Feeding for hours at a time

[Noona86]

I have a three week old baby and a rocky start to breastfeeding after a c section and midwives giving her formula in hospital. However have since got it going and she’s been exclusively breastfed for 2 weeks now. She feeds every 2-3 hours and each feed takes at least an hour. She’s also been feeding for 3-4 hours in the evening. I just got a message from a friend with a baby the same age who was distressed her baby had fed for a whole hour last night and now I’m wondering if what’s happening with mine is unusual or if there’s a problem. I am finding it totally exhausting and feel like she’s pretty much always nursing.

Personally I think the first couple of months of BF can be tiring. Baby is learning to feed and so are you.
There’s plenty of groups of FaceBook offering real-time advice with lactation consultants.
Local la Leche groups or breastfeeding groups. They currently do group zoom meetings too I’ve heard.
I’ve found them useful and reassuring it’s one of the only reasons I go onFB
Feeding for an hour at first isn’t unheard of. Usually babies get more efficient as time goes on xx
I’m still feeding every 2-3 hours a night at 6 months but everyone is different X

Totally normal OP, and well done you for keeping going! It’s really tough those first few weeks. My little girl always took 1hr+ to feed at first, but eventually (after a few months I think) dropped to just half an hour a feed.

The cluster feeding for hours in the evening very normal too, and will also go.

Get yourself a snack basket, something to read on your phone, and hang in there!

I really like this site for advice kellymom.com/hot-topics/newborn-nursing/

But what your describing sounds fine to me, in terms of frequency. Length I can't comment on, mine was on/off in 15 mins but more frequently feeding. If you're ok, baby is well and gaining weight, and you're coping, don't worry about what the others are up to. Baby is still very small and it does settle down.

And congratulations on your baby and on making BF work for you. It's hard work!