If you EBF a 7 week old - how frequently and for how long do they feed?

[Decaffe]

DS likes to go on the boob quite frequently throughout the day, and sometimes for up to an hour (though that isn’t very common - more usually it’s 20 mins). Three family members have expressed surprise at how frequently he feeds so I wondered what is normal?

His nappies are very good and also frequent and he is putting weight on perfectly along his percentile.

So, what is normal for a seven week old?!

Bump

I think I was feeding every 2h at 8 weeks, with a 4-6h gap in the night. The midwife told me that if the baby was feeding for longer than 30 minutes, they weren't feeding efficiently, but midwives aren't always right about breastfeeding. My LO got MUCH quicker at feeds by 12 weeks, down to <20 minutes (often <15m) in the day and under 30 mins for the middle of the night feed. Your baby might be feeding for comfort rather than nutrition (does it feel fluttery towards the end?) or falling asleep then waking back up to feed more?

When my baby got chewy or fluttery at the end of feeds, I would usually unlatch her myself. And if the evening feeds felt like they were going on a long time, sometimes my partner would give a small formula feed because we felt LO was getting tired and not feeding very well and just needed nutrients inside her - and she had already had BM so wasn't missing out.

Your baby might also be having a growth spurt. You're getting towards the end of the main period of cluster feeds now, although not the growth spurts!

My mum was similar with my EBF DD with her 'you do seem to feed her all the time' comments. I think it shows a lack of understanding breastfeeding in general. As others have said he could be increasing your supply with a growth or simply illustrating the non nutritive bit of breastfeeding. There is no normal other than following your baby's cues.

Normal. Larger / taller babies feed longer and more often. Provided he’s gaining weight normally it’s fine. All my kids used to feed every hour for 10 mins per boob, approx 15-20 feeds in a day. By 2 they were down to 10 feeds at night (which people who have never breastfed assume babies do at 9 months lol). By 4-5 they were on 2-3 feeds a night.

Exactly this. Mum and mil never breastfed but always had so many opinions - I just ignored them and instead got myself into a nurse-led breastfeeding support group.

They have a growth spurt a few weeks in I think so it may be that. Are these people who have breast fed recently if not id ignore or tell them how much you eat and when and demand that they eat exactly the same as you at the same time and take the same length of time eating.

id file it under useless pointless chatter which isn’t to be acknowledged personally.

It's normal, but also you forget once your DC are older so it does seem like a long time.

Just make sure you set yourself up a station with drinks / snacks/ books/ TV remote in reach and enjoy those long feeds. Remember they are for you too, they make you stop and sit and rest to help you recover from pregnancy and disturbed sleep at night. One of the worst things about formula feed g is that the mum then shares the feeding whilst she whizzes around to get stuff done and doesn't get that enforced break herself.

Hi OP! Sounds like you’re doing a great job. Try to ignore the unsolicited feedback.

I’ve fed two babies until after the age of one, so am by no means an expert, but this has taught me enough to know that all babies are different.

My eldest took ages to get the hang of BF, was admitted with jaundice and had to be fed at least every 3h for medical reasons for the first few weeks weeks. It always took him ages (up to an hour) to feed, even when he was better and older, but he fed pretty infrequently after the 3h timed feedings were over. At 4, still eats decent meals and has never been interested in snacking.

Youngest was born hungry, took to BF immediately, always fed quite quickly. Never fed particularly frequently in the day but definitelymore often than the eldest. Cluster fed like mad in the evenings, especially at around the age your LO is now, and I was totally surprised as it was so different to what I remembered!

Expecting my third and they’ll probably do something different altogether. 😂

it’s hard to remember. At that age they aren’t really on a schedule and sessions can take an hour. Some days it feels like you do nothing but breastfeed. That is perfectly normal.

From having breastfed two (and struggling with the first), I'd say as long as it's not painful for you and the latch seems good (no clicking etc,) and you've already said they're gaining weight well - then it's all good! My first used to breastfeed for a long time, but I had a low supply and she wasn't putting on weight. It doesn't sound like you have this problem at all. 20 mins isn't that long anyway. I'd ignore the unhelpful comments!

I EBF both of mine and feeding every 2h (or even more frequently) through the day at 7 weeks is totally normal , with one longer gap overnight hopefully.
Feeding for an hour is also normal and I wouldn't be concerned if it's only some feeds that are that long. If all feeds are lasting an hour it could point to tongue tie perhaps but doesn't sound like that's your situation. Your DS is probably feeding for comfort when he does that.

For me feeds got shorter and less frequent around the 3 months mark.

Politely ignore advice from people who haven't breastfed before or have breastfed years ago when a lot of incorrect advice was given. EBF is all about feeding on demand and following your baby's cues, if your baby is feeding more frequently or for longer at times it's all good for increasing supply.

If the hour long feeds are bothering you (I got a bit sore when mine wanted to be attached to the boob) and you think he's falling asleep on the breast or feeding for comfort you could introduce a dummy if you wanted to.

Sounds like you're doing a great job, it's definitely not easy at that age!

It sounds really normal for me. Bf babies also feed for comfort and when they’re tired - it’s not just about the milk. Both of mine loved the boob and fed all the time at that age. It tapered off as they got bigger and more interested in the world around them.

Thanks all, it’s good to know everything seems as it should be!