[miz813]

Hi. First, I want to say that I've been lurking for a few weeks now and I think this message board has already been a lifesaver. My daughter is 6 weeks old and has been ebf almost since birth (there were a few formula supplements at the beginning due to low blood sugar and jaundice issues). This is my second child. With my first, I quit bf after 2 weeks. I want to put a much better effort into it this time around!
What I struggle with, is that she is not a "textbook" nurser. And thusfar, there really hasn't been a real "pattern" to follow. She may nurse one way for a few days and then do something completely different the next few days! She does, however, always nurse longer on the right side than on the left. I think she gets the milk much faster on the left hand side. Sometimes she will want to nurse on both sides. Sometimes she will only nurse on one. Sometimes she will go up to 15 minutes. Sometimes it's a struggle to get her go for 10. For example, her last feeding, she nursed for 7 minutes on the left side and has been sleeping soundly now for an hour.
This is just frustrating to me, because I want to make sure she is getting enough!
She is gaining weight, (3 pounds as of her 1 month checkup) and has plenty of wet and dirty diapers during the day.
Thoughts?

[mgm78]

Hi and welcome!

If she is gaining and making diapers, i would feel good that she is getting enough. Some babies are efficient nursers and some just like to nurse for comfort, my DD also found my right side her comfort nursing side and always spent more time on there. I would try not to be concerned and just go by her cues and make sure in a day she is making enough diapers

[andi2284]

Welcome!
I agree, she is gaining very well, so I wouldn't stress about how long or how often she nurses. I've had one baby that nursed for an hour, and only went an hour between feedings and another that nursed for about 5 minutes on one side for an average feeding. They will constantly change up thier nursing patterns, so try not to worry when that happens too. It sounds like your baby is doing great!

[angelsailor288]

I dont like offering both breasts at a feeding. I only offer one and when hes done hes done. I offer the other the next feeding. If thats what works for your baby go with it Every baby is different.

[JustLiz]

They change so much in the first couple of months. I would not worry about it. Patterns emerge later. You are doing great!

[TexasDreams]

my twins would only nurse for about 5 mins...even now they only eat about for 10mins and are getting plenty of milk. Unless they stop gaining or having pee and poo then dont worry about it.

As for nursing style, my babies are all over the place sometimes but i just go with it.

[miz813]

Thank you all for your responses! I am finding that I am much more anxious this time around then I was with my older daughter. (who is almost 7 now). I find myself staring at her we diapers, thinking to myself "Is it wet enough". Lol. They keep saying it will get easier....I keep waiting!

[lunarmagic]

Welcome!! And good job sticking it out with nursing this time around!

It's pretty normal to be worried about how much baby is getting... I see a lot of people fretting about it! It's hard to let go of that anxiety. But it sounds like she's gaining really well and eating well. Trust your baby! She'll let you know if something isn't working.

As for patterns.... yeah. Patterns may come later. Or may not. They also like to continue changing things up every week. And not just with eating... with sleeping and play and preferences and food. My daughter still drives me a little nuts... one day she wants to eat a meal every hour and the next day she won't touch anything I put in front of her. So it's totally normal that she doesn't have any pattern! They go through growth spurts and they are developing so fast... everything changes day to day. Try to just go with it and trust that she is doing what she needs to do for that particular day.