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September 2015 Moms
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Baby taking forever to breastfeed

lizzo416lizzo416 member
in September 2015 Moms
My baby is 4 weeks today and still taking forever to feed. He's gaining weight but it takes him an hour or more to nurse at each feeding. I feel like I'm running a rat race and by the time one feeding is done, it's time for the next feeding. It is very frustrating and mentally and physically draining. Anyone else experiencing this?
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Re: Baby taking forever to breastfeed

  • ElecinElecin member
    I'm experiencing this as well.  I'm about to lose it from sore nipples because she nurses for so long.  First I thought she wasn't getting any milk but I can see a little of it in her mouth.  Also, when I pump it takes FOREVER to have any let down.  It will literally take me 20 minutes of getting nothing before I see any milk at all.  It's been very frustrating!  I hear this is normal but I am going to visit a lactation consultant to be sure.  

    I'm interested to see how others respond as well. 
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  • MiromiMMiromiM member
    I spoke to my pediatrician about this when it happened to me. He said 10-15 mins per side. After that, baby is just comfert sucking and isn't gaining any nutrients so offer her a pacifier. I know there are some people who firmly believe in comfert sucking but 1) my nipple's can't take it 2) DD is gaining plenty of weight and has more than enough wet diapers per day 3) I have an over supply so I don't need/want the extra stimulation. Our feeding relationship hasn't improved greatly since and now she pulls herself off when she's had enough. If she doesn't pull off and I forgot to take her off myself she often winds up spewing the excess!
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  • buckleykbuckleyk member
    Is he nursing the whole time? Can you hear him swallowing the whole time? He may be doing a little comfort nursing where he's sucking but not drawing any milk out. Those are often shallow and soft sucks. I can't always hear the swallow while my LO nurses but can feel the difference between nursing for hunger and comfort.

    But don't worry- as he grows and becomes stronger, he'll get quicker! Especially once he's able to crawl and get around- he'll want to nurse and get back to exploring ASAP! At least, that's how my first way.
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  • caityrosecaityrose member
    Best advice to go see a lactation consultant and get baby checked for tongue and lip ties. Pediatricians blow it off. He could be an inefficient feeder and having a harder time because of the ties. Something to look into
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  • lizzo416lizzo416 member
    I've already been to lactation consultants and I've gotten his lip and tongue ties fixed. He takes breaks while sucking so I'm hesitant to just put him on each boob for 10-15 minutes.
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  • caityrosecaityrose member
    Is he awake enough when you start? I have the same issue so I'm just thinking about what causes our longer sessions
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  • lizzo416lizzo416 member
    Most of the time he is awake with wide eyes looking ready to go. Sometimes he starts to get sleepy and I nudge and rubbed his feet and back to stay awake, but the sessions are still long.
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  • jwebbbber45678jwebbbber45678 member
    Mine is the same. It's probably just comfort sucking after twenty minutes on each side. My pediatrician suggested giving him a pacifier after but my boy doesn't like pacifiers. If he's had at least twenty minutes on each side I'll gently break the suction. Sometimes he just plops his head on my breast and passes out immediately. Other times he's fussy and cries and roots. At that point I let him keep going for a bit until he falls asleep. Or if my nipples hurt at that point I'll take him to the rocker and rock him to sleep. If you can't handle the extra breastfeeding time just find another means of soothing your baby since that's what they are probably looking for after a certain point.
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  • buckleykbuckleyk member
    edited October 2015
    lizzo416 said:

    I've already been to lactation consultants and I've gotten his lip and tongue ties fixed. He takes breaks while sucking so I'm hesitant to just put him on each boob for 10-15 minutes.

    How long ago did you get it corrected? It will take a few weeks for it to heal and for him to learn how to nurse effectively. We had my DD's fixed at 1 week old and it probably took close to 2- 3 weeks for her to nurse effectively, and suck the whole time without taking breaks. Even though her mouth looked fully healed, it took a sometime before her nursing sessions got shorter. Now at 6 weeks, she's usually done in 20-30 minutes.
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  • lizzo416lizzo416 member
    I got them corrected a week and half ago. His case was fairly mild though.This is good info to know. Thanks.
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  • ForeverEverAfterForeverEverAfter member
    I'd see a LC or go to a LLL meeting. Babies shouldn't be restricted by time (ie allow 15min then switch) at the breast or they might not be getting enough fattier hindmilk. When he's no longer actively sucking and swallowing, burp, offer same side again, then switch sides. If baby is sucking and swallowing, it's not just for comfort-he's taking milk.
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