I just can't believe that he's getting enough.......

[2cats2many]

My ds is 10 weeks old. He was over 10lbs at birth and the last time I got him weighed (at 7 weeks old) he had just ducked below the 98th centile to around the 90th.

He feeds every 3-4 hours with the odd cluster feed in the evening (not every night). At night, he's starting to go for 5-6 hours between feeds.

He feeds on one boob for about 5 minutes (10 minutes is a long feed) and then pulls off. If I offer him the other boob or try to get him to take more, he gets very annoyed. He just doesn;t want to take any more.

My rational voice tells me that he must be getting enough, but I can't help but worry, especially when friends tells me about their babies feeding for 15-20 minutes on each breast.

Has anyone else had a speed-feeder?

Yes. My DD never went for more than 5 minutes or so, (except for when she was three weeks old and had that awful guzzling 48 hours). Some of them are just made that way.

Yes, speedy feeder here too. DS2 is now 14 months but used to guzzle, even as a newborn, each boob in about 5 or 10 minutes. If I tried to push him to have more, he would just get upset or be very sick at that age, so I decided it was not worth it and I let him take what he wanted, when he wanted. He sounds like he's doing brilliantly and you have no reason to worry. They are all different!

Yep! DD1 would feed for an hour at a time, DD2 would feed for about 30 mins at a time and my DS can get latched on let down and of again within 10mins. Its called you are very lucky!! Just make sure you always offer more if he doesn't want it then thats fine. My local health visitors clinic is happy to weigh babies every week and that really can lay your worries to rest.

One week my DS put on one and a quarter pounds on boob alone. (and I had been worried!!)

KKQ x

my ds was very fast at that age. He was in scbu until three weeks and we would top him up with ebm through his nasal tube as he learned to bf after being ko for a week.

Soon enough I felt he had enough but nurse said no, he has not fed long enough, give him topup. So the topup merrily sat in the tube, tummy full, nowhere to go

I had and have a skinny thing, and he has always fed often, but I would expected a baby on the 90th centile to be quicker to sleep longer as they weight as much as some older babies.

Yes. DS never feeds for longer then 5-10 min and usually only one side.

He went from 25th to 91st centile in 12 weeks and has continued to be a chubber along the 91st ever since (now 7mo).

Thanks for the replies ladies. He's currently conked out on the sofa after an incredibly speedy 4 minute feed!!!

ah, now conking is the only proof you need

Yep DS does that he's off the top of the charts DD used to do marathon feeds and was also off the top of the charts.

He's just a more effective sucker

DS feeds between 5 and 10 minutes, one breast only each feed. Hasn't been weighed in a while now, but he was climbing from the 25th to 50th centile for the first two months.

He pulls himself off when he's done (and writhes around pulling faces) and fills his nappies often, so seems he's getting all he needs! He can go up to 6 hours at night on just a 5 minute feed as well.

yours sounds exactly like my DS. He's a 'one boob in 5 mins' man too. We started out at 99.6 percentile and have dropped on (while I tried the Gina Ford routines ) is gaining like a trouper again now that we've gone back to baby-led feeding. If he puts his mind to it he can go 5-6 hours at night - his record is 9 (I was a new woman the next morning).

I had a speed-feeder too. Was over one before he wanted more than one boob at a sitting, and over two before he wanted more than 10 mins

My boy is a very speedy feeder too! Barely 5 minutes (both breasts combined) and he's done- he's 5 months old now, and at your baby's age, he used to breastfeed for slightly longer- 10 mins all in all. So don't worry, it seems that it's completely normal (even though I too find it implausible that in 5 mins they can eat what they need. But there you go).

Yup, my 15 week old big boy too - one breast only,for a maximum of 8 minutes. Pulls a face if I offer him the 2nd breast - quite rude really!

You are actually one of the lucky ones!! Some people have to deal with babies that take an hour to feed. I'd rather have a 5-10 mins ones myself!

Yep, my DD2 is a speedy feeder too and she's 91st centile.

My dd1 took 45 minutes to an hour at first = then at 3 months she changed and was done in less than a third of the time. Like you I was very worried but his weight gain is good and he is content - you have nothing to worry about. You are both obviously highly efficient!

My dd3 was a speedy feeder. To be fair she was tongue-tied initially and fed for short bursts very often as she exhausted herself on the breast. But, she had her tongue tie released when she was 13 weeks old and continued to be a speedy feeder - 10 minutes was very long indeed!

She was over 9lb born and has hovered between 91st and 98th centile since

I considered myself very lucky to have a quick feeder - it certainly beats sitting there for hours on end, particularly when there's stuff to be done

Is your son having plenty wet/soiled nappies? Is he content in general?
You have already said that he is putting weight on nicely and is sleeping well - it all sounds good to me

Enjoy him