Baby not nursing long enough

livins · January 2016

My one week old has never wanted to nurse for too long, since birth. I'm lucky to get ten minutes on one side from her. During the day I feel like I need to wake her up often, she'd like to sleep more than 3 hours. She has the correct output of diapers between 6-8 of each. On top of that my milk came in fast and furious. I was so engorged my LC told me to pump and give her a bottle after she's done nursing. It's helping a bit. Today at the peds she's only 1 oz off of her birth weight at 1 week 2 days. Is anyone else having problems getting baby to nurse for "long enough"? Even the ped said today it should be 20-30 minutes on one side.

I think no matter what I'm calling my LC tomorrow when she's back from vacation.

skruhmin · January 2016

Sorry lurker here, but you may have an extremely efficient nurser on your hands. 1oz off of birth weight at 1w2d is awesome. One way you can tell is to weigh baby before and after a feeding (kind of surprising your pedi didn't do this).

apinkpelican · January 2016

My LO is a fast eater. Sometimes just 7 min I first side and 3-5 on 2nd. But he's gaining weight fast and peeing and pooping fine. I was worried bc DD would take forever to nurse. My pediatrician was not concerned at all and said he's probably just an efficient eater. I'm guessing your LC will agree but I'd definitely call.

ashhsa · January 2016

I had this issue- but it turns out that was all she needed to nurse for- week 2 she put on hardly any weight- then come week 3 she put on an entire pound!! Is your little one alert? Happy? Content after a feed? Then she is getting enough- the diaper output is good- that's a good sign, but there is no Harm in a second oppinion from your LC

Mommyduclos · January 2016

Oh hun everything sounds perfect! Your baby has great output and is doing great weight wise. There is no time requirement for nursing- they'll give you averages and goals but some babies just down their milk fast and others like to nurse for hours on end. Don't be discouraged your baby sounds like she's doing wonderfully!

livins · January 2016

Thank you all! She is a great sleeper, has a good stretch of being alert and making eye contact in the morning and definitely all around seems happy. I hate worrying but kinda comes with the territory. You all definitely are helping calm my fears!

denaeb · January 2016

You can do "swallow counts" to estimate how much she's getting at each feeding. My midwife told me each swallow = approximately 1 mL (30 mL=1oz). I have a fast eater as well but she swallows a ton and usually has milk leaking from her mouth when she comes off. She's gaining appropriately and has great output as well as normal sleep and awake cycles. She has some bigger feedings at specific times each day and only cluster feeds a little in the mornings.

ChrissyD1203 · January 2016

My baby only does like 7 minutes on a side, falls asleep and an hour later will do the same on the other side. I think it's fine because she also has the correct output of diapers and she only lost 1 oz between weeks 1-2 and then gained a full pound between weeks 2-3. She eats ferociously though - like maybe 20 swallows per minute!

nickicb7 · January 2016

I agree with PP, my MW actually told me to stop timing my feeds. She said to follow babies cues rather than focusing on time. Let baby nurse on one breast until they seem finished or start sucking without swallowing (you know the little sucking comfort sucks). Then switch to the second breast. The second breast will probably be less. She said consider breast one the meal and the second breast is dessert.

EC2016 · January 2016

My LC said anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes is normal. She also told me to stop setting alarms and just feed when the baby is hungry. They go through growth spurts randomly and will cluster feed and then other times not as much. As long as LO has the right weight gain and diapers I think you're ok.

Cricket99 · January 2016

My LO does the same thing. He feeds for 10 minutes on one side, then doesn't feed again for 2 hours. He had gained a half pound from his birthweight at 2 weeks. He also sleeps 3.5-4 hour stretches at night. The pediatrician said that is fantastic and don't mess with a baby that sleeps well as long as they are gaining weight

KimC2010 · January 2016

This makes me feel so much better. I have the same thing going on. My pedi wanted me to nurse 15-20 minutes on each side. I'm lucky to get 10 on one side then 5 on the other.

katiedid0907 · January 2016

20 to 30 minutes on each side seems like a lot to me. We are lucky to get that total and I just pump a little more to relieve some engorgement if necessary. As long as baby seems full and is gaining weight I really wouldn't stress yourself out.

danasphillips · January 2016

Yup! DD is a super fast nurser, which is so strange to me since DS usually took and hour for a feeding!

jordans_wife · January 2016

I read that too! So I'd feed my son and he'd quit after 10 minutes or so so I'd do everything to get him to latch again. Turns out I had super-jet boobs and my baby was a super efficient nurser. He gained and gained. With your babies weight gain I wouldn't sweat it at all!

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