bf- baby not feeding for long enough

[kbaby]

Hi,
Im a new mum so this is all completely new to me and was hoping you could offer some advice. My DD is now 2 weeks old. She only seems to feed for 10 minutes at a time. She has gained 4ozs since birth but all the books I have read says that baby should be having 20 minute feeds. She falls asleep at the breast and no matter how much I try to wake her she doesnt want any more. During the night she goes approx 3hourly but during the day she seems to want feeding every 1-2hrs. If we are out though she will sometimes sleep through until 3 hrs. How can I get her to feed for longer and also do you think shes cluster feeding during the day for comfort instead of food, if so how can I break the cycle.

Hi kbaby

How big was/is your baby? Mine were all pretty big (over 9lb) at birth, and they all developed into very efficient breastfeeders who could get the whole thing over in 10 mins. Lots of my friends who'd had slow feeders couldn't hide their envy -- I think the novelty of sitting and feeding for 50 mins at a time wears off quite fast!

I'm not very good on how much babies should be gaining, as I hardly ever took them to be weighed, but a two week old who is 4oz up from her birthweight sounds ok -- my dd2 took 3.5 weeks to regain her birthweight without anyone getting unduly worried.

I expect someone more knowledgeable will be along at some point, but if she's gaining weight she's probably getting enough. Your feeding pattern doesn't sound too unreasonable for a two-week old -- comfort feeding tends to occur when they carry on with erratic or fluttery sucking for a long time after they've stopped taking in food. What you describe sounds (tho' I'm not an expert) like a baby who's getting the milk she needs out quite quickly, and then going back to sleep satisfied.

hth

She sounds pretty normal to me, honey. Mine both slurped away quickly and filled up and then came back again pretty damn quickly. And in dd2's case belched repulsively too

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kbaby, my dd often fed for 40-50 minutes, ds did about 10, it's now nearer to 5 (he's 9 months now). I think 20 minutes might be a good average but all babies are different and so I would say don't worry about the book.

Mine both fed every 1-2 hours both day and night when they were that age and for some time after that.

Sounds like everything is perfectly normal to me!!

PS If they do cluster feed, during the day is definitely the better option, I know from bitter experience!! at your 3 hour gaps at night, I haven't got to that yet with ds.

Kbaby ... with my first DS each feed used to take forever, and the next would start an hour later (ie. he'd stay latched on an suckling gently for up to an hour), he took 5 wks to regain his birthweight. DS2, on the other hand, never fed for more than 10 mins (for a while it was 5 min feeds) was up to his birthweight inside a week and still, at 6 mths, feeds inside 10 mins. The books are a guideline and every baby is different - as long as yours is gaining weight, has plenty of wet and dirty nappies and is happy and bright, I wouldn't worry too much! Enjoy it!

kbaby, I think you are worrying unnecessarily. All 3 of my babies never fed for more than 5-10 minutes at a time because my milk came through very fast. It sounds like yours does too. Mine all fell asleep at the breast and would not take any more either. They were also feeding about 3 hourly in the night and much more in the day which I think is normal for such a young baby. As long as they are producing wet/dirty nappies and are content I wouldn't worry. It all sounds perfectly normal to me.

All sounds normal to me too! 3 hours at night is great at 2 weeks - mine only did 1.5!! They all seem to comfort feed at that age, but wouldn't you? mum's big warm boobs are a dream to young babies!! Keep what you're doing IMO, feed on demand for however she wants. Be led by her and as long as she is putting on weight, with plenty of wet nappies I wouldn't worry. You might find that she stocks up during the day to go longer during the night eventually.

kbaby, my ds never fed for more than 10-15 mins and piled on the weight from day 1. He also fed every couple of hours in the first few weeks. What you're doing sounds absolutely fine and normal. TBH (and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm talking rubbish) but even at this early stage your dd would be unlikely to be falling asleep unless she was satisfied - you've just got a very efficient feeder

Don't go too rigidly by the books (I know it's easier said than done when it's your first - my head was never out of them in the first couple of months!) but as long as you've got those wet/dirty nappies and the weight's going on, she's fine!

Another mom here of a child who rarely nursed for more than 5-7 minutes (ok, I tell a small lie, her bedtime feed was sometimes 20min) -- but she gained beautifully. She was only 7lb at birth, too. The only possible problem is that (age 2.5yo) she still doesn't like to drink fluids!

Hi kbaby,

My dd2 is 9 weeks old and rarely fed for more than 10 minutes at a time until she hit 6 weeks. Since then she has fed anywhere between 5 to 20 minutes (still usually 1 breast and less than 10 minutes). Occassionally she will take both breasts. Either way she puts on between 6 to 8 oz every week (she was 8lb 10oz at birth) so length of feed doesn't seem to matter much .

