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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Mothers of super-fast bf feeders...

17 replies

Picante · 14/11/2009 15:26

How fast is super fast?

How did you know your baby had finished?

What age did they start super-fast feeding?

I'm asking as dd (12 weeks) pulls off straight after the letdown and doesn't want to go back on. She seems to not need any more for the next 2 or 3 hours. Whole feed takes probably less than 5 minutes.

Paranoid mother that I am, I'm wondering if she's getting enough. Experiences of other super-fast babies appreciated!

OP posts:
Besom · 14/11/2009 15:32

My dd did about 3 mintues every couple of hours. I can't remember exactly when she started doing this but I do remember another mum commenting on it (and me getting paranoid) when she was probably around the same age as yours. Actually I think it probably just means your dd has an efficient latch.

The main thing is to keep an eye on their weight - my dd never had any problems this way. If weight is fine then nothing to worry about.

Original poster
Picante · 14/11/2009 15:35

Well she was born on the 98th and has dropped to near the 50th - but her brother did exactly the same thing and now eats lots and is very skinny so I'm not worried at the moment.

Thanks - she seems happy enough!

OP posts:
WhatFreshHellIsThis · 14/11/2009 15:42

Both my boys have fed very fast - DS1 more so as he doesn't eat that much, DS2 still pretty quick - a few minutes on each side. I have a very fast let down so they probably get enough quite quickly!

As long as there's no weight issues then no problem. I figured if they came off and didn't cry then they were finished!

BeehiveBaby · 14/11/2009 15:43

Mine fed for about 5 mins each side every 2 hours or so and slept for a 7hr stretch at night by this age. Weight gain was dramatic so obviously possible to feed in that time!

cantmummyhaveabreak · 14/11/2009 15:55

All Mine feed no longer than 5mins- and thats a massive enormous feed for us.... normally a feed will last 1-3 mins dependant on wether its after food/bedtime etc...

All mine were taking fast feeds from about 3 weeks old and going 3-4 hours in between feeding.

If anyone mentions it again just explain you have a fast letdown so baby has had to learn to guzzle fast!! It's actually a blessing to have a fast letdown IME!!

Original poster
Picante · 14/11/2009 17:51

Brilliant! It's actually taken me ages to work out she didn't want any more - I couldn't work out why she was crying when I tried to give her more!

OP posts:
BeehiveBaby · 14/11/2009 18:23

DD1 used to cry at the force of the letdown from the beginning! Mine have never sucked for comfort though as they would get more milk and pop I suppose, but I always felt that was something we missed out on in the speedy feeders camp .

CarGirl · 14/11/2009 18:28

When I switched from bf to ff at 4 months (returned to work) I couldn't believe how quickly dd could down a FULL bottle, it was scary, no wonder the feeds were so quick from me!

Original poster
Picante · 14/11/2009 18:49

Good point - she does down a bottle of ebm pretty damn fast, and when she sucks my finger it does feel like it may actually come off!

OP posts:
AbricotsSecs · 14/11/2009 18:55

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
Picante · 14/11/2009 18:57

Well I'm just about to move her into 6-9 month sleepsuits so...

OP posts:
cantmummyhaveabreak · 15/11/2009 10:19

Picante- going into 6-9 at 12 weeks is really good going- my DD2 is 9 mths on the 20th (but born 2mths prem) and is still quite happy in 3-6 clothing!! It''ll prob be new year before she's going into her 6-9!!

cwtchy · 19/11/2009 14:44

Both mine have been rather speedy feeders too..DS woke me at 3am this morning, he was full and back in his cot asleep by 3.07.

If he comes off for some reason during a feed though we get soaked!

RubyBuckleberry · 19/11/2009 16:20

My DS is pretty effficient! He guzzles for about 5 minutes, empties one side and then I try to squeeze a bit more out for him (hind milk paranoia) and then sometimes will guzzle the other side. I was concerned at first but he put on a pound one week and at least half a pound the other weeks. I only realised how fast my let down was when one day he came off virtually choking and it spurted about three foot - I grabbed an empty bottle and filled about 40ml in about 30seconds - just from it spurting into the bottle?!!? When he can't quite cope, I just hold a muslin square to my boob, let it soak up the fastest bt at the start and then put him back on - this slows things down a bit!

RubyBuckleberry · 19/11/2009 16:21

cwtchy - we get soaked too - and I go through breastpads like nobody's business!

NotQuiteCockney · 19/11/2009 18:17

I think if they pull off fast and are unhappy, then maybe there's something wrong. But if they pull of fast and are content, then they've obviously had enough.

I had a 'feeds continually' baby, and a 'feeds in five minutes' baby. The latter was a hell of a lot easier.

PuzzleRocks · 19/11/2009 18:20

Neither of mine have ever fed for more than 5 minutes. They are 2.7 yrs and 7 months and consistently on the 75th and 50th respectively.

Congrats btw.

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