daft questions over how long breastfeed lasts

[MamaMaiasaura]

Baby is 3 months old now and have been feeding for shorter periods. In the morning he only feeds for around 10 minutes and seems satisfied. However before bed he feeds for about 30-50 minutes. HE has been sleeping from 8am to 4am and feeding for 10/15 minutes then having another feed around 8.20.

Last night he went to sleep at 8.40 (old time) and woke at 7.40 for 10 minute feed (my boobs were really full!) HE then promptly fell asleep and is still asleep next to me. That is a long sleep and I am being all paranoid that he is sleeping too long and his feeds are too short.

Weight gain has been very good 6-10oz per week until last 2 weeks which has been 3 oz a week. He had been poorly about 10 days ago, bad cold. He weighed 15lb on Thursday.

My main questions are how long should he nurse for and is 10 solid sleep stretch too long for him to go at this age?

he woke at 10.15 and has been nursing now for 30 min. I guess he just needed a very long sleep. he is nursing with eyes closed now so all sleepy again.

There is no fixed time really. With my first dd she fed for an hour at a time, and with my second it was never more than 10 minutes.

hi awen!
not sure the sleep as my wee bugger darling has reverted to waking every 3hrs to feed... but she has also cut down some of her daytime feeds too - i'm still a bit stressy over it but got some good answers here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1364/500946?stamp=080329152314

i think their weight gain slows down after 3/4mths anyway?

i think at 3mth and 15lbs the sleep should be fine? but hopefully someone who knows more will come along soon!

Weight gain sounds fine to me - 3 oz a week at 3 months is OK I'm pretty sure. It does slow down around this age and if he's had a cold that won't be helping. A personal word of warning... if he's doing well stop weighing weekly as you'll make yourself paranoid as the difference between a full tummy, just done a poo etc can make a big difference when they're not gaining as fast.

As for feeding times, my DS did that. He was a 40 min feeder then suddenly became a 15 min feeder! DD has always fed for 10 mins or less. Sounds like he just needed a catchup with his sleep. If he has plenty wet nappies, dirty ones are soft and yellowy (though don't have to be frequent), he seems contented (though mine were grouchy at that age for no reason lol) and he's gaining weight then just go with it and enjoy your sleep.

Oh, to get a big sleep like that

I think when baby is hungry you would know about it and when they are not interested in the boob there's not much one can do about it!

My ds is nearly 11 weeks and have noticed a change happening with his feeding and sleeping too, so I don't think this is something to worry about, but hopefully others can share too.

If he's putting on weight, and is having plenty of wet and dirty nappies, then let him sleep. You might be lucky and have a baby who has decided that nights are for sleeping! If thats the case, he'll most likely catch up on his feeding during the day.

Also, like you've probably read in the thread Caz10 linked to, they do start becoming more efficient feeders around this age, so can take as much as they need in less time than before..

So in short, relax and enjoy the rest! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the unbroken nights hold for you..

thanks for advice I think it was a catch up sleep and he did massive nappies today (been a week since last one). My sensible head tells me it is nothing ot worry about but irrationality does creep in. HE has had longer feeds today too. the bedtime one over an hour and swapped boobs, so sweet.

Isn't a nice feed so nice Awen?! Mine are few an far between they are more like fights at the mo, but a nice proper good feed is so lovely! Fingers crossed you keep getting sleep!

10 hour sleep was a fluke he went till 4am, which is still fab IS whinnying for more milk now so got to go get him x