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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

3.5 day old bf baby how regularly should I be feeding him?

55 replies

Holden10 · 31/05/2015 10:07

I fed a lot over the past few days as our latch was a bit rubbish but he's got it now so my question is with what frequency does he need feeding? I've fed him every 4 hours over night for about 15 mins either side

OP posts:
Innocuoususername · 31/05/2015 10:14

Congratulations! Just feed on demand, whenever he wants to be fed. As a guideline, you should be looking for 8 feeds per 24hrs so one every 3 hours, but if he's a bit more frequent during the day then you may find he goes for 4 hours at night.

The main thing to look for is lots of wet and dirty nappies: 5-6 wet ones a day and at least a couple of dirty ones, which at 3-4 days old should be changing to smite mustardy colour.

Innocuoususername · 31/05/2015 10:15

Smite = a more!

Innocuoususername · 31/05/2015 10:17

Sorry, just to be really clear, the 8 in 24hrs is a guideline, and many babies feed more frequently than that at this age. Just feed when he wants it.

MrsDumbledore · 31/05/2015 10:22

Hi. I have an 8 day old. My second. The advice I have had is to feed on demand at least 8 times in 24 hrs Intervals between feeds can be totally irregular but wake them for a feed if they get to 6 hrs (I wish!) And only let them go that long once in 24hrs.

If both of mine are anything to go by, you may find he gets hungrier around this stage and wants to cluster feed -eg there will be periods when he seems to be on and off the breast constantly for a few hours. This is normal and happens because your milk is coming in so he is increasing demand to increase supply. I just wish someone had prepared me for it with dd -we ended up frantically making up a bottle for her at 4am as was convinced I must not have enough milk for her and that was why she wouldn't settle and wanted to feed all the time!

Original poster
Holden10 · 01/06/2015 13:34

Mrs dumbledore we did just that last night! He hasn't been weighed yet so I'm worried he's lost weight. Does pumping help keep up supply?

OP posts:
MrsDumbledore · 01/06/2015 14:52

Hi. i think pumping is supposed to increase supply yes, but not as effectively as baby sucking. Don't worry if he loses weight initially -up to 10% o body weight in first few days is normal I think.

bobajob · 01/06/2015 14:55

8 times is really a bare minimum - I'd aim for 10-12, more if he seems interested. Sometimes it can take a while before feeding gets established and the baby actually demands enough, so better to feed more often than too little.

tiktok · 01/06/2015 14:57

Normally no need to pump - it can be useful if there is a problem with the baby not managing to transfer milk well, but in most circumstances it's best avoided this early on, as you will make huge quantities of milk and this can be uncomfortable.

Keep your baby skin to skin for as much as you can, and respond to his feeding cues. Don't time the feeds, don't count the feeds, and don't be too concerned if he is thriving and producing the right colour poo :) On day 4, that's green going into yellow or even yellow without green by now :)

The midwife should come to see you if you are in need of more help.

tiktok · 01/06/2015 14:58

Yes - most babies of this age will go to the breast and feed many times a day - 8 times would be the low side of frequency.

ElphabaTheGreen · 01/06/2015 15:00

Just feed and feed and feed! As a PP said, feeding will establish your supply far quicker than pumping. Even if he's not otherwise asking and you just fancy a sit down, offer him a feed. He probably has lost weight - it's to be expected unless your colostrum had magical baby-fattening properties. Ideally, he shouldn't be weighed again until he's at least one, if not two, weeks old to allow him to drop this initial weight then re-gain it once your milk's in.

With DS1, I can frequently remember thinking, 'You can't possibly need feeding again - you fed twenty minutes ago!' and would (incorrectly) think he needed something else. With DS2, I knew better, I fed constantly (way more than 8-12 in 24 hours - way more) and he put on weight far better.

Micah · 01/06/2015 15:00

I fed if they were awake. Just kept offering :) Mainly because there's not much you can do with a newborn, so if they had a clean nappy and weren't asleep I fed :). I actually found it easier to get comfy and leave them latched on, they'd rouse occasionally and feed a bit more.

They do feed all the time, it's normal and nothing wrong with supply.

Don't worry if they've "lost" weight, it's normal, and can take a while to get back up to birth weight. I never weighed mine, on the advice of HV, and had no issues with weight Grin.

I was told to look at the whole baby. Are they weeing, pooing, sleeping, crying? Are they acting age-appropriately alert?. If you have stuff coming out there is plenty going in. If they have the energy to cry they're getting that energy from milk.

Sounds like you're doing great :)

avocadotoast · 01/06/2015 15:50

My little one is 9 days old now and I'm still finding it tricky to time her feeds. Last night she cluster fed so much that I was convinced there was nothing left for her! She woke at 1 and didn't settle until nearly 5. DH ended up giving her a bottle that I'd expressed earlier in the day just so I could get some rest. I hadn't wanted to give her expressed milk this early but it seemed to calm her a little.

Hoping tonight is easier; the night before was a complete dream... There really is no predicting anything at this stage!

Basically I have no answers for you OP, but you're not on your own - it is hard!

gamerchick · 01/06/2015 15:52

Sounds like you're doing fab congrats on your arrival Grin

Just go with the flow for the minute as your milk will probably not have come in yet. Day 5 + 6 was the killer but gets much better fast after that.

gamerchick · 01/06/2015 15:55

Don't worry about cluster feeding and there being nothing left. The baby has to suck to up supply so it's just easier to let them do their job rather than think feed = full for a few hours.

