Breastfeeding moms, help me out?

Question

My son is almost 7 weeks old. When he was first born up until about 4 days ago, he would eat every 2 hours. Sometimes even sooner than that. Well, now he's only eating every 4 or 5 hours. And less when he does eat. Is it normal for him to be eating that far apart? I talked to his doctor and he say that he wasn't concerned because he's still gaining weight. I"m still a little worried though. How often did your 2 month old eat??? and also, is anyone only breastfeeding? my doctor recommends i start adding solid foods at 6 months. but i was thinking i would just breastfeeding for a year. will that starve my baby or is anyone doing that? thanks for the advice......

Answer 1

As long he is peeing and pooping enough, and is gaining enough weight, he is gaining enough THEN he is getting enough PERIOD. I would aim for a minimum of 8 times a day though, less than that and you may have problems with your supply. As for often well my son has always nursed every hour or less, and ever 1-4 hours at night but some babies are just like that, it doesn't make either one of them abnormal (FYI my son is almost 15 months.

I was going to withhold solids until 8 months as that reduces the rate of anemia to zero (assuming that you started with a healthy full term baby). However every single day my son was eating the grass at the park, and every single time I ate he would scream unless I only ate when he was sleeping. So at 6.5 months I started solids, but only ever 2-3 days really. I would have to be eating something he wanted -then he got some. He was 10 months before he ate solids every day. And around year he started eating real meals. That may have more to do with me getting pregnant though.

It is perfectly ok not to give any solids for the first year, there is nothing that breastmilk lacks. Some say iron and zinc but this has really never been proven, and everytime they say breastmilk lacks something (like they used to give iron drops to infants that were breastfed) when they finally study it by testing blood levels they find that though breastmilk has less iron then, oh say formula, almost all the iron in breastmilk is used and therefore the baby gets enough. Withholding solids for the first year is highly recommended for families with a strong history of allergies.

The *best* way to start solids in my opinion, is baby-led introduction to solids. Starting with real food, not pureed watered down pap, just makes sense. Why start and then later reteach babies that food has texture and flavour at some later date? It has also been linked to many other benefits though it really needs more studies to say conclusively it reduces allergies, or pickiness.
http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/vast_voedsel/rapley_guidelines.html

Other great info:
How do we get started with solids?
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-how.html

Is my baby ready for solid foods?
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-when.html

Why Delay Solids?
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html

When should my baby start solids?
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/solids.html

I have tonnes of other info on why meat is more important than cereal as a first food. And on breastfeeding. E-mail me anytime and I can give you more info, and point you towards some good online groups. If you're interested.

But most of all just follow your heart, you will know what is best for your baby, just don't be afraid to change it up when things change.

Answer 2

You absolutely DO NOT Have to introduce solids at 6 months.

I have two babies. The first didn't even really eat solids until he was a year old. He's the healthiest baby I know. He's never had an ear infection and has only had three colds ever (he's almost four.) I credit that to continuing to nurse him so that he got all the immunological stuff to protect him. He's also super smart--the longer you nurse the smarter your child will be, it's scientific fact.

You're the mom and you know best. If you don't want to press solids until later, you don't have to. Your breastmilk is PERFECT. It changes and adapts to the needs of your son. You don't need to supplement breastfeeding until he's close to a year old, if that's your choice. Think about it, what did moms throughout the centuries do? Go down and buy bottles of Gerber? I don't think so! Do you think people in 800 AD were lat the grocery store looking for boxes of rice cereal? Nope! Your body was designed to feed your baby.

I have a two month old too and he's spacing his feeding out as well. Their tummies are just bigger and they can take in more milk. Just listen to him, he'll tell you if and when he wants to eat more. Don't stress if he starts 'asking' to feed more again, he might be going through a growth spurt.

Again, up until a year, solids are pretty much optional. There's a lot of evidence that delaying solids delays allergies. Someone above linked to Kelly Mom and that has the best information.

