We pride ourselves on having the friendliest
and most welcoming forums for moms and moms to be! Please take a moment
and register
for free so you can be a part of our growing community of mothers.
If you have any problems registering please drop an email to boards@justmommies.com.
Our community is moderated by our moderation team so you won't see spam or offensive messages posted on our forums. Each of our message boards is hosted by JustMommies hosts, whose names are listed at the top each board. We hope you find our message boards friendly, helpful, and fun to be on!
Kaiden had his 2 week checkup today, during which she told me I may want to space out his feedings more. When he was born, he was 6lb 15oz. He was 6lb 14oz when we left at 3 days old. Today, he was up to 7lb 7oz at two weeks old. He gets fed on demand, and eats about every 2 hours. Occasionally he'll fall asleep after a few minutes, but usually I can get a full feeding out of him - sometimes it requires waking him up and burping him midway through.
Should I really try and space his feedings farther apart? If so, how do I keep him content when he wants to eat and it hasn't been long enough? Is there such a thing as gaining too much weight for a baby this young?
It sounds like your doing it right already. You don't need to space out feedings, go with your instincts. Every baby is different, but I'm very surprised that someone is telling you to space out the feedings at two weeks?? Personnally I would just continue doing what your doing- you seem to know what your doing and he's gaining well.
Cadence is almost 10 weeks old and one pound away from doubling her birth weight. She has only been bf. At first I was very concerned about this, especially since up until about a week ago she still wanted to feed every 2 hours, day and night. This week, she suddenly changed to wanting to feed every 3 - 3 1/2 hours. My doc told me not to worry about the weight gain, that she'll grow into it. She said a hungry, well-fed baby is a healthy and happy one, and I agree. I'd rather she gained quickly than had trouble eating and didn't gain at all.
Imo, I wouldn't change anything. I feed Baylor on demand and she ate every 2 hours or so for a few months, lol. And she has tripled her birthweight by 4 months. (She was a month early and was 5lbs) She has slowed down now, and is a good weight and goes longer for feedings. Also, messing with his feeding schedule will affect your milk supply and you don't want that, especially this early. I have always heard of bf babies being fed on demand unless they didn't weigh enough, then you had to up their feedings.
My ped. told me a rule of thumb is for babies to gain about an ounce a day. Your baby seems to be right on target..I don't know what you were told that. I feed DD on demand and haven't had any problems.
__________________
Visit www.bumsonmaplewood.com We specalize in cloth diapers, teething necklaces and much more!! Like us on Facebok for special discount codes and offers!
I would not follow your dr's advice on this one babies need to be fed on demand. I would also print out some info on this and send it to her so she doesn't continue giving this bad advice to other parents.
Newborns should be nursed whenever they show signs of hunger, such as increased alertness or activity, mouthing, or rooting.85 Crying is a late indicator of hunger.86 Newborns should be nursed approximately 8 to 12 times every 24 hours until satiety, usually 10 to 15 minutes on each breast.87,88 In the early weeks after birth, nondemanding babies should be aroused to feed if 4 hours have elapsed since the last nursing.89,90 Appropriate initiation of breastfeeding is facilitated by continuous rooming-in.91 Formal evaluation of breastfeeding performance should be undertaken by trained observers and fully documented in the record during the first 24 to 48 hours after delivery and again at the early follow-up visit, which should occur 48 to 72 hours after discharge. Maternal recording of the time of each breastfeeding and its duration, as well as voidings and stoolings during the early days of breastfeeding in the hospital and at home, greatly facilitates the evaluation process. http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/c...cs%3b100/6/1035
My doctor with my first son gave me the same advice. Then I talked to all my breastfeeding friends who told me to just feed him. And you know what they were right. Feeding on demand is very important to building your supply, especially in the beginning. Keep doing what you are doing!
I agree with everyone else. I have a one month old and I'm feeding on demand... sometimes she wants to eat every 1 1/2 hours, sometimes its every 3.... I figure she will let me know when its time to eat!
My DS is 5 months old, and I'm still nursing on demand. I think you're doing the right thing by following your instincts...your baby is very young and will probably want to eat often. Sounds like he's gaining weight appropriately, so I don't think you need to change a thing!
__________________ My Boys ~ Caleb (7) & Ryland (3)
Agree, agree, agree. In fact, if I had to bet, I would guess probably 95% of the ladies on this breastfeeding board fed their babies AT LEAST every 2 hours in the first two weeks of life, and probably for awhile beyond that. It's very unusual for your doctor to suggest such at thing at your baby's young age.
By around 2 months, Emma started spacing her feedings out to around every 3 hours, and that's how often we still feed today. The only time I ever tried to "space" out feedings was when it had been less than an hour since I last fed (and if I knew she had gotten a lot of milk at her previous feeding). Then I would offer the pacifier. But otherwise I always fed on demand.
__________________ christmas 2011 - so excited for Santa
I wouldn't space out feedings. I feed on demand still to this day and DS is 6 months. He also gained very well in the beginning and now his weight has more or less leveled off ya know? Good luck and keep up the good work mama.