Breastfeeding is how I got into gaming I spent that much time on the settee nursing.

Original poster
Holden10 · 01/06/2015 18:11

He fed earlier for 1 hr 15 mins with little gaps for burping and his latch coming loose so re-latching. I then had to come downstairs cos we had visitors (stupid I know) but he still seemed like he was rooting. Is this fine?? He's asleep now, 1hr after that feed ended. He has a dummy I'm embarrassed to say as it settles him (this is the first day of that). Should I have just carried on feeding after this amount of time? Obviously I'm a first timer with no idea what I'm doing really :(

OP posts:
GinLimeandLemonade · 01/06/2015 19:22

The amount of time spent feeding doesn't mean much in the early days - just offer a feed whenever they're awake Smile

It's hard to know when it's your first if you're doing the right thing. I think I fed at least every 2 hours in the early days, for about 35 - 45 minutes a time. If he's rooting pop him on, if he doesn't want it he'll let you know! If you're having problems with the latch you might want to hold off on the dummy for a week or two till it's sorted, they can sometimes interfere with latching apparently.

Plenty of wet and dirty nappies are the best sign that he's getting enough milk. If you're worried about anything though get in touch with your health visitor.

ElphabaTheGreen · 01/06/2015 20:25

Stop timing his feeds - honestly. It really means nothing. I know HVs and midwives ask, but as long as he's on each time for a few minutes or more that's fine. Otherwise it's just something to get stressed about. I kept a log on my phone for a couple of weeks with my first - drove myself mad. With my second, a midwife asked me on day four or five how often he was feeding for and for how long. 'Dunno,' I said. 'Lots. But he's had two dirty and more soaking wet nappies today.' And she was happy. Output really is the most important thing.

I agree with trying to hold off the dummy at this stage. Feeding will settle him and will build your supply as quickly as possible. Yes, he will want to sleep on you, with a boob in his mouth for quite a while yet, but that's fine. When he drops off, and is still sleeping, hand him to someone to hold for you (make sure they're prepared to keep holding him for a good couple of hours) and you can get your sleep then.

Congratulations and keep up the great work Thanks

Original poster
Holden10 · 01/06/2015 20:42

Thanks people as you can tell I'm ridiculously anxious. I don't think he's having enough nappies. Thankfully we are seeing community midwife tomorrow and I think she's weighing him so I can make some decisions on how best to continue, ebf just might not be right for my baby

OP posts:
Original poster
Holden10 · 01/06/2015 20:43

Also giving up the dummy right now, stolen it from his sleeping mouth and he didn't mind!! That makes me sound awful ha!

OP posts:
Artandco · 01/06/2015 20:45

I always offered on demand all day so roughly 1-2 hours. This really helped with overnight feeds and then dropped them quickly.

Also the more he feeds the more your supply increases so I would offer all day

cunchofbunts · 01/06/2015 20:46

Can I just ask why you think it might not be for your baby? What are your doubts?

Original poster
Holden10 · 01/06/2015 21:20

I feel like he's not getting enough. Panicking he's not doing enough nappies. Worried he's lost weight (not been weighed yet£

OP posts:
Artandco · 01/06/2015 21:28

I would feed every 2 hours in the day personally, 4 hrs is from years ago with routines when unfortunately many weren't able to keep supply up as the gap too long to maintain.

Micah · 01/06/2015 21:35

Honestly, the chances are he will have lost weight.

It's normal, and please dont panic if he has. You can refuse weighing if you think it will stress you more.

Nappies, he's tiny, so it won't be copious amounts. As long as there's some :). A better guide is general health, does he look well? Does he feed frequently? cry if he needs something?

It really does sound like you're doing a grand job. Bf does need you to have a bit of faith that it's doing its job, it is very different to bottle feeding.

drinkscabinet · 01/06/2015 21:42

At 3 days you're probably being hit by the baby blues which is why you are feeling anxious about your feeding. Your milk is coming in and it feels like your body is doing everything possible to make you feel miserable. Your LO on the other hand has a teeny tiny stomach still and needs to feed little and often, this will feel exhausting but is how things are suppose to be. Don't worry about visitors, your baby and you are the most important people right now, visitors can wait.

I always thought of BFing as the reset button for my kids when they were babies, if in doubt BF because if they are hungry BFing will help, if they are tired a BF will help, if they are cold a BF will help, if they need a cuddle a BF will help. Basically, unless they have done a poo and are crying because their nappy needs to be changed BFing was always my first option when a baby was awake. Of course, once they have emptied their digestive system after doing a poo they will want a BF to fill themselves up again. Seriously, don't count BFs and don't worry about the length of feed, the only correct answer to either of those questions is 'it varies'. Don't let a term baby of good weight go longer than 6 hours between feeds as an absolute maximum (personally I'd wake to feed during the day much sooner than that) but for a late preemie that drops to 3 hours absolute maximum (and in that case you'll probably have to wake to feed). Expect to spent the evening cluster feeding, get your OH to do all the housework, have a drink and snacks next to the sofa and get some good boxsets. BFing is tiring work so don't do anything else, just concentrate on that.