How can I tell if my 4 week old is hungry or just wants to suck?

Empireceo

For the past three days it seems like my 4 week old wants to nurse hourly but he only actively sucks for 5-10 minutes, then just hangs out on the breast.  It's making me crazy!  I was told not to give him a pacifier until 8 weeks but now I'm reconsidering.  Could he just need to suck instead of actually feed? Or is it possible I'm not making enough milk and that's why he wants to feed so often?  At night he goes 4-5 hours, but during the day it seems like all I do is nurse!

tokenhoser

The more you let him nurse now, the better your supply will be later. Set yourself up so he can nurse hands free (I used a Boppy) and chill on the couch. This is a brief time and the investment will pay off in the long run.

Jams1002

I agree with PP if LO is going through a growth spurt and needs to cluster feed.
However, I was going through the same thing with DS when he just wanted to comfort suck but he would get upset when the milk kept coming. We introduced paci at 3 weeks at the recommendation of our MW and it has been my saving grace ever since. If your LO is 4 weeks and has been EBF since birth, I think it's safe to say that breastfeeding is well established and a paci once in while might be worth a try.

TheBug16

Go ahead and give him a paci, but if he wants to nurse, let him. It's important right now.

ilanat

It sounds like he is going through a growth spurt.  I would keep putting him to the breast.  Sometimes they get very relaxed and sleepy from breastfeeding; you can try to nudge him a little or pull away a little to get him to return to sucking.  Sometimes he might just want a little break and will return to sucking on his own.  I agree with previous poster about using a nursing pillow, like the Boppy.  I use the My Brest Friend pillow and I have found it life-altering.  

CLLDLL

When my LO started sleeping a 4-6 hour stretch at night, he started eating more freequently during the day.  Think of it this way, LO needs 20-30oz of BM each day.  If he's dropping two or three feedings at night by sleeping a long stretch or two, he's got to make it up some where, either by eating more at each daytime feeding or by having more feedings during the day time.  Mine added more feedings.  He literally eats every 1.5 to 2 hours all day.  Every day.  It's not exactly fun, but I just keep reminding myself that it's temporary.  At some point he will start eating a little more at a time and eating less often and then I'll miss all our cuddly time. 

I do also agree with PPs that offering a paci at this point wouldn't be the end of the world.  Just be sure that LO has eaten all that he/she needs first.  Our LC said the hands are the key to a LO's stomach.  If the hands and arm muscles are tight (IE making a fist, tension the forearm) LO is still hungry.  If not, he/she is probably full.  My LO actually spits out the paci and starts crying if I try to give it when he's still hungry.