How long do you breastfeed a day?

[RaeRaeMama]

How long does your baby spend feeding over a 24 hour period?

I started recording how long my baby feeds a couple of days ago because I'm worried that she's gaining quite slow.

My LO is 8 weeks old and is feeding 8 and a half hours a day (over 24 hours)

She has 8 wet nappies and 2-3 dirty nappies, so nothing excessive

Also, for those that feed this much... is this how it's going to be until post 6 months?

I've never recorded how long over a day DD spends feeding, but it could well have been 8 hours at 8 weeks. She had a small mouth and I have large breasts so I don't think she was as efficient at milk transfer as she might have been.

Also, for those that feed this much... is this how it's going to be until post 6 months?

DD is now 4 months and has really got noticeability quicker at feeding and started going longer between feeds in the last couple of weeks. So hopefully things will get quicker for you before 6 months.

DD is 10 weeks and feeds about every 3 hours, sometimes every 2 hours. She takes about 10 minutes to eat, but then often hangs about sucking every once in a while, I think for comfort.

I'll time tomorrow out of interest.

So, 4mo old baby and kept a record of his feeds yesterday. 63 minutes in total.

7.30am 5 mins
8.30am 6 mins

10.30am 5 mins
11.30am 5 mins
1.00pm 6mins
2.45pm 8 mins
5.15pm 6 mins
7.15pm 14 mins
4.30am 8 mins

OP, 8 and half hours a day sounds very long - that's about an hour per feed.

Every baby is different and it sounds like her out out is great - plenty of wet and dirty nappies, but I'm not sure the feeds should last more than about 30mins max.

I used an app to log feeds and looking back now at 8 weeks my little one was on the breast for a max of two hours a day, across 10-12 feeds.

hi OP, when mine was newborn I sometimes spent the whole day in bed with him so he could feed while I rested and I think he could easily have fed for 8 hours in 24. one night I remember it was pretty much straight through from 7 ish till 11 or 12! although I did let him 'comfort feed' too. why are you worried about weight gain? do you think there is a problem with milk transfer? I think it depends too if you take her off when she has finished actually drinking milk or if you allow her to comfort suckle. nothing wrong with that and in the early days I believe it encourages milk production and allows baby to get the fatty milk towards the end of a feed.

also mine got very efficient and the length and frequency of feeds gradually reduced so by 6m he was feeding a few times overnight plus 2 or 3 times during the day. but each feed was only maybe 5 or 10 minutes long.

Mine was about the same then. Now he’s 4 months it’s probably more like 3 to 4 hours a day.

My baby could definitely spend up to an hour feeding sometimes. I’m sure some of that was comfort rather than nourishment, but that’s how long it could take.

His weight gain has always been excellent, so I’ve just reassured myself with that - he must be getting enough, even if it’s taking a while!

My 9 week old does 3 hours normally but can go up to 4, plus he has 1-2 bottles a day of formula which isn’t included in this.
8 hours seems a lot to me (but not an expert). Has your LO been checked properly for tongue tie? My boy didn’t get his noticed and fixed until 7 weeks

Every baby varies massively in how long and how often they feed. One thing that does cross my mind though is tongue tie - my second baby had one and wasn't very 'efficient' at feeding. Once it was snipped he was much faster. It's not always noticed at the hospital. In my case he'd been given the 'all clear' but having previously fed his brother for 14 months with only a 4 month break until ds2, I knew something wasn't quite right and got the peadiatrician back to check again, and it still wasn't noticed. Got to a breastfeeding cafe and they noticed as soon as he opened his mouth to cry! This is my rather longwinded way of saying can you get someone who knows what they're doing (not someone who's learnt it from books) to sit with you for a while to see what is happening. There might be a problem with latch, or position, or she might just be slow to feed. It is just a phase, she will get faster and go longer between feeds, and try to remember that you're not alone at 3.30am when it's been a very long day, well done for getting so far.

My first dc was sucking for comfort and I got very sore.
The midwife advised me to give him a dummy because I got mastitis.
Initially I wasn't keen but once he took it, he wouldn't immediately, my life was so much easier.
He only ever got given his dummy at nap time so it wasn't much of a problem except when he 'lost it' in his cot and we had to pop it back in.

My ten week old also takes an hour per feed. It's exhausting! 8 weeks is prime for a growth spurt though do hopefully your baby is encouraging supply and will speed up soon