and off for the first year. DS co-slept for first 8 wks. Then into a craddle beside my bed until 6 mths. You may find it helpful while your DS is going through this high feeding stage.

I found it best not to think about other babies sleeping mine were almost always the worst ones.

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deaconblue · 06/12/2006 22:08

Why thank you, mummyplonk. Trouble is the shopping bags are looking slightly odd today as gave myself black eye yesterday in sleep deprivation induced fit of clumsyness!

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tiktok · 08/12/2006 00:18

Not another piece of daftness from an HV,,,,what on earth is this one talking about? Fattiness of the milk is unaffected by the age of the baby. There is no reason why a baby of this age 'should' be going longer between feeds, though many do gradually start to be able to have a longer gap, and many don't. 7 hours unbroken sleep with a 6 week old is very unusual and not especially desirable from the point of view of the milk supply.

Nothing is 'supposed' to happen at this age or any other.

Mothers and babies might be happier if babies were not expected to fit some sort of blueprint for feeding and sleeping, with everything deviating from that being 'diagnosed' as not normal!

blob, you sound tired and a bit fed up, and this will pass.

You are doing fine