Again up until 6 weeks she was waking every 1.5 to 2 hrs for a feed day and night, unless in her car seat where she would (and still does) happily sleep for hours at a time . Now she's upto 5 - 6 hrs between feeds at night and I only get up once .

Remember 3 things:

1. first of all it's hot and some of the time your little one (like mine) will only need a drink, so will only feed for a few minutes before falling asleep (my dd also fell asleep every feed until 6 weeks). Now she will often feed and remain alert and nosey afterwards.

2. Babies can't read and they don't know that they are supposed to feed for 20 minutes at a time, taking both breasts at each feed etc. etc. etc.

Sometimes the baby books are best confined to a dark corner only to be brought out at times of great need for guidance only.

3. Every baby is different and she would soon let you know if she wasn't happy.

Hope this helps

Emo xx

kbaby as others have said, sounds fine. I recall my DD (no 2) fed for at most 10 mins at a time. DS2 was also a quick feeder. It's partly practice and skill (from you and the baby) and partly just how they are - some babies are very sucky and will stay on for up to an hour if you let them, tho probably have had all the milk they need before that...sounds like you are doing very well. Tiktok is indeed a bf counsellor and maybe can reassure you further if needed. I agree with Clayhead, lots of feeds in the day then big gaps at night is good! My DD did that and slept thru at 9wks.

kbaby, have responded to you on the other thread, but wanted to say that the books you have read saying 20 minutes are wrong. As if anyone could say how much time any individual baby should have....it's ridiculous. Human beings don't work that way!

Hi kbaby, as the others have said - don't worry - easier said than done, esp. with 1st I know. My 3 were all 'speed feeders' - 5 minutes on av - 10 max. They never went for 20 minutes. I'm sure some do, but don't worry if yours isn't 1 of them.

Re the feeding in daay, are you sure she's definitely hungry each time? I think it took me 3 babies before I really learnt what they wanted, but I think the temptation if to feed when they might be crying for another reason. Sure the feeding will often settle the crying, but might not have been why she was crying in the 1st place, iyswim. i know even with ds3 it took me a few weeks (dum or what) to realise he was tired at 7 - 10 o'clock every night when he was crying. All that jiggling and the poor soul just needed some peace & quiet & be in bed.

Just don't be a slave to the feeding, I bet it's often not the reason for the crying, so I wouldn't rush to feed when she starts to cry. With my 1st I was feeding him 13 times a day, so probably similar to you, and it was a killer. You'll get seriously exhausted & fed up.

Have you tried a book like Gina Ford. Very controversial I know, but I found her useful, especially as a 1st timer when used as a guide rather than a bible.

2 weeks is still very early though, and it will sort itself out. best of luck

have responded to you on the other thread too - how's it going kbaby?

Thanks everyone. The health visitor came on monday and weighed her and shes now 8lb 9 which is a weight gain of 1lb 2 oz since birth 19 days ago. So she must be getting enough to eat. Im still a bit confused though shes quite a sucky baby and wakes crying and wanting to suckle, she tends to do this within 1 hour of being put down. sometimes shell go back to sleep if you cuddle her whereas others she wont settle until you give her your finger. Because she may have only fed 1 hour ago i was assuming it couldnt be hunger and so havent been feeding her. How do i know if she just wants to suck at the breast for comfort or if she does actually want food. I know its a bit of a silly question but i hant yet worked out what her differnt cries mean.

Forgot to mention, Ive tried the gina ford routine but DD slept and woke at different times and then woke screaming so I fed her which threw the whole schedule out the window as she didnt want feeding when she was supposed to.
Also if in her car seat or being cuddled she will also sleep for 4-5 hours without waking for a feed.

It may be that she wakes at the end of her natural sleep cycle, which (help me out someone as it's ages since I was at uni doing this!!) I think at this age is 45mins. I used to offer the breast whatever - if she wasn't hungry then she wouldn't feed and I would take her off. She sounds like our DD used to be. Take a day at a time and within a couple of weeks you will notice a difference in her. A week at this age is a huge amount of developmental time for her. My advice FWIW is to feed her on demand, pacify her with the breast and keep her close in a papoose thingy. She will feel more settled then and get used to her new world with the comfort of knowing that you are close at hand (or boob!).

How did I manage to post this on the wrong thread!!!DURRRR????

oh god, now I know I AM stupid. Not the wrong thread at all. Will go and boil head immediately