Frequently hungry or not getting enough??

haylo33

My DS is 3 weeks old. He gained 2 pounds at his 2 week appointment. He eats every 1.5-2 hours during the day and like clockwork, every 2 at night. He usually nurses for about 5-10 minutes before he takes himself off and usually falls asleep. Is he eating so often because he isn't on long enough? I know every 2 hours is a normal time between feedings, it just seems he doesn't stay on very long. We give him pumped BM once a day which is usually 3-4 oz and he wakes in the same amount of time. Is it possible he is just an efficient nurser? The pediatrician said with his weight gain, he should be able to go longer between feeds. She said he should be giving us a 4 hour stretch once a night with that substantial weight gain

usernewname

I'm guessing a super efficient nurser since he's gaining weight.

Is there lots of wet diapers? And his bowel movements look good?

haylo33

Yep. Poops with almost every feeding and too many wet diapers to count

usernewname

Id say super efficient.

DS is like that at night. During the day he comfort sucks.

spacepotatoes

If you're getting the number of wet diapers and bowel movements that you should be, it sounds like things are ok.

jenb_99

florassecret said:

I'm guessing a super efficient nurser since he's gaining weight.

Is there lots of wet diapers? And his bowel movements look good?

This is my guess too. DD is a quick eater too, usually stopping after no more than 8-10 minutes. But she gained 11 oz in 7 days and has more wet and dirty diapers than I can keep track of.

sthomas1222

Sounds like really efficient nursling. You're also at the time of a growth spurt. You can try changing diaper after nursing to see if that wakes LO up enough to nurse some more but I really wouldn't worry at all. And all babies are different so your ped shouldn't really be saying baby should be sleeping X amount of hours. I know 8 month olds still nursing every 3-4 hours. Every kid is different. Peds are great for medical advice but I don't discuss sleep or parenting with them as we don't see eye to eye in those regards typically.

spinsoffresonance

Some babies just like to eat often. Yes some babies can go 4 hours between feedings at night but doesn't mean yours will. DD1 nursed every 3hours at night until 8 months old.

JAM85

This sounds exactly like my DD. She is almost up 3# at about a month and has only just consistently started going 3- 4 hour stretches but she still has some short intervals too and her feeds can go from 10min to 20 with plenty of wet and dirty dipes. She is just extremely efficient at eating and I have a fast letdown so id say it sounds like your LO is perfectly healthy. When I try to rouse her to eat more with a diaper change etc she rarely will do much she knows when she's done and gas been doing a good job so far so I chose to trust her instincts and mine