Author Topic: 3 week old eats 15 mins tops  (Read 1326 times)

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Offline scurrie

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3 week old eats 15 mins tops
« on: January 06, 2006, 19:02:34 pm »
My DD only eats for a maximum of 15 mins at each feed. She has been able to sustain herself during the early day for 4 hour interval feeds, however as the day progresses, we get down to 2 hours and at night there is no set pattern. One night she will go 4 - 4.5 hours, followed by a three hour stretch and then the next night we are up from 11pm to either 2 or 4 am in a constant battle of eating and gas fits.

Two questions.

1) Is is possible that she is really getting enough to eat with a single side feeding of only 15 mins? (I read that it can be up to 40 mins for this age)

2) We are trying to establish a firm 3 hour easy schedule with cluster and dream feeds to hopefully add some structure to our nights. However I am concerned that she will begin to eat for even less if I now move her to every 3 hours. Need advice.

Thanks,
Stephanie

Offline Samuel's mum

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3 week old eats 15 mins tops
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2006, 20:50:02 pm »
I think that it is possible to get a full-feed in 15 minutes from my experience. It sounds as though you are getting some good intervals at night. I would caution you with trying to 'stretch the feeds' too much as you could have supply problems when growth spurts happen. Some young babies go 2.5-3 hours at this age and that's perfectly normal and these babies will still need to be fed more during a growth spurt. I personally wouldn't even try for 4 hours during the day at all. Go 3 hours or even less during the day and get the calories in.
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Nikki~Nathan&Danielle

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3 week old eats 15 mins tops
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2006, 20:56:06 pm »
I'd also bring the day feeds into 2.5-3hrly to try and get the maximum calories in during the day.  My dd was a VERY fast feeder (ie 5mins and 10mins if I was lucky) and always has been (probably my fast let down though).  If you're getting good stretches, plenty of wet nappies, increasing weight that amount of feeding sounds perfect for her - you can lead a horse to water but can't make it drink...my dd fussed majorly if she didn't want a feed and I tried to offer it to her, so let your dd lead you.

Sounds like you doing great. :D

annamum

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3 week old eats 15 mins tops
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2006, 02:19:11 am »
Your baby can go 4 hours in the morning because your supply is at its peak in the early morning and during the day it decreases. Most babies want to feed more often in the afternoon/evening because mom's supply is low so they don't get that much and also because they naturally want to cluster feed to tank before the sleep.

I think that your dd is probably eating enough, assuming she is getting her wet/dirty diapers and is alert and happy otherwise. My dd was able to feed in 5 minutes total but she was a little older, I think at 6 weeks. When she was your dd age she was done usually in 20 minutes.

I agree with previous posters, you may need to be a little flexible, especially that growth spurts are just around the corner. Sometimes the first one is at 3 weeks but 6 weeks or so is a certain one. Frequent (at least every 3 hours) feedings that early in the game are good to help you establish your milk supply.

Offline scurrie

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3 week old eats 15 mins tops
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2006, 17:36:34 pm »
The 3 hour intervals seem to be doing the trick. DD is adjusting quite well in the day and doesn't even mind being awakened from her sleep to feed.

Night time is another story and unfortunately we are beginning to think there may be some colic issues. We have had 3 hours of on/off screaming fits practically every night for the last week. Knowing that my milk supply is lower at the end of the day I am wondering if DD is having trouble digesting the less rich milk and is filling up with gas. She is not a good burper and I think this is contributing to the problem at night.

I expressed some milk from this morning and we are going to give this to her for the cluster feed to see if she is able to digest it easier and thus go to sleep. I am also going to review the colic boards for some massage ideas as my DH did a little last night and was able to limit the screaming to only 1 1/2 hours - a big improvement from previous nights.

Thanks for all of your encouragement.

Offline chargerfans

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3 week old eats 15 mins tops
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2006, 20:04:09 pm »
He is probably getting enough but you could go to a breastfeeding support group to be sure - you weigh him before and after the feeding to see how much he takes in. Gives you piece of mind!