weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

This might just be a "5 week olds have no schedule and are unpredictable" thing, but lately my baby will nurse for a short-ish period of time say 10-12 minutes, then basically fall asleep and won't wake back up to eat more. Then, around an hour later, he will want to eat again. It isn't really cluster feeding, since then after that he will go a few hours.

Is this a normal thing? Also, should I be giving him the same side when he does that? I've been giving him the other side to "even things out," but should I be staying on the same side?

Also, what's the deal with foremilk/hindmilk? Is that really a concern? How do I know if he's getting enough of the fattier milk? He's gaining well (he gained 1.5 lbs between his 2 week and 1 mo ped appts), so do I just use that as a metric? Also, when I pump I am usually only doing that it for relief and not to empty myself out, so I am not pumping super long. How do I know if I am getting a good enough "mix"?

Arggggg.

weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

no advise, how are you feeling?

weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

i'm feeling fine in terms of my recovery from the c section, but i am exhausted! i'm so far past tired that i have trouble sleeping even when i have the opportunity!

ETA thanks for asking!!

Message edited 7/16/2017 6:24:11 PM.

weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

10-12 minutes should be fine. I would just offer the other side the next time.

Both my kids ate almost hourly until 12-16 weeks or so, so that's normal for me.

Don't worry about it when pumping either. Sometimes i pump for 4-5 minutes sometimes it's 20.

As long as baby has wet diapers and is gaining, you're fine.

weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

Sounds very normal to me in terms of timing. Sometimes they'll go an hour between feedings and sometimes they'll go four hours. They're the boss at that age.

As for hindmilk, it's really not an issue for most people. Just let him finish one side, then offer the other if he wants more. I would switch sides for the next feeding unless you have a huge oversupply. Try to limit pumping for relief since that will only extend the issue.

Re: weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

My DD was like that but was not gaining well. She had bright green poop sometimes, so I think my milk had an imbalance.

Because your LO falls asleep quick, you can pump a little first before you nurse, that way the more watery milk comes first and then your baby can get the hindmilk. This is what the ped told me to do with DS.

weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

My DS nursed more or less all day and all night for a year. Trying to wean him - well don't even get me started!!

weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

That sounds totally normal.

Also if your baby is nursing that frequently and emptying the breast very regularly, there shouldn't be an imbalance.

weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

Thanks all. I know I'm overthinking this, but there's SO MUCH info out there and a lot of it is contradictory and/or makes it sound like you need to do it in some specific way or it's wrong.

Message edited 7/17/2017 11:42:10 AM.

Re: weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

I'd consider waking him to offer the other side if he's only going an hour between feedings. My first nursed for 45-60 minutes, but my second only nursed 10 minutes per side (offered both sides at each feeding) from the beginning. They generally fell into a pattern of eating every 3 to even 4 hours pretty early on minus the nighttime cluster feedings, but all babies are different.

Re: weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

You're doing great! Breastfeeding was the hardest and most confusing part of the newborn stages for me. I constantly worried she wasn't getting enough, but she was fine!

As for the foremilk/hindmilk. If baby is getting too much foremilk, he'll have BRIGHT green poops. I'm talking NEON. You'll know it when you see it. lol! If that's the case, you can always pump a little before he eats (easier said than done, I know) so he gets more of the hindmilk. DD had those green poops maybe twice, but really, she was fine.

ETA: If it's only been 45 minutes to an hour, I might offer the same side first and then switch to the other side. It's hard to say, DD ate so much that I gave both sides almost every time. I wouldn't wake him to eat again though.

Message edited 7/17/2017 11:40:57 AM.

Re: weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

Re: weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

Re: weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

weird feeding pattern for 5 week old/foremilk-hindmilk question

i don't think you have anything to worry about. baby is happy, eating, gaining weight and plenty of wet diapers - you are good.

if you want to keep pumping for a bit until your supply evens out with him, i think that's fine. do you notice the milk separates after a few hours in the bottle/container? that's how you will know you are pumping both the foremilk and hindmilk. Also, while you are pumping you may see it change from a very light almost clear milk to a whiter/yellower milk. it's not something you need to be overly concerned about it. in another few weeks, your baby will develop more of a schedule and it will all work out.

my first son was a very sleepy newborn. i would feed him on one side, burp him and then if he fell asleep, i would change his diaper to wake him back up again to see if he wanted to eat more. if he fell asleep again, i would let him sleep.

good luck! it will get much easier, i promise!