Should I be worried that 5 mo only feeds for 5 mins now?

[IHeartIona]

My dd (5 mo, my first) is now feeding only for about 5 mins (one side only) every 2-3 hours. She used to feed for longer e.g. 10 mins, about a month ago. Currently going through some night wakings and I think she is teething (lots of swollen gums). Last time she was weighed she had put on 7 oz in 2 weeks and is just about following the same line. I wasn't worried about the gain being quite small as it is more than her gains a couple of months ago (e.g. 2 oz one week, 3 oz another). Plenty of wet nappies still and she is her cheery self. Should I put this down to the teething and/or her feeding becoming more efficient and not worry? Should I be offering the other side? thanks for any advice.

[notnowbernard]

I am not an expert!! (There are several around though )

But would say if she appears well, is producing wet and soiled nappies, and has also gained weight, you have nothing to worry about

Both mine were v quick feeders, from birth. Never more than 10-15m from one side initially, then as they got older feeds got even shorter

HTH - but wait for the real advice too!

[monthlymayhem]

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along to reassure you, but just to let you know that my 5mo feeds for about 3mins each side at the most and always has been a really quick feeder. He also feeds generally every 3 hours during the day, and thank the lord has just started to feed just once between midnight and 6am (previously he was up at least 3 times...yawn..) I'm touching wood as I type that this continues!

I'd always read before having him to be organised for breastfeeding - have a drink at your side, a book to read, tv to watch etc but he's always been so quick I've never had a chance to use any of it!

[thesockmonsterofdoom]

At about 4 / 5 months babies usually become a lot more efficient at getting the ilk out, at about the same time your body has settled into the whoole thing and becomes a lot more effective at let down, the combination means that feed take a lot less time, as long as you are happy with weight gain and nappies I would say everything is fine.

[IHeartIona]

thanks all - puts my mind at rest i'm not doing something wrong.

[IHeartIona]

any bf experts around please?

[Thomcat]

I would say that with your milk now flowing freely and your DD knowing what she is doing she's getting exactly what she needs in that 5 mins. Yes offer her the other boob, she how she gets on, and she may start to take a bit more in a week or so, but as long as she's happy and producing nappies I don't think there's a problem.

[IHeartIona]

thanks Thomcat

[bookswapper]

my 5 month old is the same - and the weight gain has slowed - my HV told me his curve on the chart (dropping below line) was completely normal for BF babies as the chart was not based on BF babies...

plenty of nappies from my DS and he is a happy active wee soul!