Exclusively breastfed on demand feeding log

[Littleguggi]

Hi all, my 5 week old is EBF on demand. I keep a log of her feeds (more so a reminder to me about when she last fed, but also to see if any patterns emerge, which I suppose probably won't with a baby who is fed on demand but hey ho)!

This is what her log looked like yesterday, and looks like most days tbh!

Thurs
2.40 r
4.15 l
6.25 r 05 l
9.42 r 40 l
10.15-40 l
12.15 r 45 l
2 r 30 l
3.25 l
4.15 r
6 l
6.30 l 45 r
7.55 r 05 l
9.15 r 40 l
10.50 r

The l and r is what side boob she fed on 🙈 lol

I remember midwife said baby should feed 8-12 times, mine is more like 12-16 times! Thankfully at night it's only once or twice.

What are others experiencing in terms of frequency of feeds? Tbh I'm enjoying camping out on the settee all day, but by the evening I'm exhausted and can just about escape to the kitchen to get dinner on!

Mine fed a lot at that age, between 12&16 weeks it settled down and the gaps became a little longer. DS had a dummy as well which cut down on the comfort sucking.

Looks quite similar to mine at that age in terms of number of feeds overall, only difference is mine would go slightly longer between feeds at certain times (night, midday) and cluster feed like crazy every half hour 5pm-10pm. I was told the 8-12 feeds thing and to me it seems plucked out of the air, in my NCT group there were women feeding hourly at this stage and others who fed every 4 hours on the dot, completely depends on the baby. Things got gradually easier for me from about 6 weeks.

I've never counted in nearly 6 years consecutive feeding my children. There won't be an enduring pattern, you just need to be responsive to your baby's needs, feeds will space out.
I worked with a woman who had a spreadsheet that logged every sleep and poo her 2 children had had. I asked what it was for and she was stumped for an answer.

Babies will feed more at growth spurts, at periods of developmental change, when it’s hot weather and they are thirsty, when they are hungry, when they think, “hmmm booby comfort makes me feel warm and safe...”. You really can’t expect a baby or a person for that matter to fit into a specified schedule. It took me ages to realise all those baby books about feeding every 3 hours etc were a complete waste of time. Also women’s boobs are also unique some can produce enough milk to feed an army (over supply) others have to feed their babies from two breasts at a time. The only things that matter are that the baby is gaining weight and is healthy, that you are not in pain from feeding, and that you are emptying your milk aonas not to get mastitis. Once breastfeeding is established I wouldn’t worry about keeping a record of feeds.

There's a growth spurt at 6 weeks so baby will probably be working up to that. I distinctly remember two nights at that age where DS2 cluster fed ALL NIGHT, finally settling at 4am.

I know it's easier said than done but if they're putting on weight I'd ditch the log and just crack on. You don't know if they're having a snack or a feast at each feed so the logs are pretty meaningless anyway. Get Netflix on, a box of chocolates, and enjoy!

Also, DS2 fed about every 2 hours day and night until he was at least 6 months. Schedule, my arse!

Recording the feeds isn’t really needed unless baby is not gaining weight tbh

It does look very similar to a lot of our early days. But you definitely favour one side - perhaps alternate slightly more.

Thanks guys. I don't plan to keep this log much longer, like @Fucket said, until bf is established which I think pretty much is now.

I remember keeping a log like this for 6 months with my eldest and it became a bit obsessive. It didn't serve any purpose and I couldn't explain why I kept it, so I empathise with your colleague @Her0utdoors. Once I ditched the log, I was able to enjoy another 6 months bf as and when, although feeds were more spaced out by then.

@MrsGrannyWeatherwax yes I did wonder why DD prefers one side to the other, any ideas why this could be? Could it be that I'm producing more on one side?

The only things that matter are that the baby is gaining weight and is healthy, that you are not in pain from feeding, and that you are emptying your milk aonas not to get mastitis

This is very true! Thankfully I didn't get mastitis with my eldest after bf for a year, hope I'm lucky this time round also!

I think most babies prefer a side, I just offered the opposite first. It might be a slower let down or because it’s not favoured the milk flow is lesser. Breast compressions whilst feeding from the R side might help increase flow.