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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Questions re: BFing.
DS is 8 weeks old. He usually nurses for at least 45 minutes at a time every 2-4 hours including during the night. If he goes 4 hours in between feedings, he tends to nurse every two hours or so for the next few feedings.
For the past 2 nights, he has only nursed for about 10 minutes at a time. I tried to get him to eat more, but he refused and went back to sleep. I didn't want to push it too much b/c I didn't mind going back to sleep instead of being up for an hour feeding him. Sometimes, he'd wake up an hour later and other times he'd wake up 2-3 hours later. Each time, he'd only nurse for a short period of time.
Part of me wonders whether he's finally becoming more efficient at nursing, but I'm not sure since he'll still nurse for 45+ minutes during the day. Could this affect my supply? I also want to make sure he's still getting enough hindmilk. Has anyone gone through something similar? Do you have any ideas why his nursing schedule suddenly changed at night?
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Posted 2/6/09 11:04 AM  |
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DancinBarefoot
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Member since 1/07 9534 total posts
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Re: Questions re: BFing.
It sounds like he is nursing for comfort during the day. That is why he is spending so much time at it. During the night, he is waking b/c he's hungry, eating, and then going right back to sleep. That is part of becoming more efficient.
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| Posted 2/6/09 11:40 AM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Questions re: BFing.
Posted by DancinBarefoot
It sounds like he is nursing for comfort during the day. That is why he is spending so much time at it. During the night, he is waking b/c he's hungry, eating, and then going right back to sleep. That is part of becoming more efficient.
I don't think he's nursing for comfort b/c he has always been a slow eater. Up until 2 nights ago, he was nursing for 45+ minutes at night too. He usually exhibits all of the hunger signs if I try to take him off the breast before 45 minutes.
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| Posted 2/6/09 11:58 AM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: Questions re: BFing.
have you tried giving him a pacifier? if he will take that, you'll know it's for comfort, if not, maybe he is still just hungry.
when DS was that age, he nursed for about 20 minutes on each side, and even longer at night.
ETA: if he is gaining weight consistently, you don't really need to worry about the hind milk.
Message edited 2/6/2009 12:08:54 PM.
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| Posted 2/6/09 12:07 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Questions re: BFing.
Posted by headoverheels
have you tried giving him a pacifier? if he will take that, you'll know it's for comfort, if not, maybe he is still just hungry.
Yes, I've done that and he'll cry until I start BFing him again.
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| Posted 2/6/09 12:18 PM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: Questions re: BFing.
Posted by MrsS2005
Posted by headoverheels
have you tried giving him a pacifier? if he will take that, you'll know it's for comfort, if not, maybe he is still just hungry.
Yes, I've done that and he'll cry until I start BFing him again.
then he either doesn't like the pacifiers you have (my DS was the same way until we discovered the soothie pacifiers at 10,11 weeks i think) or you are right - he is still hungry!
you have to go with your mommy instinct. until DS was about 3.5 months old he took forever to eat. his night feedings are still really really long (about 20-25 minutes on each side) but he only nurses for 7-10 minutes on each side during the day.
i don't think it will affect your supply - your body will make as much as your DS needs. are you pumping at all? if you are worried you can always pump more to make sure your supply stays up.
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| Posted 2/6/09 12:29 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Questions re: BFing.
Posted by headoverheels
Posted by MrsS2005
Posted by headoverheels
have you tried giving him a pacifier? if he will take that, you'll know it's for comfort, if not, maybe he is still just hungry.
Yes, I've done that and he'll cry until I start BFing him again.
then he either doesn't like the pacifiers you have (my DS was the same way until we discovered the soothie pacifiers at 10,11 weeks i think) or you are right - he is still hungry!
you have to go with your mommy instinct. until DS was about 3.5 months old he took forever to eat. his night feedings are still really really long (about 20-25 minutes on each side) but he only nurses for 7-10 minutes on each side during the day.
i don't think it will affect your supply - your body will make as much as your DS needs. are you pumping at all? if you are worried you can always pump more to make sure your supply stays up.
He likes the pacifiers, but he'll only take them at certain times. If he's hungry, he'll refuse to take the pacifier and will cry a lot if I try to give it to him.
Right now, I'm only pumping after the first morning session. I've been producing more the past few days probably b/c he isn't nursing as long during the night and first thing in the morning.
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| Posted 2/6/09 12:44 PM |
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Re: Questions re: BFing.
When I went through this, I talked to the ped and he said that (and showed me a graph) of milk production. After 10-15 minutes of feeding per breast, there is just a trickle of milk coming out of each, not enough to fill the baby's tummy so 15 minutes per side every 2 to 4 hours was what I was told to do. Anything over that, is for comfort only. It worked for me for 13 months. 
Message edited 2/6/2009 1:01:48 PM.
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| Posted 2/6/09 1:01 PM |
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mamallama
<3 <3 <3
Member since 9/07 5035 total posts
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Re: Questions re: BFing.
My boys started sucking efficiently very early. By 8ish weeks they were eating for 10 minutes each time. As long as they are gaining weight, peeing and pooping, he is fine! I think he has just mastered his skills of nursing!
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| Posted 2/6/09 1:24 PM |
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