Breastfeeding moms... questions for you...

My ds has a great latch and we have been pretty much exclusively bfing since birth. My ds is a big boy and has nursing sessions lasting an hour to an hour and 1/2 and will still root around as if he is hungry. He's only 6 days old but when should I expect the length of the nursing sessions to shorten? Also, how long does it take to establish a supply as I would like to be able to pump a few bottles for the day as well.

Re: Breastfeeding moms... questions for you...

I don't really know the answer to your question but I can tell you how it went with me:

DS was born big (9lbs) and would only nurse for 10-15min each time during the first few days. My milk came in at Day 2 and our feeding sessions gradually grew to nearly an hour at times, but those long sessions only lasted about a week or so.
Even after nursing for nearly an hour, DS would root around as if he were still hungry. Both the ped and the midwife said that DS probably had a strong need for sucking and was using the breast to satisfy that need which then told my BBs to make more milk. I didn't want to use the pacifier, but I couldn't nurse him more than I already was so we gave him a pacifier to help satisfy his sucking need.

By week 4, we were on a schedule where he ate every 2.5-3 hours and nursed for 15 minutes each feeding.
Now at week 6, I am exclusively pumping and he eats 4-5oz every 3 hours (with a total of 28-32oz per day).

I didn't want to use the

Good luck! You're doing a great job feeding your little man...

Re: Breastfeeding moms... questions for you...

He is probably using you as a pacifer as well as a food source. Both of my kids did it to me too.

Re: Breastfeeding moms... questions for you...

When I had my DD the ped. told me to nurse no more than 20 minutes tops on each side. So that is what I did. I did notice anything more and I was pacifier. I would try and introduce a paci and see what happens.

Re: Breastfeeding moms... questions for you...

Most newborn babies enjoy sucking, it sounds as he is Nursing for food and comfort, completely normal The more your baby Nurses the more milk your body will produce. Breast Feeding is all about supply and demand. You are doing great

Re: Breastfeeding moms... questions for you...

Sounds like he is using you as a pacifier. I too had a big boy (11 1/2 pounds) and I heard it all from family and friends that he must be hungry all the time. You'll make enough for him, the rest of the time he'll be looking for something to suck on, not drink from. I started getting an extra supply to pump (slowly) around week 2 or 3. Those sessions I would be so happy to get 2oz total. Congrats!!!!!