problems feeding a 9-week-old

[alisons]

Hi everyone, has anyone had similar problems to what is going on with my dd? Since 7 weeks old or so she is getting more and more reluctant to feed during the day. She will only feed for about 5 mins at a time from early morning through to late afternoon, and is rarely demanding feeds, usually I'm giving them to her every 2/3 hours, then in the evening she will suddenly start feeding at half hour gaps for half an hour up to an hour a time, till she goes to sleep some time between 9 and 11 pm. The problem doesn't seem to affect either her naps or her night-time sleep. It's just I worry she can't be getting enough food, as she used to feed for half an hour a time every 3 hours or so throughout the day until she was 7 weeks old. I actually took her to the doctor who says she is in good health so am I worrying unnecessarily? There's no option of giving her bottle-feeds as top-ups because since day one she has refused bottles in any shape or form. Any tips for how to get her to feed longer during the day? I feel like I've tried everything - different positions, better latching on, feeding her after naps, cutting out distractions, and all the rest of it. Thanks for any help! Alisons

at 9 weeks, in fact for the first 12 weeks, they feed as and when they want, it's the best way really.
does she have at least 1 heavy wet nappy every 24 hours? If so then don't worry, she's fine, she just likes her feeds with you. She'll probably changer her pattern when she gets a bit more intrested in what's going on in the world around her.

Is she a good weight? The bf counsellor I saw said that (at 10 wks) my daughter should be able to go 4-5 hours between feeds so she might be snacking rather than being really hungry. Might be worth trying to wait a bit longer between feeds if she isn't demanding food to see if she feeds for longer? I'm down to 4-5 feeds during the day and 1-2 at night usually at approx 4hr intervals.

If she is otherwise healthy don't worry - things will settle down!

HTH
Rach

my 11 week old dd suddenly started having much shorter feeds in the day a few weeks ago, and like you I was worried, so I have been taking her to be weighed regularly and she is gaining weight at the same rate as always (6-8oz a week). The hv said she is probably just more efficient at feeding now. She still feeds much more in the evening until falling asleep around 7 or 8. Very similar pattern to what you describe. If she is gaining weight and having wet nappies etc I wouldn't worry (she says with hindsight, having worried about this a few weeks ago!).

RachL - I am dismayed at the rubbish the breastfeeding counsellor told you about 10-week-olds who 'should be able to go 4-5 hours between feeds'.....who on earth was that? .

This is totally wrong and could lead to underfeeding and great distress on the part of the baby. I don't think there are many adults who would avoid eating and drinking for 4-5 hours at a time.

If babies are happy and healthy with gaps as long as this then of course there is no need to worry, but to have this as some sort of goal because this is what babies 'should' do is....well, it's preposterous, and if you can tell me which organisation this counsellor was from, if she was from NCT (which is who I am a bfc with) I would want to follow it up

alisons - your baby sounds normal, though I agree her pattern is unusual....have you discussed it with anyone else such as a bfc (not the one who spoke to RachL ) ?

Thanks everyone, very helpful. I think she probably has got more efficient as early this morning she was sick after just 3 mins and there was an awful lot coming out. and probably she can now go for longer gaps than before, though I doubt she'd make 5 hours! My worry is that she doesn't always seem satisfied after the short feeds, she sometimes wants to come back on and then starts going on, off, on, off, getting frustrated - she goes on, as soon as she starts to swallow, she then cries and comes off. This tends to be worst first thing in the mornings. I wonder if this is an oversupply problem. I have seen a b/f counsellor but she isn't sure what the problem is, whether it's oversupply or undersupply, so I'm not sure what to try.

Hi I am having very similar problems with my 7 week old DS. I think the problem could be an overactive letdown reflex, ie your milk's just coming out too quickly? I am finding it a bit better using a nipple shield which lets them regulate the speed of the flow. Also try feeding lying down so gravity helps. Am also wondering if mine has reflux, because stops crying when I pick him up. Got some infant Gaviscon yesterday from GP but yet to get any in to him...

Oh dear....a breastfeeding counsellor who leaves a mother unsure if this is undersupply or oversupply

Was she a 'real' breastfeeding counsellor, or a peer supporter or just someone calling herself a breastfeeding counsellor

alison, you haven't said if you are happy with your baby's growth, though I guess you are, and the doc is happy with her health. So this is not likely to be a problem of undersupply....and from the further details of your situation, I would wonder if it is indeed oversupply with over-responsive let down reflex. You can try one sided feeding (check archives for details) to see if it makes a difference.

Sorry if I have given the wrong impression - new to MN and forgot how easily words can be misinterpreted . My daughter was regularly managing 6 hours+ at night - I was trying to feed her roughly every 3 hours during the day. The problem was that she wasn't really hungry when I tried to feed her - the bfc was making the point that she "could" go 4-5 hours not that she "should" (and this might not apply to all 10 week olds just my daughter). I was advised to check that she was actually hungry before trying to feed her and by waiting for clear signs we are having calmer/longer feeds - anything between 3 and 5 hours apart - I'm following my daughter rather than trying to follow a schedule!

Thanks for posting again RachL - but I didn't misinterpret what you said, I just read it!! That's what your post said

It's good things are calmer with your daughter and all is well

Thanks again, yes, she is a real breastfeeding counsellor, but very new I think. DD's weight gain has been fine, 6 oz a week Anyway, I've already been doing single-side feeding for some time, but I've now been trying doing two feeds in a row on each side. The feeds have been going better, not sure if there's a connection. Breasts are still always full to bursting first thing in the mornings. I could try a nipple shield at that time - waahwaah, what make do you use? I got some with an aveda breast pump that don't seem to fit my breasts or stick on at all.

alison, good to hear you seem to be experiencing a change though I agree with the implication that it's too early to be sure it will continue to help. Fingers X'd, though....

Nipple shields might mess things up, and you do need to give your current change time to work (or not) before intro'ing another variable, so you can be sure if something works, what the 'something' is. IYSWIM

Gentle hand-expressing to comfort only will help with the bursting....but only if you have to.