Sometimes it's even as frequent as 1 1/2 hours!!?? Is this common? I can't get him to nurse longer than 10 minutes....usually it's only about 5 and he's a really vigorous nurser and he never wants the other side just one breast per feeding. When do they usually start to go longer between feedings? Thanks for any help!!
2007-02-11 15:28:20 · 11 answers · asked by Melissa t 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
It can be normal. Milk is designed to be species specific and to be digested easily by the species for which it was created, so humans can easily digest human milk. As such, he may want to nurse often.
I don't recommend offering cereal before six months (and at six months, you don't even need to offer cereal). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends *only* breastmilk for the first six months of life.
How are his wet and dirty diapers? If he's producing enough diapers and gaining weight well, I wouldn't be concerned with the frequency of his nursing. He'll only be little once and soon he'll be too squirmy and too busy to want to be held and nursed.
As for him only taking one breast per feeding, that is normal and ok if he's gaining and producing enough diapers. He's getting the foremilk, which hydrates him, and the hindmilk, which fattens him up. Also, at this stage, he is going to start being more efficient at nursing and he will be able to get what he wants in 5-10 minutes.
2007-02-11 16:47:19 · answer #1 · answered by Lyndsey 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
yes its normal. My first child nursed CONSTANTLY I asked my dr. repeatedly and they just laughed, lol. She would nurse sometimes 2-3times an hour. Then she just slowly let up.
My son nursed every 2-3 hours for a few months, and would only do one breast at a time as well.
Thats fine as long as you can remember which breast he had last so you don't get engourged on the other, its not a problem.
By about 4 1/2-5 mos you can start giving cereal that will help a lot too. Odds are if he's only doing it for 5 min at a time, its more of a pacifier for him.
2007-02-11 15:37:32 · answer #2 · answered by Chrissy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Whatever anyone has said - DO NOT GIVE BABY ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES MILK (BREAST OF FORMULA) UNTIL AT LEAST 4 MONTHS OLD, it is not recommended or necessary. There tummies can only cope with milk and this is all they need for the first 4 to 6 months.
It sounds like bub maybe having a growth spurt. Also, some babies prefer one breast over the other. At the beginning of a feed, try offering the non-prefered side first. If this doesn't work, try expressing the milk and giving it to him in a bottle.
It also sounds as if he may not be getting enough as he feeds for only a short time and quite fequently. Visit your docotor, but you may need to introduce bottle feeds (either expressed milk, or formula) to top baby up.
Also, check out how you are positioning baby. Is he latched on properly? Is he sucking okay? Is his head/neck at a good angle?
Remember perserverance and patience is the key. Breastfeeding is not easy, but worth it.
Good luck and I hope I have helped
2007-02-11 22:37:45 · answer #3 · answered by Claire K 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's normal. Breastmilk digests in about 90 minutes. Your child's tummy is TINY, only the size of his little fist. And he has just gone through a bunch of growth spurts very close together in the first 6 weeks or so. Have you tried doing breast compression while you nurse? This can help him get more hindmilk and might help him stretch his feedings a little bit. Your doc is nuts. This is a NORMAL pattern for an exclusively breastfed infant. He is thinking of formula fed babies. Call your local La Leche League for some good information and support.
2016-03-29 02:59:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes yes yes! And he really needs it to grow. My son nursed every two hours for 45 min. to 1 hr. each session (which meant that an hour after he was finished, he was ready to start again) until he was six months old. So be encouraged, 5 to 10 min. every 2-3 hrs is not that long and perfectly normal for his age. As long as he seems satisfied with just one breast at a time, then that is fine too. Trust him. He knows when he is hungry and when he is full. Babies do sometimes nurse more often during growth spurts (known as cluster feedings) but this should usually only last for a day or two at a time.
Don't worry, even though my son was six months old before he went longer between nursings, some babies are ready to go longer periods of time sooner. Around four months old he may be ready to go a little longer. Whenever you feed him, look for the signs of hunger such as sucking on his fists, rooting, or turning towards something brushing against his cheek. That way you won't just assume he is hungry and end up putting him to the breast too soon. But on the other hand, don't let him get too worked up or he will be famished and nurse very vigorously because he is so hungry. Unless he is just a naturally vigorous nurser and it may not make a difference.
Some people said to give him rice cereal, but this is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics before four months old. It is proven to cause food allergies and asthma because their digestive system is not ready for anything besides breast milk before 4-6 months old. La Leche League recommends even waiting until 6 months old before offering solids (anything besides breast milk). I started giving my son rice cereal at 5 1/2 months, hoping it would fill him up before bed and he would sleep longer at night. Nope. Did not work.
Just keep in mind that breast milk is "the perfect food" for infants and therefore it is digested efficiently and quickly, causing breastfed babies to get hungry sooner than formula fed babies. Formula fed babies are full longer because their digestive system takes longer to metabolize the formula that is processed and foreign to their system. It literally just sits in their belly making them feel full longer. Proof to me of how inferior formula is to breastmilk.
I recommend joining a local La Leche League group (you can find one by going to the national website and searching for one in your area). Their relaxed meetings involve other breastfeeding mothers asking questions, and sharing advice and experience. It is very encouraging to know that other mothers are going through the same challenges and feelings that you are.
You are doing a marvelous thing by nursing your child. Keep it up for at least a year (or longer--the longer the better!) Cherish this time breastfeeding your baby. As confining as it may sometimes feel, just enjoy it for now. Before you know it, he will be up and running away from you. This is just a short time compared to the rest of your life. Sooner than you think, these breastfeeding moments will only be a distant memory. Take care.
2007-02-11 17:36:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is completely normal. He may be going through a growth spurt right now. It should change around 2-3 months.
2007-02-11 16:08:21 · answer #6 · answered by Ducky's Mom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like all people its a personal preference thing bubs will do everything in his own time be patient dont force anything its quite natural .
2007-02-11 15:39:02 · answer #7 · answered by burning brightly 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
he will eat when and how much he wants to he doesnt eat very much per feeding but he eats more often its fine
2007-02-11 15:35:12 · answer #8 · answered by Crystal 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's not nursing anymore ,he's putting himself to sleep .
stick a pacifier in his or her mouth .
the clue is ,he's using one breast only .if you want some rest later on ,you need to put a stop to it ,or he will be doing this in church ,grocery store ,library ,and you wont have any life.
mother of 3
2007-02-11 15:35:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
yes it is normal, but the question is if your baby is getting full...i ended up having to start cereal early for the fact that my sons were not getting full...you should try it
2007-02-11 15:32:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