DS is almost 5 weeks old and has been a pretty good nurser until about the last week. I BF'd DD for 13 mo, but had a very rocky start and kept at it by sheer stubbornness and determination. I was adamant this time would be better and it has been for the most part.
However... I have a generous supply. Feeds still take about 45 min, because he pops on and off the breast quite often (the left side is much worse). I'm also careful to burp him often as he does suck in air due to all the gulping, and I'm careful not to switch sides to quickly to make sure he is getting the hind milk. He does a bit better at night, but will often 'shut down' when things get going too fast for him, and then it takes some work to rouse him again. He usually takes one full side and then a bit from the other. At night, I sometimes give up trying to get him to take anything from the second side, but then he wakes again after 2.5 - 3 hrs.
He was a big baby (10 lb 1 oz) and is now up to 12 lb 3 oz (as of Friday), so I keep expecting him to go longer at night. DD seemed to be doing 4-5 hrs at night by this time (I'm sure I shouldn't compare, but it's a little hard not to
).
Also, in the last week he's been fussier, seemingly struggling more with my flow, and spitting up much more. The last two nights at the BT feed, he's done a big, projectile-type vomit, losing at least a couple ounces. I don't know if this is because he's overfeeding, as I keep nudging him back to the breast to get a full feed, or if it's because of something else (i.e. reflux or a food intolerance).
So... my main concern is the fussiness/spitting up. I know very little about reflux/intolerances. Can they start at 4 weeks of age? What are the steps I take to find out if this is in fact the case and help him? Finally, is it reasonable to expect him to start to go longer in the night, or are those times still normal for a baby this size/age?
TIA for reading through this and any insight you can offer.