If you decide to start solids after six months, make sure you nurse him FIRST and then offer solids. Solids are like dessert for babies at that point. They are fun, but not necessary. After 9 months, I'd start offering solids at regular mealtimes (after nursing him.) If he wants to eat, he can, if he doesn't, it's no big deal. After 12 months, offer solids first and then breastmilk.

Good luck!! You are the mom and you know best!!

Answer 3

My son is 2 1/2 months old and he still eats about every 3 hours. If your doctor isn't worried then I wouldn't worry. My doctor also recommended solids at 6 months while still breastfeeding, a child needs to have breast milk or formula for a year but the solids are added in to get them use to food and see if they are allergic to anything.

Answer 4

Your doctor is right; as long as he's gaining weight and isn't becoming dehydrated, then it's okay that he's eating less and further apart.

My son is 8 weeks, and he feeds about every 3-4 hours (exclusively breastfeeding as well).

I delayed solids with my first son, until about 8 1/2 months. I'm a firm believer in child-led EVERYTHING, and he just wasn't ready at 6 months. Plus, I know my breastmilk has everything he needs already in it. It won't hurt to delay solids; in fact, there are studies showing it decreases the risk of allergies and obesity later in life.

Answer 5

The very best way to make sure your baby is "drinking" enough is to monitor their wet diapers. If he is wetting his diaper regularly (every hour or two, probably), he is fine. Especially if he's still gaining weight... Also, he's probably getting much better at getting the milk out, so he can fill up faster. It might seem like less to you, but you're probably getting more efficient at producing milk, too. The breasts are fabulous structures, regulating their production to the need of the child. Mother's milk is ALWAYS best, so if he's peeing and gaining weight and doesn't seem to be hungry or crying all the time, I'd say you're doing a great job. Check out the below link for fascinating and highly accurate info regarding how to "read" your child's cries...

Answer 6

You can keep breastfeeding as long as you like, but you do need to add solids when they are around 6 months. That's because your body will have used up it's stores of certain vitamins and minerals and BF won't be enough for the baby anymore.

Your baby's eating habits sound normal to me. They do start spacing out the feedings at some point, which is good because you can get more done! Babies will eat as often and as much as they need to, so don't stress about it right now. Like the doctor said, as long as he's gaining weight, he's still getting enough.

Answer 7

My son started to space his nursing sessions out to about 3 hours at that age. As long as he is gaining weight he is fine. You wont starve your son if you decided to breastfeed him for a year. Your body will produce more when he demands more. The only problem you might have is him not wanting solids at a year. That is the problem my niece is having. You are his mommy and YOU know what is best for him and you!

Answer 8

You can get mighty tired of feeding him every two hours, as I recall! Enjoy this respite; the next time he's going to have a growth spurt, he may nurse every two hours (or less!) again.

As far as solid food goes, it'd be pretty hard to keep it from him for a year. It's likely that at six or seven months, he'll start grabbing for yours, and you can just follow his lead.

Amazing what an expert a baby is on himself! Let him teach you, and enjoy this wonderful, terrible, exhausting, exhilarating time.

Answer 9

He's probably nursing stronger....and not going thru a growth spurt.

My baby was really skinny - although he nursed all the time and I added solid foods around 8 months. The docs were never concerned about his weight - although he was pretty skinny looking.

Answer 10

It's not uncommon for feeding patterns to change in babies. Don't be worried. But do feed your baby solids when he reaches 6 months. They do need other nutrition besides just the breast milk.

My nephew was only getting breastfed until about 3 months ago... his pediatrician told my sister in law that if she didn't start feeding him solids that she could possibly be starving him. He's a year old now and only weighs 17lbs and is SKINNY. The doctor was worried that he would be mentally retarded if she didn't start feeding him more often (on demand... because she had him on a "schedule") and more variety. His head circumference was that of a 5 month old.