Breastfeeding Pointers - 11 pound newborn that wants to eat every hour!!

Baby54124 · August 2013

I need some pointers on what can help me with my nursing schedule as I am starting to think about what my day will end up like once I get back to work (only a little over a month away). My 3 week old seems to want to nurse every hour! Probably because she was born at 10 lbs 15 oz! I feel like all she wants to do is eat, eat, and eat some more. At night time, I make her one formula bottle just to help settle her more to sleep a bit longer in the nighttime, however, all day long all she gets is breast milk. I know she is getting enough as she is now 11 lbs 8 oz, but the problem I feel like I am having is her feeding schedule. She seems to be only getting enough to satisfy her for an hour, then wants to get more. At this point, shouldn't she be getting a really good feeding then go 3-4 hours before the next feeding? It is difficult to get anything done throughout the day as al I am doing is nursing! (I love it but it really is starting to wear on me). Are there any pointers on how to get her onto a better feeding schedule? I figure that I should have to start a better schedule soon since work is only about a month away. I am planning on pumping at work and would like to continue her with all breast milk if I can. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

MrsWindyCity · August 2013

It's normal to eat frequently when they are that little. Their stomachs are tiny, and they are going through growth spurts.

cyprissa · August 2013

Yeah sounds like the normal 3 week growth spurt. You don't need to supplement just because she is eating so frequently...she's signaling your body to make more milk. This will ease up and then most likely happen again around 6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9. https://kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurts/

skio · August 2013

No, it's not typical for a three week old to eat and not eat again for 3-4 hours.

My first daughter went longer between feedings with no issues; but again, not typical. DD2 ate every 1-2.5 hours for her first 6 weeks. Then, quite suddenly, she started being content for longer. It also has nothing to do with size; new babies are programmed to want to eat a lot and cluster feed often. It's just what they do, small or large.

Don't get all stressed and start shoving formula down her throat. There is nothing wrong with her or with your supply if she's gaining weight. She will outgrow it. Hang in there.

Cricket81 · August 2013

My 6 week old still does this. He is a very long baby and just needs to eat more often and take in more calories. I am lucky if he gives me 2 hours between eating during the day. At night I get one 4 hour stretch, then he eats every 1.5-2 hours after that. This morning he has been eating every hour since 5;30. The fun of a newborn.

carrotcake06 · August 2013

All completely normal. It's totally draining, but totally normal. Just keep on keeping on.

Baby54124 · August 2013

Thank you all so much! I was really thinking something was wrong with my supply! It's tough when all day all you feel like you have done is nursed! I enjoy it, but it just starts to feel impossible about getting things done like grocery shopping

Thank you for easing my mind! I just finished feeding her, checked the computer and she is now looking for more food. Off for another full day of nursing!

Are there any pointers for what I should do when I head back to work? How much of a stash of milk should I have saved up? I know a lot of women mention that by returning to work, their supply ends up lower since they are away from their newborn and not able to nurse or pump as needed.

Luv2Run1st · August 2013

Try to pump as closely to how baby eats as you can. I did not experience a decrease in supply myself but had a baby who reversed cycled and I pumped at work too so may have actually been increasing my supply.

If you only feed on one side per feeding with baby but you double pump then you can go longer between sessions. I pumped every 3 hours at work with my first..when I got to work, at lunch and in the afternoon and then fed baby immediately when I got home. This usually produced 16-20 ounces. The more frequent you pump or nurse the better you will maintain your supply. I did not see a decrease until I dropped to only 2 pumping sessions when he was 1 years old only because I really wanted to have my lunch breaks to myself.

I only pumped enough ahead for a couple days worth. It is unnecessary to have large stashes unless you have a deep freeze and at some point plan on being away from baby for days. The only time I ever did that was to go on a trip with DH for the weekend and had 140 ounces saved up for that. I pumped for my son till he was 18 months and have continued to breastfeed him through this pregnancy and he is almost 3.

Mufflerlove · August 2013

My daughter was 9 lb 10 oz and now at 9 weeks only goes 2 hours between feedings. Sometimes a bit less. Occasionally we will go longer but not typically.

prazenjc · August 2013

My baby still eats every 2hours during the day, but is down to 1x at night (2months and 3weeks old). She was easily eating every 1.5 hours or so during the day at your baby's age. Did you have the 2week growth spurt? If not, that may be what you are experiencing....

cwhitloc · August 2013

Looks like your going back to work a little earlier than the usual 3 months. I would look into power pumping when the baby has growth spurts since you won't be able to feed the baby to boost your supply. Ideally, you shouldn't need a stash since you should be pumping what the baby needs for the next day. When I went back to work with DD1, I could never pump a day's worth in one day, so I always pumped in the morning as well as on weekends to make up for the shortage. This worked for us for 6 months but was a constant battle. Some mothers have it easier. The freezer stash should be used as a just in case usually.

Baby54124 · August 2013

I definitely think it was a growth spurt that lasted three days and two nights! Because today, she has been sleeping more and now I have been uncomfortable most of the day. When I get uncomfortable and she doesn't want to wake up to eat, I contemplate about pumping but then am afraid that once I am done emptying out, that she will wake up hungry! I will be so relieved once she gets onto more of a schedule.

Baby54124 · August 2013

cwhitloc: Unfortunately I do have to go back to work prior to her being 3 months Not looking forward to it. But that is definitely a relief when it comes to the storing issue! I hope that I am able to get enough for the next days feedings. That will definitely make the whole storing thing easier! Is there a certain amt I should keep in the freezer just in case? I am nervous to freeze it for some reason. I think I am just overthinking this storing thing, but I never did it with my first. With my first I nursed only for the 2 months I was out of work. Being a single mom at the time, it was far too stressful to try to think about pumping and storing when headed back to work and the pumping was def not easy with just a manual pump. This time since I have the electric pump and the supportive hubby (giving me less stress), I want to make good use out of it!

Want a personalized experience?

Breastfeeding Pointers - 11 pound newborn that wants to eat every hour!!

Re: Breastfeeding Pointers - 11 pound newborn that wants to eat every hour!!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards