how long should she feed for?

[avigailw]

My LO is now almost 3 wks old & I can't tell if she is feeding for long enough or getting enough to eat.  She tends to eat for only about 5 minutes, sometimes longer but that is usually when she looks like she fell asleep while eating & just doesn't want to let go. 
I worry that she is not getting the hindmilk & that she didn't really eat enough.  I try to get her to keep eating but she just doesn't seem interested.  I have been doing single-sided feedings because she doesn't seem interested but maybe I should be feeding her more.  I have been feeding her almost exactly every 2 hours throughout the day & night.  Sometimes she goes longer but only if I am holding her in the sling.  She has at least 4-5 dirty diapers a day so I know she is eating something but I still feel like I am doing something wrong.  In the mornings she tends to sleep more in between feeds but in the afternoon she is more fussy & I have to hold her most of the time in between feeds.  She won't take a pacifier but loves to suck on my finger- she likes to suck on my finger even when she won't eat.  I just don't know if she is eating enough & I worry that I am making her wait too long in between- but then she doesn't want to eat or eats for one minute & is done.  Any suggestions?

[Shiv52]

Rosa has only ever fed for about 5 minutes and I was always concerned she wasn't getting enough.  But she was going 2-3 hours between feeds and had plenty of wet and dirty nappies and was content so in the end i just trusted she was getting enough and relaxed.  It sounds like your LO is getting enough and the afternoon fussiness is fairly typical of this age.  I did tend to cluster feed alot in the evenings to keep R settled. 

I would just keep doing what you are doing.  SOunds like you are doing great.  There is a growth spurt around 3 weeks so you may find she'll want to feed more often and longer for a few days.

Congrats on your new wee bundle xx

[avigailw]

thank you, it is reassuring to know that other babies are similar & it's not a problem.  Maybe today I will go to the clinic to check her weight, at least that is an objective way to know I am feeding her enough, it's so hard for me not being able to see how much she is eating. 
I have done this twice before but somehow I manage to find new problems or things to worry about each time.

[Vicku]

My DD2 also only ever fed for a few minutes right from the start. Some babies are just super efficient.
Did you check her weight and was it ok? I know it is so easy to worry. {{hugs}}

[avigailw]

She is gaining weight & has lots of wet & poopy diapers but I still worry that I am doing something wrong. 
She eats every 2-2.5 hrs (although sometimes she seems hungry even after only 1.5 hrs).  During the first wk she seemed to go longer between feedings but now she eats more often.

The thing is I have changed my diet & I am worried that that is what makes her more hungry & that she is not getting enough to eat.  Right after she was born we had a lot of cookies and cake in the house & I ate A LOT of carbs and other junk food.  I know not to diet while BFing but I also don't need to eat insane amounts of cake & cookies either.  So, now I am trying to eat healthy & there are no cookies or cake in the house at all.  However, I am worried that even though I am still eating somehow she is not getting enough & that is why she is eating so often. 

[Vicku]

Honey, I know it is so so easy to worry about them not getting enough, or if your milk is enough for them. Especially as we can't see how much they are getting! If only boobies were seethrough and with markings for how many oz they were eating

Seriously though, what you're describing is VERY normal and actually what a newborn nursing pattern looks like.

She eats every 2-2.5 hrs (although sometimes she seems hungry even after only 1.5 hrs).  During the first wk she seemed to go longer between feedings but now she eats more often.

They also go through many growth spurts during the first weeks, so that's why she'll sometimes want feeding really frequent for a few days, to then start going longer again (up to 3 hrs maximum for most babies at this age)
There is some more info on GS here: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=66001.0
And some info here: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/enough-milk.html that may be useful for you. Also has lots of links at the bottom of the page.

About your diet... I really don't think you need to worry about it. It is very unlikely that your diet would affect your milk supply especially at this early stage. I'll post you a link to a list with lots of links about mom's diet while BF. Hopefully this will help you feel less worried
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/index.html

Let us know if you have any more questions