How often does your baby breastfed baby feed?

[RWK29]

Currently going through some issues with DS with possible silent reflux issues and I’m beginning to wonder if it’s all in my head and I’m just trying to force feed my baby 😳😓😓
Pulling away from the breast screaming after as little as 30 seconds...am I reading the cues wrong? Maybe he’s not hungry? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hes 11 weeks old and I honestly think if I left him to it he would barely ever feed 😳 seeing so many conflicting articles about how often they “should” feed - how many times a day does your baby feed? And how long for?

[shouldistop]

Ds is 6 weeks old (although 11lb6oz already so possibly a similar weight!)

Yesterday he fed;

6.15am
8.30am
11.00am
12.30pm
2.30pm
4.15pm
6.15pm
8.45pm
1.00am
5.30am

It's usually a similar ish pattern

[shouldistop]

How long varies, I have a very fast let down so possibly no point comparing length of feed.

[RWK29]

@shouldistop That looks pretty similar to my DS at 6 weeks. Now if I left him to tell me when he was hungry I think he’d feed maybe 4-5 times a day maximum at 11 weeks old 😳 surely that’s not enough? I think I’m still trying to feed him like he’s a newborn 🤔 maybe his feeds should be quite a bit less 🤔

[shouldistop]

Is he gaining weight and plenty of wet nappies?

I've tried to feed ds a couple of times when I thought he was hungry, he pulled away screaming and turned out he was actually tired and wanted to be put down for a nap.

[RWK29]

Plenty of nappies but he’s dropped a weight centile between 6-10 week weighs. Health visitor says she isn’t concerned as he was a bigger boy at birth and he may just be levelling out into his own growth pattern but given that we’ve had the feeding issues I’m concerned that he should be putting on more weight!

[Superscientist]

My lo is 5months and we feed 10-14 times a day. Feeds can last from 2 minutes when her reflux is making her uncomfortable to 15 minutes when she's doing ok.
I keep offering her the breast or leave it out and have cuddles she feeds when feels up to it. It is difficult to keep going when she's arching and screaming.

Have you been to the GP for reflux medications?

[RWK29]

@Superscientist Ohh wow, that’s a lot of feeds!! Trudging infant gaviscon for the reflux so I’ve started expressing and bottle feeding as it’s easier to give the gaviscon so we’ll see how it goes 🤞🏼

[SkyTrees]

My baby is also 11weeks old. I would say he breastfeeds every couple of hours during the day if we are in the house, sometimes even more frequently. Then he goes 4hours over night. But sometimes he feeds less than that, especially when out and about. Just there’s naff all else to do most of the time so I sit on the sofa and feed him.

[RWK29]

@SkyTrees it’s so strange how different they all are isn’t it?! I’m constantly offering DS the boob because he’ll happily go 5-6 hours with none during the day 😳

[Superscientist]

Some days it's difficult. She feeds 3 or 4 times overnight and during the day she might do two feeds close together then go 2-3h before the next. We have to stop some feeds because she is in a pulling on and off so much - she wants to feed for comfort but feeding hurts and makes her worse. It's probably more accurate today we start 10-14 feeds a day!

[RWK29]

@Superscientist yeah my DS was pulling on and off screaming but he was frantic for the milk 😔 I can’t express often enough to keep up with him and his reflux feeding has played havoc with my milk supply so I’m transitioning him over to formula 😔 at the moment im doing some expressed bottles and some formula but I’m struggling!! He’s taking it really well but regardless of how much I put in a bottle he’ll take the whole lot 😓 I have no idea how much he “should” be taking at 12 weeks old?! Everything online tells you different and HV says “he’ll tell you when he’s full - just watch you don’t overfeed him on the bottle” 🙄🙄😓

[3JsMa]

It sounds similar to one of my DCs.
It could be a growth spurt and he might be frustrated that the milk flow is too slow/too fast to his liking.If it's too fast try to recline/lay down so he is on top of you and the nipple facing upwards.
Another reason could be boredom and increased curiosity at this age.He may not like the position during feed anymore so try to alternate,even sitting him upright when feeding.He may be distracted by what's going on in the house so if it is possible try to feed in quiet room without anything that may startle or distract him.
This is same reason for prolonged intervals between feeds,he is just too excited about new things but im sure he will let you know when he is really hungry.
Don't worry about expressing,I never could express more than an ounce with any of my 4 children and was panicking every time.
If you are still concerned that it may be reflux (he is spitting a lot after feed, seems upset when flat on his back etc) contact your GP and try lots of tummy time in a mean time.

[RWK29]

@3JsMa ohh he definitely gets distracted too 🙈 hes getting very frustrated and wants to be sitting up etc already!
Definitely reflux. He’s been given gaviscon which is working like a dream now that we have the dose right! It made him horribly constipated at the start 😔 he won’t take the gaviscon unless it’s mixed with milk and given through a bottle unfortunately (won’t take a syringe) 😔 so I was expressing an ounce to mix it with and BF the rest of his feed but he’s now completely refusing the boob. I can’t express enough to keep up with his demand unfortunately so I’m currently expressing most of his daily feeds and giving formula for the others with a plan to transition fully to formula over the next few days.
Im absolutely gutted that our BF is coming to an end as I’d hoped to do a year but he’s already SO much better getting the gaviscon and taking proper feeds and much prefers being sat up to eat (he wouldn’t BF sitting up🙄)!

[Superscientist]

I'm sorry your breastfeeding journey is coming to an end. Focus on all of the feeds you have done and give yourself a break. Breastfeeding a reflux baby is challenging and more so when you have to try to get gaviscon in them as well!

Congratulate yourself for being a super strong mummy that made a difficult decision that is best for both of you in the long run.

[RWK29]

Thanks @Superscientist ❤️ I know it’s the best thing for us both. He’s been a completely different baby the last couple of days since he’s been getting bottles and his gaviscon! And unfortunately I just can’t keep up with the pumping or I’ll be a wreck which is no good for anyone at all!! Still gutted though 🙈😂

[shouldistop]

He’s taking it really well but regardless of how much I put in a bottle he’ll take the whole lot 😓 I have no idea how much he “should” be taking at 12 weeks old?!

It varies vastly so don't worry too much about 'should'. Ideally you want him to be leaving a little in the bottle so you know he's had enough. Burp him after each 2-3oz and use a variflow teat. Has he got a dummy? If you think he's full but he's still sucking milk then it might be that he just wants to suckle.

[RWK29]

@shouldistop Yeah he’s a very gassy baby so I’m burping him lots during each feed. I learned what happens today when he doesn’t get enough 😳 baby screams the house down for more while I run around trying to cool formula 😅🤣
Yeah he has a dummy. I’ve been giving him that once he looks full and taking a break from the bottle. He seems to ditch the dummy and fuss within 5 mins if he’s still hungry so we’ll go with that just now I think!

[shouldistop]

Yeah sounds like he just wants more milk then I don't think you should worry about giving him too much. If you're pausing to burp often and offering a dummy then I doubt you're at much risk of over feeding him so it sounds like you're doing a great job.
Sorry you've had to stop breastfeeding but sometimes it's just not worth it and it sounds like your wee one will thrive on formula too.
Get some premade formula bottles in for emergencies, apparently they help with constipation too rather than the powder.

[RWK29]

@shouldistop thank you!! That’s great to know about the premade! I have a few wee bottles of it there just incase we needed them 😊