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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Anyone got a bf baby who only feeds for 4 mins at a time????

34 replies

Minnie24 · 20/02/2011 16:15

lo is 16 weeks old, worst feeder in the world. During day only feeds for abour 4 mins off one side only. Feeds about 3 hourly so one side will go about 6 hrs without being fed off. This is driving me mad. Bfeeding is the worst thing I have ever done, but I cant get her to take a bottle. I am so miserable. Would just like to know if anyone else is experiencing the same.

OP posts:

TittyBojangles · 20/02/2011 16:19

Aha, 16 weeks! :)

My DS (16 weeks too) is a very quick feeder too but he always has been, is this a recent development in your LO? Are they otherwise happy? alert? putting on weight ok? not dehydrated? If you offer sooner than 3 hours what happens? Do they feed more during the night/when sleepy?

Sorry for the lots of questions :)

doricpatter · 20/02/2011 16:21

If she's taking all she needs in those 4 minutes then she's probably just very efficient - and 3 hours between feeds is a looong time for a baby. What is it that's bothering you?

Original poster

Minnie24 · 20/02/2011 16:22

She has always been a fast feeder, even in the early days the most she would feed for is 10 minutes. For the most part she seems happy. She is putting on about 7oz a week and following her line. No signs of dehydration. Wet nappies and poos once or twice a day. If I offer more than 3 hourly usually she just refuses. She feeds much better and more frequently during the night when she is barely awake. Does this sound familiar?

OP posts:

PenguinArmy · 20/02/2011 16:28

mine fed 4-7 mins from 6 weeks.

At this age if she is feeding more in the night than the day, then look up reverse cycling. Culprit normally being destractibility. They don't want to spend time feeding when they can watch the world. A few people find they have to feed in a darkened quiet room. You could try feeding her the moment she wakes up so is still drowsy and just before she sleeps as well (or in her sleep).

You say she feeds better, longer doesn't necessarily mean better.

Again to repeat to someone else, if she's happy, what's the problem?

Original poster

Minnie24 · 20/02/2011 16:30

Sounds like perhaps the problem is with me not her. It just seems so bizarre the way she feeds, makes me think its me doing something wrong.

OP posts:

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 20/02/2011 16:34

dd2 is 16 weeks and has always been a quick feeder. 5 mins each side tops - more like 5 mins both sides sometimes.

dd1 was the same, and my lack of confidence meant i switched to formula, as my hv insisted she needed 10 mins each side. i now know this to be bunkum.

CMOTdibbler · 20/02/2011 16:34

By the time ds was about 12 weeks he would have a feed in under 5 minutes during the day - they suddenly become much more efficient. He'd have both sides - as soon as he came off I'd swap as you don't need to worry about foremilk/hindmilk since it all sorts itself out.

Sounds like you have a happy very efficient feeder, but you are really anxious about it - is there more going on ? Do you get any support in rl ?

choceyes · 20/02/2011 16:36

My 6 month old DD has only been feeding for a few minutes at each feed, maybe 5 mins or so, from one boob. She rarely goes less than 3hrs too. Gaining weight well with lots of wet nappies and poos and very content. So sounds similar to yours.

Nothing to worry about IMO.

choceyes · 20/02/2011 16:37

I meant she has been doing this for at least a couple of months now.

TittyBojangles · 20/02/2011 16:39

I think we have identical babies :) except mines got a willy

7oz a week sounds good to me!

kimberlina · 20/02/2011 16:50

I have the 3rd! 15 weeks old and feeds really infreq in the day - only every 5 or 6 hrs but then feeds more often at night. Really want to try to swap to frequent feeds in day for a better nights sleep

Original poster

Minnie24 · 20/02/2011 17:14

You guys have made me feel so much better that its not only me who has a baby like this. I have so little confidence about it, it makes me want to swap to formula, only she wont take a bottle! But from what you are all saying it doesnt mean that there is a problem.

What does worry me though, is the fact that it commonly 6 hours or more that one side or the other wont be fed off as she rarely takes both sides.. Does this happen to any of you?

Unfortunately I havent really got any support, there is only 1 support group where I live - the Isle of Man, which I cant get to because of other children. Stress about the lack of attention I give the other 2 kids really makes everything so much worse. The stress I feel about this all goes on and on.

OP posts:

Tryharder · 20/02/2011 17:37

Eh?? I don't get this. You have a fantastically efficient feeder who feeds for a few minutes on one side every 3 hours or so. Your own milk supply is clearly fantastic. And you are complaining???

I will swap you for DD who at 7 months old still wants to feed every couple of hours or so.

doricpatter · 20/02/2011 18:08

"What does worry me though, is the fact that it commonly 6 hours or more that one side or the other wont be fed off as she rarely takes both sides"

This might be a worry if she wasn't gaining weight or you had concerns about your supply. But your supply is clearly abundant and she's gaining well. It sounds like you're a fab BFing team to be honest - at your stage many people might expect feeds to take 30 minutes every 2 hours - now that would take attention away from your other kids!

