Anyone else with a quick eater?

tarabob19 · August 2013

So I am always reading posts about how long babies are nursing, etc. My LO is 17 days old, and from the get go he only nurses at the MOST 15 minutes at a time. Sometimes it's only 8-10 minutes, which is usually his average. We only nurse one side at a time, because he never seems to want the other side. He regained his birth weight at 4 days PP, so I was confident that he was gaining/doing fine with BF. But since I'm a FTM, I am now starting to worry a little, especially after hearing from everyone else and how long their LO's nurse, and that I don't nurse on both sides.

I worry that maybe he isn't getting the hindmilk? I have no idea how to know if he is. He doesn't have another appt. until the end of August so I'm not sure how much he is gaining. He definitely looks bigger to me and my DH. I've read that some babies are just efficient nursers and only need 10 minutes or so. Could this be my baby? Or should I be trying something else? Does anyone else have a quick eater??

Ahh BF is such a mind-game sometimes!!

Sincera4 · August 2013

FTM here and my DS is the same way. Once he made it to 20 min on one side and I was shocked. He averages 8-10 min also but will go to 15 too. It makes me nervous to read about all those long feedings too!

I know he's growing because his clothes are getting smaller but it worries me a bit to. He has plenty of diapers as well. When he's done with one side, I'll put him on the other and he'll go another 5 min if that. You are not alone but I don't know if its normal.

queenbone · August 2013

DD is the most efficient nurser I have had so far. She will usually pop herself off after 10 min a side, while my sons were both 20 min a side nursers. Sometimes I can only get her to eat on one side too.

I generally go by the rule of thumb that if you are getting lots of wet or BM diapers then baby is getting enough to eat. But if you need peace of mind I'd recommend taking him in for a weight check at a lactation clinic before your next apt.

LindsayLou719 · August 2013

My LO is the same way. She hardly ever wants the second breast and normally only goes 8-10 on the first before falling asleep or popping off. Plenty of wet and poopy diapers though and she is gaining, so I guess we just have babies that don't mess around

blueturkey12 · August 2013

Lucas usually goes 12-15 minutes and only takes one side at a time. Occasionally, he'll have a long eat of about 30-40 minutes and it always surprises me since he's usually pretty quick. He is definitely gaining weight though, and has a good amount of wet/dirty diapers every day so I am not concerned.

[Deleted User] · August 2013

I'm glad someone else's baby has the same eating style as mine:) I could've typed your post out word for word. Occasionally he'll eat a little longer than 15 minutes but it isn't typical.

KKinATX · August 2013

My DD is like this, but nurses for even shorter times. 8-10 minutes would be long for her! She's definitely gaining weight and putting out diapers so I try not to second guess it too much. I definitely make more milk than she wants because my boobs are always full. I'm hoping my supply regulates soon. It seems she just doesn't need a lot at one time.

DenverBride2005 · August 2013

I was just thinking about this with me and my LO-last night he would eat only 5-10 mins on one side and be done! But I let him nurse as much as he wants in the daytime and he has plenty of wet and poopy diapers, and quickly regained his birth weight, so I am not too worried. I think I have also read that when they nurse for only a few mins sometimes it's just because they are thirsty and need a drink, but not totally ravenous yet. I try to have him start on the side he finished on so I can make sure he is getting the hind milk. He is smaller than my older DS was, so I think I am just used to having a LO who I can't quite keep up with (my older DS ate like crazy!) but I seem to have more than enough milk for DS#2 so far, until our supply/demand evens out!

tarabob19 · August 2013

Thanks everyone, glad to hear I'm not the only one!! I've been starting him on the same side if he only ate for 5-10 min on that side previously to help make sure he gets the hindmilk. He has plenty of wet/poopy diapers and is busting out of his newborn clothes, so I'm pretty sure things are going fine. I figured this was probably normal for my LO, but it makes me feel better to know there are others out there with this too! Sometimes I wish he would nurse longer because he still doesn't sleep long stretches at night, but oh well. I agree with a PP, our babies just don't mess around

CarlaAndJames · August 2013

Yes! He often eats only 5 minutes and I think he's not getting enough but he's gained almost 3lbs this month so I know he's just fine!

equinus · August 2013

My little man is a quick eater too, 5-10 minutes max, I stressed about it in the beginning, because my DD was your typical 20 min a side eater, but he is just way more efficient. I have an oversupply and a quick let down, so he is a much grassier baby, with occasional green poops. I always nurse off the same breast 2-3 times in a row, because he is so quick and I want to make sure he gets that hind milk.

beckyanddon · August 2013

This is making me feel better. Lactation just have me what for today because he was only nursing between 10-15 minutes. She has me on this crazy plan of every 2 hours plus a supplemented bottle and pumping. I wanted to look at her and cry. I have a house and another kid to take care of let alone my DH. I was wondering if he was just efficient.

Dani428 · August 2013

Same here!!! My neighbor has a baby scale and yesterday I got to weigh her. She was 8 lbs 10 oz at birth and now she's 10 lbs 4 oz ... Turning 4 weeks tomorrow! I was freaking everyday about her short feedings but once I saw the scale I relaxed.

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