11 week old feeding

[Holidaytime86]

DD is 11 weeks old tomorrow. She is EBF and seems to constantly want feeding when she is awake. She has already fed 9 times since 6am this morning. It can be up to 3 times in an hour. I’ve tried distracting her with a dummy, cuddles etc but she will scream for the boob. Does anyone else find this? Does it get easier?

If she is feeding more than usual it's likely a growth spurt or she's coming down with something.

Given her age, I'd guess growth spurt.

It will pass and she will settle in a day or two. Some breastfed babies won't poo during a growth spurt either as they are using all the milk they are taking.

While it's happening, make sure you're eating well, drinking lots and taking time to rest. No shame in snuggling up together on the sofa and watching a film or two.

Thanks, this just seems to be her ‘usual’ though. She’s always been hungry. She weighed 7lb 4oz when she was born and is now 13lb so she’s definitely putting weight on. I just wondered when it might get a bit easier as it’s tricky to feed constantly when we’re out and about and I’d love to be able to have some sort of routine.

Ah ok,

It will start to settle down soon as she transitions out of the newborn phase and into baby phase.

By 4 months a lot of babies have stretched how long between feeds.

One thing that some people find useful is to start putting a rhythm to the day.

So if she wants a feed at 7, get her dressed after and start your day. Take a walk about the same time each day. Have a sofa snuggle at the same time each day. Nothing too strict at this stage.

Thanks. We do have a bit of a rhythm. She feeds in the morning then we get ready and go for a walk to a baby group. She’ll sleep on the way there. It’s when we’re out and she’s awake that she’ll want several feeds e.g. at a baby group she wanted 3 feeds in 45mins. She fell asleep on the way home but woke up after 20mins screaming for more food. I tried pacifying her with a dummy, cuddling and talking to her but she doesn’t stop crying until she’s had another feed. She does suffer from reflux so it doesn’t all stay down. Good to hear that by 4 months it gets easier.

Yep seems normal. Does she sleep ok ag night? My baby is 12 weeks and feeds every hour - 90 mins in the day but then sleeps most of the night so I guess it evens out. My baby has fed 7 times so far since 7am - currently sat in home bargains carpark feeding her because she's fussing again!

It depends, some nights she goes 3hours but on other nights she can wake up every hour. She did her first 5 hour stint last week. I’m glad it’s not just me. She’s just fed twice in the last hour. It’s just hard when you’re out and about and you know that she’s only just been fed.

With both mine I didn't used to plan my days around places I liked feeding. We'd spend hours in our local cafes or shopping centre.

I do remember sitting under a tree feeding my eldest though when no where else presented itself.

Haha yes it’s fine when you’re somewhere that you can feed easily. Have been trying to plan days like that too. It’s more difficult when you’re on a bus or it’s raining and you’re on a walk. I’m just looking forward to being a bit more of a routine with it.

OP, I'm a breastfeeding supporter and I wonder if you have ever had her latch checked at a specialist drop in group? Sometimes we see babies who get to this age and are still feeding constantly, often they have a latch which is not optimal, but due to baby gaining weight well, and a lack of pain when feeding for mums, this hasn't been noticed. Is she very gassy, and does she ever make clicky noises feeding?

Normally babies of this age go through a bit of a leap and it may be that, but the fact that you say "this is just how she feeds" makes me think you could do worse than finding a local BF support group and getting your latch checked by a specialist.

It was checked in hospital when she was first born by some breast feeding support workers but not since then. She is very gassy, no clicking noise though. Any tips on what I can do? I will try and contact my local children’s centre that has a breast feeding support group.

The gassiness may also be a latch issue. Breastfed babies don't tend to be gassy because if they are attached well, they don't take in air whilst feeding.

I would ask your health visiting team/children's centre/local mum's group on FB if they know of any breastfeeding specific groups - preferably run by a lactation consultant or breastfeeding counsellor. The other things you can look up online are La Leche League, see if they have a group near you, or search for IBCLCs in your area - they may offer a free drop in service (several do in my area).

I've also just seen that on the ABM website (association of BFing mothers), they have a local support group tab which shows groups that run in your area, not just by their volunteers as I can see.one I know for a fact is not ABM in my area listed. They have phone numbers so you can call and check if it's running.

Yes it's normal, yes it gets easier. My 10mo only breastfeeds 3 times a day now. It's bliss. But I remember those days. Seem to remember it got better at about 5 months ish.

Hello, just wondering how you are getting on? I’m in the exact same position with my 9 week old. He is putting on lots of weight like your little one but wants to feed all day long! And night if he could! Been the same since about 2 weeks old!

I promise it gets better. I thought people were lying when they told me that or that nobody understood just how much my baby fed. She was feeding every 40 mins and unsettled if not feeding. When she got to about 12 weeks I noticed there was longer gaps between feeds which has gradually continued. She's 5.5 months now and feeds every 3-4 hours in the day.

I'm sure at around 8/9 weeks they are going through a big growth spurt and cluster feeding! Are you managing to get some rest?

Thank you for taking the time to reply, that’s good to hear! As I feel exactly the same, he feeds all day long with small snoozes in between! All the feeds roll into one! He’s basically been cluster feeding since birth! Night night is getting a little easier as he will go about 3-4 hours for the first part of the eve, then it can be every hour or 2! Which I think is very similar to what you put in one of your posts!
how old is your little one now?

Yes my baby was the exact same and I was convinced something was wrong with my supply etc. we did introduce a bottle of expressed milk before bed when she was quite young so I had abit of a break and her dad could feed her which helped. When she hit around 3 months she used to sleep 8-4 or 8-4 which was great. Then we hit the regression and her sleep is terrible but she's not waking because she's hungry. She is 5.5 mo that now and today has fed 4 times since 8 this morning which is a world away from how she used to be!