How many TIMES a day for 12-day-old BF baby?

[angel1976]

Hi,

My baby is 12 days old today and he seems to be feeding well. However, the book says he should be feeding 8-12 times in a 24-hour period and I should wake him up to feed if he goes longer than 4 hours without a feed... He's currently feeding about 7 times a day and he can sleep for 4-5 hour stretches! The last time the MW came (at 10 days old), he has regained his birth weight, his mild jaundice is gone and she said to let him lead the feeding... He is spending about 30 mins on the first breast and then another 10-15 mins on the second... He is also doing about 5 pooey nappies a day... What do you all think? This is my first so have no idea what to expect! Thanks!

Ax

5t sounds absolutely fine - if he is gaining weight and peeing and pooing and sleeping he's over his jaundice I would just feed him whenever he asks. and make the most of the 4-5 hours - I suspect they won't last!

Make sure you rest as well - don't dash round doing housework while he sleeps!

Same advice, he's doing great - enjoy the breaks he's giving you!

Sounds fine- is a big baby? I suspect that a combination of big birthweight+ efficient feeding would cause him to settle into a pattern much faster than many babies.

Sounds like you are doing absolutely fab. I would just add that you shouldn't get disheartened if the feeding becomes more frequent at some stage, growth spurts happen and during these they tend to want feeding constantly. I thought my supply was down and changed to formula because I wasn't warned .

Congratulations on your new baby boy!

Sounds like you are doing absolutely fine to me. If he is doing lots of nappies and putting on weight and feeding well when he is awake, as Seeker says, enjoy the time he is asleep as it probably won't last. In a couple of weeks he will probably have a growth spurt and you will have to feed him more often and you will yearn for days like these!

Also, look at it this way, if you weren't doing it right the jaundice wouldn't have gone. You need to be feeding him to flush it out and you have done that.

I think sometimes we expect babies to be more trouble than they are but your's sounds like he is very content at the moment.

Hi,

Thanks for all your re-assurances... He has been an absolute doll except for his 'grizzly moments' now and then. I just hope he grows! It's so hard to tell at this stage if they are growing or not... Thanks all and hope to keep you all posted with good news...

Ax

Thanks smallwhitecat. He just had a 4.5 hours break and after his last feed, he is now feeding 2 hours after that feed so I guess he is making up for it,,, Do you know of a weight chart I can look at?

Do you have his Red book yet? Maybe not if you haven't met the HV but charts are in there.

Oh yes, I have the red book but haven't looked in there yet as HV hasn't been... Thanks!

Sounds good to me. I have no idea what ds2 weighs, I just go by his nappies. As long as they are not going any longer than 3-4 hours inbetween feeds, it will be fine.

Oh and please come and join us on the Feb thread! We are still under ante-natal (most of us have had our babies but we are just staying there until the final one amongst us has popped!)

Sounds good - would second Tori's advice about watching for growth spurts - you have to have faith that you will produce enough milk on days when all they want to do is feed!

Hi

My ds is the same age and seems to be feeding constantly. Barely getting a two hour break over the last day, even at night the most he sleeps will be about 2 and a half hours. but he is putting on weight and plenty of nappies to change. is it too early for this to be a growth spurt? I think I will perservere for another couple of weeks and then might add in a formula bottle at night just to fill him up as not sure I can sustain this.

Is there any food that I can eat to help with making my milk more filling?

I seem to recall 13 days being a growth spurt time - they have quite a few in the first few months, and then they start to spread out a bit. Wattie, they feed more to increase your supply to match, but generally speaking it does only last a few days to a week. You should fine him easing up, and it's unlikely you'll need to introduce formula. I do sympathise, though - growth spurts can be very hard work!

Hey beansprout, thanks for the invite! I was due to be a March mommy but LO decided to come a week early!

Thanks everyone for their kind words... It's really good to get support like this.