My baby girl is a little over 4 months and weighs about 13 lbs and is 25in. She is in daycare and I nurse her in the mornings, evenings, night and during my lunch hour. She takes 2 4.5oz bottles (expressed milk)from her day care provider. So in all she is getting exclusive breastmilk at least 6 times a day somedays 8 (she might get up twice at night). My question is that when I go in during my lunch break and in the evenings after coming home, she wants to nurse for over an hour. She sleeps at the breat while actively sucking! Is that normal. When she gets up in the middle of the night she will only drink from one breast and generally for 10-15 minutes only. Is she getting enough milk. She does have 4-6 wet diapers and at least one poopy diaper per day. I guess she must be getting enough but just wanted to know from other moms if they have seen this wildly different nursing times. She is in the average percentile for weight.
2007-07-12 11:02:06 · 7 answers · asked by Annmom 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
As a pediatrician I can tell you that I have heard identical stories many times, and this is common behavior of a nursing infant. As far as nursing for an hour, I would advise not to let the baby use you as a pacifier. The lactation nurse in our office (IBCLC certified) disapproved of my saying this to mothers. It was one of the few things we had different viewpoints on.
I applaud your commitment to continue nursing. Best wishes. But if nursing is getting you down, don't let anyone put a guilt trip on you. Supplementation or exclusive formula feeding is not a crime.
2007-07-12 11:14:55 · answer #1 · answered by greydoc6 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 5mo old falls asleep while nursing and still sucks but I just gently take him off. He doesn't wake up and is not hungry when he wakes up. He is a very tall boy with weight proportionate. About 17lbs now.
He would stay on my breast all day just chewing if I let him I think.
2007-07-12 18:09:29 · answer #2 · answered by Barbie K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really when breastfeeding you only need to do about 20 minutes each side and that's it. If she's asleep I would pop her off and put her down, she's just sucking because it's there. Don't worry about how many ounces and all that. If she's having regular wet/dirty diapers and is growing, she's getting enough.
2007-07-12 18:05:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is normal. She may just be having a growth spurt. I nursed til my son was 9 months. Breast milk is always better than formula.
2007-07-12 18:12:38 · answer #4 · answered by So far away 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That sounds perfectly normal. My children all did/do the same. Those long nursing times are her way of reconnecting with you after your absence. Treasure these times when all she wants is to be close to you and your lovely breastmilk.
2007-07-12 18:11:59 · answer #5 · answered by KooriGirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she's sleeping and still suckling, she's not getting anything anymore, but is just her suckling... at that time, take her off gently (I used to put my finger in between her and my nipple to do that) and put her down. If she's still hungry later, she'll "ask" for more, but I've found that it's just sucking and not really drinking the milk. So long as she's getting bigger and having dirty diapers, she's fine.
2007-07-12 18:06:29 · answer #6 · answered by April W 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sound like she is doing fine. Sleeping while nursing is a comfort thing, she may be missing you when she has a bottle and want to hang on as long as possible!!!
2007-07-12 18:05:23 · answer #7 · answered by parental unit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