Hour long feeds...

[writerwrites]

Hello all,

Just after a bit of advice...

I'm ebf my four week old DS - it's been pretty stressful getting started - I had cracked and bleeding nipples, then a bad case of thrush which made feeding agony for a few days, but we've kept at it and it's now getting easier and no longer painful.

But - every feed lasts at least an hour. He was quite big - 8 pounds 8 - but all my NCT friends say their babies feed for about fifteen / twenty minutes. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this and if it was normal?! He actively feeds for that long, sometimes drifting off at the end, but it's not just comfort. He's still feeding every two hours ish with a bigger sleep at night, and seems very happy otherwise. I don't mind - I've got a good stack of films to watch - I just wanted to check it's not another thing I'm getting a bit wrong...

Oh yes mine did this.

If you had a disrupted start, he may feel the need to do this for more than food.
Or it might just be how long it takes.

After 12 weeks dd ate much faster! But even now she sometimes wants a slow feed at home.

Mine still feeds for 40-45 mins at 5 months. Some are just slower than others. It has reduced though- we were doing 90 min feeds until he recovered from his tongue tie and learnt to feed properly.

We had a slow start too, and DS just fed constantly. People trying to be helpful would ask when his last feed was, but there were no 'feeds', I would just pop him off when my nipples got worn out but other than that he was sucking constantly!

What's his nappy output/weight gain like? It sounds like his problems are improving, but just in case I found this video useful for helping my DS's latch . Also getting help from a proper breastfeeding professional rather than just a midwife was helpful but they aren't always easy to get hold of depending on your area.

Even after DS got a good latch though, he fed a lot for a while because my supply needed to catch up.

You've probably been told that they digest breast milk much faster than formula as well, so don't try to compare him to a bottle fed baby.

Good luck!

Thanks so much for the replies - really reassuring.

And LetticeKnollys thanks for the video - really useful. A bf consultant came round in the first week and helped with my latch, so I think that's all working - but, yes, maybe my supply is catching up...

He weighed 3760 at birth and at 4 weeks is now 4100 - so I think he's doing okay?? Plenty of wet nappies, not soiled every day, but most days and always quite a lot, v yellow etc.

Thanks again, so helpful to hear from more experienced Mums - we'll keep going!