how long between feeds for a 12 week old 14 &1/2 lbs?

[bear]

Hi there,
my almost 12-week-old DS has recently mastered his thumb, i.e. some self soothing strategy. He used to wake at 1:30am (no DF didn't work for him AND I TRIED), now if he wakes he just sucks his thumb. I feed at 7:30pm and in the last two days he didn't wake at all. In a panic I woke him at 4am the first and at 4:30am the next night to feed him after all that's 9 hours. He is 14&1/2lbs, but under 3month old. When I did wake him he drank hungrily and lots (he is breastfed). He ususally nurses for 4-7min during the day, but he ate for 20min at 4:30am. I tried not to wake him at exactly the same time, so he would make it a habit. I was very engorged at that point and pump some to make the latch easier. Anybody know if he should be doing that long of a stretch? We also don't cluster feed at night. He is on a modified 3hour easy sometimes it's 3 &1/4hrs sometimes even 3&1/2 hrs since he is not showing any hunger signals at the 3hr point and will only drink very little if I offer, i.e. not reaching the hindmilk.
Thanks for your input.

[Samuel's mum]

I think a lot depends on his weight gain and his general 'alertness'. Some 'sleepy' babies do need waking for a feed and do not exhibit hunger signals in the usual way.

If he is otherwise happy, alert, awake for feeds and you have no concerns about weight gain then I would say he is showing you he is capable of going that long between feeds.

I personally would say you don't need to wake him unless you have concerns about your milk supply or how much he is taking generally.

If he feeds well at the 3.5 hour mark and that seems to be right for him then that sounds right for him!

Some 12 week olds are still feeding every 2.5 hours, some moving towards 4 - it sounds like you're the latter.

If you want to feed him at 9 hours, then by all means do so - it's your choice. However babies can sleep through the night at his age (not all mind!)

A word from my experience - Sam mastered his thumb and then lost the skill again! I was a bit dissappointed it didn't stick.

[bear]

A word from my experience - Sam mastered his thumb and then lost the skill again! I was a bit dissappointed it didn't stick.
 Oh NO, don't tell me that you are scaring me, how and when did that happen?
 
 

[bear]

A word from my experience - Sam mastered his thumb and then lost the skill again! I was a bit dissappointed it didn't stick.
 Oh NO, don't tell me that you are scaring me, how and when did that happen?
 
 

[Samuel's mum]

I kid you not.
He 'got' it around 4 months (I can't remember exactly when to be honest) and life was sweet for about 2-3 weeks. Then gradually it seemed to slip - sometimes I could offer it gently and he would take it. Eventually he would resist me pushing it towards his mouth and wouldn't take it at all - Which I guess is fair enough!!!
Don't panic it may not happen. When I was teaching, I had an 11 year old thumbsucker - it goes both ways!!!