Feeding too often??

[BelindaBB]

I need some advice from experienced breast feeding mums.

My tiny little bubs, during the afternoons (and sometimes evenings) seems to want another feed after maybe 1.5 hours??

At night I can feed her and she wont wake up for about 3 hours (which is great) but during the day, she can wake often and appear hungry.

Anyone have any ideas why she wants more during the day? Could I be reading her wrong? When I put her on after 1.5 hours she feeds for about 5-10 minutes before falling asleep. A full feed for her seems to only be about 20 minutes in total anyhow - maybe thats not long enough?

I am just "winging it" at the moment so any helpful suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks
Belinda:)

[xkwzit]

Hi Belinda
It not unusual for babies to cluster feed in the arvos and evenings, they might be stocking up to sleep a bit longer at night. It shows that your DD at least knows her day from night which is terrific.

Its also not unusual for babies to want to feed more frequently in hot weather, they get thirsty and need more liquids (hence the shorter feeds, which will be primarily watery fore milk and not staying on for the creamier hind milk.

DD1 was a summer baby and if at home, would often feed every 1.5 to 2 hours during the day. But then she would sleep for good long stretches at night, so her total number of feeds during the day were only one more than the "average" number. I would not stress too much for now, but I would try to keep her awake for a feed, by taking off all unecessary clothing (so she's not too warm) and perhaps changing her nappy in the middle of the feed. They change so fast at this age, that you don't need to worry too much about "bad habits". :D

Cheers

[O&GMUM]

You will get lots of good advice from here on this topic, I always have. I just wanted to say if you think your baby needs a feed then feed her. You are doing a fantastic job.
Im still BF my 10 month old twins and even though we are on a routine now, when they where little I demand fed as I felt as thought they needed it.
Good luck.

[JodieC]

The best advice i can give you about breastfeeding is that your baby will know when shes had enough and when she wants more.

My 2nd baby wanted to be fed every 1-2 hours before i started him on solids, was quite tiring but i lost heaps of weight from it .

My 3rd was about 1.5-2 hours during the day and he slept pretty much all night from 6 weeks on.

20 minutes sounds fine to me, I know its hard to know what youre doing sometimes, i thought it would be easier with my 3rd but i think its harder, but it sounds like youre doing a fantastic job. As long as shes gaining weight and seems content then shes probably getting enough.

I too am worried whether my 4 month old is getting enough, he only seems to feed for about 10 minutes total for each feed, but then again i did express 230ml in less than 10 minutes not so long ago

[Jem]

I used to feed mine when they wanted it, and as much as they wanted...
im still co-sleeping and bf ds2 (10 months) and i can wake as many as 8 times + a night to feed :D As long as they are puttin the weight on and content, then no prob :thumbsup:

[Miaow]

Ej feeds a lot more in the afternoons than the mornings but gradually its easing up in the evenings - but I'd say she be feeding at least every 1.5-2hours most of the day.

[Jo_Jo]

hi belinda,

This is normal and you are doing a great job, bubby will be thriving and yes bubby is knowing night from day!

you go girl and bubby:smiliedance:


cheers.


me 33
dh 29
dd 15
ds 11
bubby boy 10 months

[BelindaBB]

Thanks heaps everyone. Its great to know that I appear to be doing the right thing. In the hospital the midwifes give you so much conflicting advice that it really is hard to know what you really need to do.

Thanks again to all that have replied.

Belinda:smiliedance:

[Rhys'Mum]

My little man used to fall asleep feeding when he was very little (it takes soooo much energy to feed) so on advice from the lactation consultant who helped us with latching on probs I started changing him once he started dropping off and tried keeping him awake until he was satisfied by talking to him, wiping his face with damp facecloth, wiggling his fingers and toes.

Low and behold turns out he was still hungry when he first dropped off. When I kept him awake a bit he generally fed until he was full, pulled off contentedly and then dropped off to sleep. I actually continued changing him in the middle of a feed for months, it just became part of our routine. While it didn't instantly make him a good sleeper and he didn't suddenly move to four hourly feeds he slowly increased the time between feeds and I liked knowing that when he went to sleep he was as full as he was going to be, not just having a nap to recover from a little snack. That said, I wouldn't sweat it if bubs needs to feed often they only have little bellies and it is hard work being that little. But maybe try gently keeping them awake a bit and see if maybe they will take a bigger feed so they can have the best sleep they can.