Help! BF every 2 hrs

[new-b]

Hello!  I am currently reading BW and I am starting to feel that maybe I have been doing everything wrong.  My LO is 6 weeks and is on a 2 hour schedule (sometimes he goes 2.5 hrs but this is very seldom).  He only nurses for about 10mins (sometimes less - like 5 mins) and then pulls off (everything I read says he should be feeding longer).  Before reading BW I thought I was doing pretty well at reading his cues but now I am second guessing everything!  The past couple of days I have been paying very close attention to his cues to make sure that he is actually hungry before I feed him and all signs point to YES!  Is a 2hr schedule normal? I'm super jealous when I hear people say that their BF babies sleep for 4 hrs at night.  How can I get him to go a bit longer, especially at nighttime?

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Hi there - very normal questions.  Did you check out the FAQ? http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64627.0
  First of all, 6 weeks is a very typical age for a growth spurt and it's a big one.  I remember feeling like my kids were nursing constantly!  But it will easy off. You want to make sure that you're getting a full feed - if you have a good milk flow and an efficient feeder, he could very well be done in 5 min.  Are you using both breasts?  I always used http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=88759.0 to encourage more sucking, and I'd let them pop off, burp then, and offer again.  If you're using both breasts, switch a couple of times, and if only using one, then offer it a couple of times.  Is he gaining weight well and peeing and pooing enough?  Those are the best ways to make sure he's getting enough milk.  And if he's getting enough milk, the rest will come....including longer stretches overnight!  I was always jealous of those moms who's babies did longer stretches, but unfortunately, not all babies are made that way.  It'll get there!

So a 2 hr schedule may be VERY normal at 6 weeks, but it won't stay like that forever.  Good luck!

[new-b]

Thank you so much for the response!  I am only using one side.  When he pops off I offer the same side again and if he doesn't take that then I will see if he will take the other side.  His diapers are great so I know he is getting enough, but I just wasn't sure if he was getting any of the hindmilk because everywhere I read said that the hindmilk comes after about ten minutes.  I know I have lots of milk (I am constantly leaking)   Thank you so much.

[Rowan+6]

All mine were on a 2hr cycle until about 8 or 9 weeks, how heavy is he mine were all between 5lb 10 and 6lb11 and just weren't big enough to go for longer.

[inoella]

My DD was also on a 2 hour schedule until 8-10 wks. (can't actually remember now!) and she also was done in 5-10 min. I had VERY fast flow and wanted to make sure she got as much of the hind milk as possible so I only used one side each time. She is still small for her age but I think it's perfectly normal. Don't second guess yourself too much!  Sounds like you're doing great.

[Shiv52]

Sounds like you are doing great x

but I just wasn't sure if he was getting any of the hindmilk because everywhere I read said that the hindmilk comes after about ten minutes.

Not necessarily.  My DD2 was always a fast nurser and I'm sure she got the hindmilk. 

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Actually, more recent research into breastmilk tells us that there is hindmilk (the fattier stuff) all the way through - it just tends to be in higher concentration later on in the feed.  Sounds like you're doing great.

[oneplusone]

Same here for the first 6-8 weeks. I know the BW says it can be a 3 or even 4 hour schedule, but I think it's more important you read their cues and feed them when they are hungry. Is weight gain a concern?