I have a similar situation to you - although mine's now 5 months - but my fab supply and fast feeder have resulted in months of crying baby and horrid upset guts and leaking boobs etc. So I think on balance you have the best of both worlds and are doing a marvellous job - have faith in your wonderful norkage!

EveryonesJealousOfGingers · 20/02/2011 18:35

She sounds like a very efficient feeder to me - my DD was the same and has always thrived, staying on the 50th centile for the whole of her first year. Just go with it and don't worry! If she is well in herself (which as I gather you have other DCs you will be a fantastic judge of), as you say poos and wees good, consistent weight gain, then you are doing a great job - make the most of it! :)

TittyBojangles · 20/02/2011 19:41

I agree with DP, your norkage does indeed sound wonderful . Try your best to stop stressing (I know it's hard), and enjoy.

MissRedIndie · 21/02/2011 11:51

I've got one of these as well, longest she's ever fed for is 5 minutes, nowadays she feeds for about 3 minutes a feed, one side only. It's awesome, makes feeding so easy. I honestly think you have no need to worry or be anxious. As long as she's gaining well it makes no difference if you're not feeding from one side for 6 hours, you clearly have enough for her.

Seriously, you have the best case scenario, a baby that feeds super quickly and puts on weight. Think how great it is that you don't have all the hassle that comes with bottle feeding (sterilising, watching your baby scream while you frantically try to heat a bottle in time etc etc) and enjoy your baby!!

SmallPurpleCat · 21/02/2011 20:53

My lo is only feeding for about 5 minutes on one side - has been like this for the past week. She's 9 weeks this week.

Difference is, she is not gaining weight (weighed exactly the same today as last Monday) and also didn't poo for a week.
She is weeing ok and is generally happy and smiley.

I have exclusively breastfed up until now but am now introducing formula in desperation :0(

TittyBojangles · 21/02/2011 20:57

Why are you weighing weekly SPC? Is there some concern about her anyway? How often does she feed?

SmallPurpleCat · 21/02/2011 21:03

She was weighed last week at her 8 week check and she had only gained 7oz in 2 weeks then. I was concerned that she was feeding less and less at that point so they said to get her weighed again after a week.

Her feed pattern is roughly:

7pm - expressed milk (about 4oz)
1am/2am
5am/6am
8am
10am
12pm/1pm ish
4pm ish

The night pattern is pretty fixed at the moment but feeds during the day are not so regular.

She feeds much better in the night but during the day we're having lots of screaming at the boob!

Horrible few days :o(

TittyBojangles · 22/02/2011 09:27

Awww SPC, screaming at the boob is rubbish, soooo frustrating and :(. Try reading this info from kellymom on fussing at the breast if you haven't already. And this info about weight gain. You might have looked at this already so sorry if you have. Have you had any advice in RL about this? What did the HV say at the weigh in? It could well just be a normal fluctuation only picked up because of the frequent weighing. Or are they worried about it?

doricpatter · 22/02/2011 10:19

Agree SPC, if you want to keep BF I'm sure you can - you need some knowledgeable RL support. Helplines? Local feeding support?

pinkyp · 22/02/2011 22:32

minnie my ds 'block' feeds so he'll have left breastsay 9am, right 12pm, then left again at 3pm so yeh i always go 6 hrs between on each breast. Also on a night he'll feed from left at 9pm, right at 12am then can sleep to 8am so my left side wont of been touched for 11 hours!

aichi · 23/02/2011 09:39

Hi
I'm glad you put this thread up as I too was concerned and slightly stressed about the same issue too. My 15weeks daughter is the same, only takes about 7 mins from each breast, and she only takes from one breast per feed. I spoke to my HV and other support workers but they all said its all fine as she's gaining weight and following 50 percentile line.

I'm also worried that she doesnt get enough hindmilk if i offer her the other side after 7mins or less...what do you all do? stick to one side??

I guess my main worry is I seen to produce good amount of milk (probably oversupply...) and if I don't feed her within 5hrs my breasts get leaky and sore...

I know I can express but I don't want to produce more milk by expressing more...

How do you guys cope with one breast not being fed for 6hrs or longer? especially nighttime?
(Mine sleeps thro the night, 10hrs, so when I wake up in the morning I have a leaky bra and pj :(
which really upsets me...

TittyBojangles · 23/02/2011 09:45

Aichi, don't worry about the fore/hind milk thing, your baby will sort this out for herself with no need for you to mess around with timing feeds etc.

You are right that if you express this will increase your supply, are you already expressing? If so, do this at the same time each day and your supply should adjust to see that expressing session as another feed.

Look at the info on oversupply on kellymom here if you haven't already, there is some info about block nursing.

Unfortunately my 16wo DS has never slept for 10 hours so I can't really help you with that one, but if you get your supply sorted then this should stop happening. Other than that, sleep on a towel and try not to be upset about waking up soggy. Maybe don't wear a bra?

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