Six month old still having really long nursing sessions - help

[Sodabread]

My dd is coming up six months. She is ebf, and I am planning on starting weaning next week.

Since she was little she has always been a good feeder, but takes a long time to feed. I thought this would change as she gets older, but if anything it has gotten worse.

She generally feeds five times in 24 hours, although may be more depending on her sleep. Her feeds in the daytime are about an hour, but her feeds in the evening (6pm) and her night feed (10.30) are taking two hours, sometimes two and half hours. If I shorten these and take her off, she becomes very alert and still seems hungry. Her weight is maintaining between 50th and 75th centile, which it was at birth.

When she is nursing in the evening and at night she seems sleepy, but she still seems to be sucking and swallowing. She then will have a clear pulling herself off and won't be interested in having anymore.

So far, I have just accepted this and gone with it, and ignored comments from health professionals like she is burning off more than she is putting on!! But it is taking an increasing amount of time and I don't know how I will fit in food sessions, without dropping a feed?

Any advice greatly received.

While it could be normal, I just wonder if it could be tongue tie. Have you tried breast compressions too?

Thanks, will mention tongue tie to health visitor and trying the breast compressions.

Am also going to try limiting the feeds slightly, because she is generally not settling great after a feed at the moment anyway, and I am unsure if she's hungry or not. Half the time she just seems alert and as if she wants to play. It is all so confusing!!! Also feel like I am not getting it right...

Did you have a read if the tongue tie information? does any of it sound like what is happening?

I'd have a talk with a BFC rather than your HV. Unless you are one of the extremely lucky ones your have is unlikely to know much about bfing and probably can't spot tongue tie. Try the National Breastfeeding Helpline.

I'm sure everything is fine but its best to talk it through with someone who is trained, especially if you are losing confidence. The BFC will be able to talk to you about starting solids. There is some good information on kellymom
Is there a Bfing Support Group you can go to locally? They should be able to observe a complete feed, talk to you about how you are feeling, check for tongue tie.

Are you sure she's not actually sleep

Sorry stupid phone. Are you sure she's not sleeping? My dd would have sleeps on my boob if she was too tired. She would often nurse for 40-45 mins in day and hours in evening, but she was sleeping whilst swallowing. She grew out of this at about 7 months and would get enough sleep during naps away from boob. She then started feeding very quickly ( sometimes only 5 mins all in)

She's now 10mo and down to one feed in the day ( quite a few over night though!!) and I kind if miss the long feeds ( when I would watch tv and relax!)

That does seem quite a long time. Although it would seem normal that feed times would increase before weaning rather than decrease, so I wouldn't worry on that count, the fact it is an hour seems really long!