Feeding problems

[AngelaLM]

Hi everyone, I was hoping for some advice. My son is 13 weeks old and totally breast fed. Up until about 2 weeks ago he would spend about 45 minutes at each feed, 30 mins on one side and 15 on the other (every three hours). Since then though, he only spends 10 minutes on one side and then gets totally disinterested. I took him the the clinic yesterday and he has only gained 6oz in two weeks despite gaining about 1lb every two weeks since birth. The number of dirty nappies he has is also decreasing, it's almost 24 hours since he last did one (have had several wet ones though). I'm concerned at the change in behaviour more than anything, he has a bottle (of EBM) about once per week so I don't think it can be nipple confusion but he does have a dummy to go to sleep... Does anyone have any suggestions as to why this change has occurred and what I can do to get him to take a decent feed again. The HV says not to worry and to go back in two weeks but like everyone I can't help but worry!

From what I recall I think it is normal for them to spent less time on the breast as they get older - they get more effective at feeding is the reason. I also think it is normal for them to slow down putting on the weight - he has still gained which is worth remembering. if he is still having plenty of wet nappies too that is a good sign. I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be along soon though.

Everything you describe is normal in an older baby, Angela, and all to be expected.

The weight gain - normal to slow down at this stage, and if he continued to gain half a pound a week as he got older, this would be unusual.

The nappies - gaps between poos are normal in an older baby. Some go days and days.

The time on the breast - normal for everything to be quicker and more efficient as bf gets more established. Both you and the baby 'work' better.

Hope this helps. It's a shame to worry about totally normal behaviour, and to think there is something wrong with your feeding or the baby

BTW - it should be part of your HV's job to explain how normal all this is! Telling people 'not to worry' is not good enough!

thanks so much to you both for this, I am pleased to know that we are both normal. cheers.

I remember this happening to me and ending up in floods of tears thinking I was doing it all wrong. But the others are right, it was around the same time that b/feeding came into its own for me and the time spent was a lot less as I was producing more and ds was better at feeding.