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Infant feeding

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

Breastfed 4 week old - possible to be hungry this often?

16 replies

nearlytherenow · 23/05/2011 09:24

My breastfed 4 (nearly 5) week old boy genuinely seems to be hungry at least every 2 hours all day. Often he doesn't last this long between feeds -frequently only an hour will pass and he's looking for more. He's a big boy and gaining weight fast, but still, is it possible to be this hungry? He does do better at night - usually one 4+ hour stretch in there somewhere.

I'm happy to feed him whenever he needs it, but just wonder if I'm really reading his feeding cues right, and if he's taking enough at each feed (and would ideally like him to go a little longer between feeds as it's getting really difficult to do anything with my toddler). He feeds in about 10 - 15 minutes, so quite quickly, and will not be persuaded to take more, but I am starting to wonder if this is a "full" feed. I've looked, just out of interest, at certain "routines" for babies of this age, and there is absolutely no way that I could even make him go half the time suggested between feeds. He's been good so far at self-settling when popped down in his basket, so I don't think it's a feed-to-sleep thing - he often settles himself quite happily, but then will be wide awake half an hour later looking to be fed. He's a pretty relaxed baby in between feeds generally - will sit in his chair or lie on his mat happily for quite long stretches of time, so again I don't think the feeding is a comfort thing.

If this is normal I will just go with it - it's just very different to how I remember DS1 being!

OP posts:
nethunsreject · 23/05/2011 09:27

Sounds very normal. He is still building your spply up at this early stage, plus it is a great comfort to him, as it should be,

Congratulations, by the way! he sounds like a terrific wee lad. Smile

Checkmate · 23/05/2011 09:29

It is totally normal. My babies have all either
-fed every 1-2 hours all day and evening, but then had a 4-6 hour stretch in the night
or

  • fed every 2-3 hours daytime and evening and all night.
PrincessScrumpy · 23/05/2011 09:29

dd fed for an hour every 3 hours to start with (could set a clock by her), so every 2 hours for 15 mins sounds fine to me. I'm sure it will pass. Make sure you eat healthily so your milk is good quality.

Congratulations x

RitaMorgan · 23/05/2011 09:30

Sounds normal to me too! Do you offer both sides at each feed?

Breastmilk is really easy to digest, so babies' tummies are genuinely empty again very quickly. The 3 or 4 hour gaps between feeds that you often hear formula fed babies doing are actually artificially long as formula is harder to digest.

Checkmate · 23/05/2011 09:30

Oh, and the "routines" for babies of his age usually end up with the mother being made to believe she "doesn't have enough milk" and quitting breastfeeding/mix feeding.

nethunsreject · 23/05/2011 09:31

you don't beed to eat well for the sake of your milk quality.

of course, eating well and resting are good for you, but your milk is fantastic whatever you do.

mousymouse · 23/05/2011 09:32

congratulations.
yes sounds absolutely normal to me (I bf 2 babies). especially if the go long stretches during the night (and 4 hours is long for a baby that age) they need filling up more during the day.

japhrimel · 23/05/2011 09:35

Totally normal. At that age my DD was feeding every hour during the day but going 7 hours at night.

wolfhound · 23/05/2011 09:36

Absolutely normal. Mine were the same. It will improve, and you will hardly be able to remember what this stage was like (I am just about to enter it again, so trying to steel myself!)

nearlytherenow · 23/05/2011 10:24

Thank you! I feel reassured. I had quite a different experience with DS1, possibly because he spent his first week in SCBU (was full term though, just unwell) and was initially given formula top ups, so he went 3+ hours between feeds from very early on. DS2 has taken me by surprise with the frequency of feeds, so I'm glad it's not a sign of something being wrong!

RitaMorgan - I do try to offer both sides, but he'll only rarely touch the second side. Even if he's fully awake, he just doesn't seem to want any more, so I assume that he must be full after one side.

OP posts:
Celia76 · 23/05/2011 10:50

Follow his lead and the feeds will start to spread out!

My DS in now 13 weeks and feeds 2-2 1/2 hours during the day but now goes 9 hours overnight. Looking at his feeds he now has 9 feeds in a 24 hour period, at 4 weeks he was having over 20 feeds a day!!

Well done, have faith in yourself!

nearlytherenow · 23/05/2011 14:10

Thank you.... 9 hours - I can hardly imagine what that much sleep must feel like! That would be great if he slept that well at 9 weeks, although I'm not that hopeful - DS1 didn't actually sleep through the night until he was 1. Still, they've been very different babies so far, fingers crossed!

OP posts:
megapixels · 23/05/2011 14:17

Yes that is how DD2 fed at the age. Quite normal.

TurtlesAreRetroRight · 23/05/2011 14:23

Normal. Clever they are, little babies. They take what they need. I was thinking about this the other day. When in the womb their supply of nutrients , vitamins, minerals etc are constant, just as the ability to swallow is (surrounded by fluid) so it must be really weird to come out and have an empty stomach or need to suck/swallow. It's hardly surprising they feed so regularly.

DD fed 2 hourly until 7 months. She obviously knew what she was doing as she gained weight and was happy/healthy.

And just to confirm/agree, you can eat what you want and make good milk. Probably best to eat a few green things for your own health but your milk takes care of itself.

susiesheep2 · 23/05/2011 15:50

Normal!! They go through little growth spurts too, where they literally feel like they are feeding all day by the hour. I was a bit worried when it happened at around 6 weeks for a day or so and 3 months, but settled down again the next day - just dont panic like I did if your little one turns in to a limpit for a couple of days:)

lilham · 23/05/2011 15:54

For the routines. I know one ff mum who is a strict routine follower. The way she settles her DD between scheduled feed is using a dummy. It looks really cruel to me. But then her DD is gaining weight well. What can I say!

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