length between feeds

[Waytooslow]

Hi

My baby is 12 days old. He is breast feeding.
I keep reading and hearing that new borns need feeding every 2.5 to 3 hours but my baby just won't feed that regularly. He can sometimes go over 4 hours between feeds.

I've tried waking him to feed him (both at night and in the day) but he's so drowsy, it's a real effort and often he just won't take much at all.

My heart tells me to feed him on demand and that he'll let me know when he's hungry but my head (that has done all the reading) tells me he needs to feed more regularly.

He's putting on weight and the midwife is happy with his progress. I do get conflicting opinions from midwifes - some say I should be feeding 8-10 times a day no matter what, and some say I should go with him. He's usually getting about 7 feeds a day.

Has any body got any experience of this? What did you do!?

if he's putting on weight and got regular wet nappies, then there doesn't seem to be a problem - enjoy your rest while you can!

i'd only wake him to feed if it's getting on for 5 hours between feeds in the day

If he's putting on weight, then this may well be fine. Lots of wet and dirty nappies? Is he sometimes a bit alert in the day?

(By the way - there's a breast and bottle feeding section - you'll generally get more answers there ...)

Hi Waytooslow,

I'm currently doing a course to train me as a breastfeeding peer supporter and we covered this in class today.

The recommended 2-3 hours is so as your baby's energy levels don't drop too low to be able to ask for a feed(by crying!).

Breastmilk is composed mainly of water, fat and glucose. Baby needs the water to hydrate, the fat to grow and the glucose for energy so if he isn't having regular enough feeds (try for at least every 3 hours) there is a chance he won't have the energy he needs to demand the milk. It can become a bit of a negative circle IYSWIM?

Bear in mind though that all babies are different and if he is putting on weight and is alert when awake then he may be getting enough.

He will feed more when going through growth spurts and then when not in a growth spurt it will feel as though he isn't feeding as much even though he is still having enough.