11 week old feeds well for only about 5 minutes! is this normal? long.....

[chez33]

Hi fellow Mums

I wonder if you can help?

My 11 week old is EBF. We had a few initial problems as she was tongue tied but that's all sorted now as it was cut.
The problem I'm having is that she only seems to feed enthusiastically for about 5 mins (sometimes a bit more). In this time latch is great and deep and she sucks long and very hard. After that she comes off, I wind then put her on again she'll usually suck for a bit but keeps coming off and eventually I'll give up because of the fussing. I've tried breast compressions etc but doesn't seem to work and she genuinely seems to have had enough. She feeds on demand but very frequently, hence me thinking she is snacking, saying that, even after a 2 or more hour gap she will still take the same amount of time to eat. I rarely give the other boob these days because I'm convinced she can't have emptied the first. If I do give the other boob she may suck for a couple of mins at most but I'd rather keep her on the first to get to the good stuff. There are occasional times, and only when she gets very sleepy, when she will suck for quite a long time. So, my question is can she really have had enough in 5 mins? she's only a tiddler, must be about 10lbs by now at 11 weeks (born 6lb).
I have tried to stretch her to see if she would stop snacking but when she cries she gets quite distressed so I have to feed her!

Thank you in advance...

Cheryl

Watching with interest as ds2 is 6 wks and does the same but I must say, he does suck hard and fast and I can hear him gulping lots and feel quite empty after so I just presumed he was a faster feeder (ds1 would be at it up to an hour each time!!). I gave my first ever bottle of EBM the other day (3 ozs) and he took that in the same time which reassured me that he is probably having the right amount. I will be asking though as about to start a thread about something else to do with feeding etc.

The only thing I can suggest is if you think she's seeming hungry still, it MAY still be wind as I know both ds's wouldn't suck again until the wind was all clear (and I've looked after lots of babies as I'm a childminder and many have been the same about taking the bottle once started winding).

My baby does this and having seen a lactation consultant discovered he had a tongue tie. I think it is due to the tongue tie and he has to learn to use his tongue again (and work a bit harder when the milk is not squirting out.) It is hard work isn't it? I am doing a lot of multiple switching and deep breast compression. I also express and feed EBM to try and get out of the snacking cycle. I think it is hard and although I hope it isn't it may result in me giving up earlier than I had hoped

If she's putting on weight and producing lotsof wet/pooey nappies then all should be well. Some b/fedbabies are very fast feeders.

Agree with moondog as mine has normal wet nappies and is putting on weight fine

Yes lots of wet/pooey nappies and good weight gain. I know I shouldn't worry but it's my nature! I plan to breastfeed for as long as possible and want to get it right!

Thanks for the responses so far.

My first only ever fed for 5 mins at a time. I had a ferrocious let-down so probably like getting fed with the garden hose! Carried on feeding til he was 4! try not to worry, baby will lead you as she is doing. A nice steady weight gain and a relatively contented baby is all you're looking for. You ARE getting it right. well done you!!

Oh Chez33, I had this exact problem with my DS. I wish I had been sensible enough to listen to advice such as moondog has just given. I stressed so much worrying about the fore/hind milk, emptying the boob, books saying he should be feeding for 20mins... My DS was (and still is!) a very fast feeder. Please don't torture yourself like I did. All that matters is the wet/pooey nappies and weight gain.

OK I've listened and I'm officialy going to stop worrying!!

Thank you everyone who replied!

lol at getting fed with garden hose

hi mums. I had a terrible day..so worried about feeding. my baby 9 weeks EBF feeds sort of every 2 hours 5 minutes or less and sometimes the way he finishes off his feeding - by crying... i wonder whether to interpret this cry as " I have finihsed".. or is it a discomfort during feeding and he gives up?