Jersey cow needs advice!

[Lisa78]

5 week old son takes about an hour to breastfeed (and about 10 -15 minutes to take a bottle of expressed) and since he feeds every 2 or 3 hours, I am beginning to think he is a vampire! Is this normal for this age and will he always be a slow feeder? I can just see me trying to breast feed when I am back at work - I shall have to get up about 4am! ;-)

yes, it can be normal for that age, and no, it won't last

An hour was about average for my three children as babies, in the early weeks - by the time they had stopped and started a bit, and you'd changed the nappy, and then put them back on to finish off, an hour would have gone past.

He's not feeding unusually often, either, Lisa.

If he's fighting at the breast and fussing, then it's a different story.

No, he isn't fighting and fussing, he just takes for ever! Still feeling reassured now thanks!

My DS1 also tooks ages to feed, half an hour was typical but in the evening he could go for an hour easily (longest was 1 3/4 hours !). Now, I would be more bloody minded about it and not feed for that long, because although they are still getting a little hindmilk (which is rich and good for them), they are primarily comfort sucking at the end of a long feeding session. I would usually stick it out for maybe 20 mins to 1/2 an hour and then say ok - times up !

It does usually get quicker as they get better at it. 5 weeks is still pretty early and he is still learning .

My little boy was the same at that age, I seemed to be constantly feeding, winding, changing him and then starting the next feed again, this is the thing with breastfeeding, you have to give yourself and your time completly to start with. It does change and get easier. Enjoy this time though because it doesn't last for long - my son is now 8 months old and on solids as well as breast milk, but he doesn't breast feed as often and I do miss that closeness. It is a special thing to be able to do.

Yup. he's normal. don't worry about going back to work. Babies get really good at feeding with practise (remember, he's never done this either!) and a baby of four, five or six months is totally different to a five week old baby in ways you can't even imagine now.
It won't last.
PS worrying about stuff in the future really is a mugs game with babies - they are capricious little creatures who fit years of evolution into a few months.

I feel rather nostalgic now for those long feeding sessions. I read loads of novels and a friend of mine who's baby rarely took less than 2 hours (honest!) used to watch whole movies. My daughter rapidly became a speed feeder and by 4 months was 'done' in 5 minutes each side. Alas, no more novels. The odd review in a magazine or a cup of tea perhaps ...

DS2 is now nearly 9 weeks old and is still taking 1 to 1.5 hours to have his feeds, about 3 hours apart (though going longer at night). He's started nodding off during his feeds too, I have to constantly wake him up or he sleeps until I try to unlatch him, then lunges back on!!! Any advice would be welcomed, he's driving me mad, I can hardly sit in the baby rooms in mothercare et al for an hour!