DS feeding every hour

8 replies

berri · 30/01/2009 14:54

My little boy is 8 wks old but was 8 wks early so now just approaching his due date. He has been breastfeeding really well but the last couple of days he has been wanting to feed about every hour to an hour and a half.

If I try to leave him for a bit longer he gets into a state and he really does seem hungry rather than just wanting to be picked up.

He keeps falling asleep feeding so I have been trying to make him wake up a bit to finish the feed, but even if he goes for 30 mins or so he still wants more in another hour. He will only sleep in between if I lay him on my chest so I am feeling pretty knackered!

Do you think perhaps I'm not making enough milk for him? Should I get some formula to give him a top up? My boobs feel pretty floppy so maybe there's not enough being made in between his constant feeds?

Sorry for the long post, I'd appreciate any advice before I start to go bonkers.

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 30/01/2009 14:58

He is probably just going through a growth spurt. These usually only last 2-3 weeks at the most but can go on up to 8 weeks!! Just warning you incase it goes on for longer than you expected and you start doubting your body's ability to make enough milk. He will be feeding more often to try and increase your supply. When that happens his feeding should settle back down to normal.

SydneyB · 30/01/2009 15:01

I am far from being an expert - there are lots of them on here though - but this sounds utterly utterly normal to me. My DS who is now 14 weeks has had a couple of days of feeding hourly again and I'm pretty sure it's a growth spurt. At 8 weeks its normal for them to feed hourly or even more frequently. My advice would be to put him on the minute he meeps as that's the way he'll build your supply and eventually he will start to space his feeds out at bit. Keep going, you're doing an amazing job and I promise it will get easier!

fishie · 30/01/2009 15:08

is he pooing? wet nappies? gaining weight? i mean is the milk getting in?

if so then it is just supply and demand, when he needs more he will feed more which will stimulate an increased supply of milk. if you give formula you will interfere with this process and your supply will dwindle.

IAteMakkaPakka · 30/01/2009 15:14

I would echo the other posts - just feed, feed, feed. They go through spells like this, it seems, and it is tedious beyond belief at the time but provided you go with the flow and let him feed then your boobs will work their magic and keep up with his demands, and everything will settle down again before you know it. In the meantime, ensure you have a good supply of cake and constant access to the remote control

Original poster

berri · 30/01/2009 15:24

fishie - meant to mention the nappies in my post - he's doing plenty of wet nappies but not really many pooey ones, he went 4 days last week and so far 2 days this week without one. My HV said this is normal though and he's putting on lots of weight each week.

He stops me feeding him each time by sticking his lips out, but within about 10 mins he'd let me feed him again?

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fishie · 30/01/2009 15:30

well it all sounds fine then berri, just a slog. kellymom is a fab resource and can answer many many questions that you hadn't even thought of asking!

Original poster

berri · 30/01/2009 15:34

Thanks for all the replies so quickly - fishie I'll have a look at that site, thank you.

Guess I'll just stick with it, glad to hear there might be an end in sight....

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pookamoo · 30/01/2009 15:40

Hi berri I had the same thing last week with my 8 week old DD and I got the exact same answers: growth spurt! You're not alone, but it is frustrating because 2 weeks ago she was doing 25 minutes every 3 hours nd now it's as if she is a newborn again! If you want to exclusively breastfeed don't be too tempted to top up with formula because it will interfere with your supply, as I think someone has said.

Flip