Question

~Roo'sMama~ wrote: For the last couple of days Andrew has been eating really small amounts at a time. For the first week he would eat for almost an hour every time I fed him, but now he's falling asleep after 5 or 10 minutes and I can't wake him up to keep eating. He did eat pretty good when he woke up this morning at 6, but then he slept until 10, hardly ate anything, and then hardly ate anything again when I fed him at around noon. It's really warm and humid in my house - ac's not working - could that be making him not feel like eating? I think he's still having enough wet diapers but I'll keep count of them today to make sure. I just don't know what to think - and my bb's hurt because they're not getting emptied.

mom2tripp replied: I remember Tripp doing that when he was younger maybe around a month or so---but he got his appetite back real quick--do you have a pump that you can use to relieve some pressure?? As long as he has enough wet diapers he's eating enough--hopefully he'll get his appetite back quick

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Yes I have been pumping a little bit each time before I feed him - otherwise he won't latch on and just spits milk all over me because there's too much. I hope he gets his normal appetite back soon so I can stop worrying!

aspenblue1 replied: I know Isabella slept more when it was hot so that may be it.

luvbug00 replied: I kinow how hard that is. Since Mya was a premi they were happy if she even got one ounce down at each feeding. I'm sure he'll start eating more to each his own . Good Luck!!

JAYMESMOM replied: Jayme is 17 months and from the get go she only nursed 10-15 minutes each time. She ate every 4 hours at first and spread out as she got older. Then I have a friend whose kids nurse 45 minutes to an hour at a time.

You said you pump before which is a sign that you have a heavy milk flow. He is probably getting enough in that 10 minutes he doesn't need to keep nursing.

My ped told me that pretty much after 15 min. they are suckling not feeding since you should have emptied in that time.

For the pain in your bb's try pumping after he is done. Your body will adapt to what he needs just give it a few days.

amynicole21 replied: Nora does this every once in a while... it's weird. She just doesn't empty my breast like she used to... I really don't know why it happens. Maybe they are just adjusting??

TeagansMom609 replied: Teagan only ate for maybe 5 minutes on one breast when she was born. She was getting plenty though. Actually, she couldnt even handle my let down, she would choke, I would have to pull her off, and hold a towel up to my chest and let those puppies spray for a minute or two. I wouldnt worry unless he isnt having alot of wet diapers. Im sure the heat does have something to do with it. Who wants a warm drink when their hot ya know?

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Well he finally did eat good a couple times yesterday and seems to be doing a little better today - allthough he's still not eating an hour at a time like he was last week. Maybe he was just super hungry last week - or he's just adjusting like Amy said. He's still peeing enough so I guess I won't worry! I do think the heat had something to do with it too... it was 80 degrees in my house yesterday.

amynicole21 replied: An hour at a time! I'm glad he's adjusting then He's probably just getting better at emptying your breast more quickly. Nora takes 5 min, unless she's falling asleep at the breast. Make sure he's actively swallowing the whole time he's latched on, otherwise he's just comfort nursing and you can leave him on if you don't mind it or pop him off. Also, are you nursing both sides in a feeding? That can be cumbersome. Try just nursing one side and not switching unless he starts freaking out later. Eventually he'll get all he needs from one side and it shouldn't take as long. Good luck!

coasterqueen replied: Heat *could* have something to do with it. I'm wondering if he's gearing up for another growth spurt, since they go through so many at this age. Is he sleeping alot too when he's not eating? *Some* babies do a lot of sleeping, less nursing, when they are gearing up for a spurt and then they go bonsai...so beware . Others just nurse normal and then go bonsai on a spurt. It just all depends. Keep track of his diaper input and as long as that's ok, I'd just wait it out. Keep us posted. You are doing GREAT.

Edit: I could be that he's getting more efficient, but he's still pretty young IMO to be getting that efficient this early. But anything is possible.

RayaJoysmommy replied: I was going to suggest that maybe he was self adjusting too. I know I had a panic when I realized that my DD only nursed for a total of 1 hr all day!! I asked the nutritionist and she said she's just getting to be a pro. But she is 5 mo old. I would say that your little man is probably doing fine since his diaper output is fine. I would try and do like Amynicole21 and only feed one breast at a feeding that sure helped us when my DD was small.

Your doing great! Keep up the good start!!

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
I didn't think to look until yesterday to see if he was swallowing the whole time but he seemed to be - but he's been going for maybe 10 - 20 minutes so maybe he is just getting faster. I guess I can't complain about that! 5 minutes sounds nice.
I do usually only nurse him on one side, but sometimes I will have him eat from both sides if I'm leaving the house - otherwise the next time I have to feed him the side I didn't feed him on last will be too full and I'd be stuck away from home without my pump. I did bring my pump with me yesterday to Jen's since I was going to be there all day - and it's a good thing too because I needed it! But it's a pain in the butt to bring along.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
That makes a lot of sense too. He is sleeping a LOT - he sleeps good at night and sleeps most of the day. I guess I'll prepare myself to have him attached to me 24/7 soon. I'm not too worried about it anymore, since he's eating for an average of 20 minutes at a time now. It was just such a shock for him to go from eating for 45 minutes to an hour every 2 -3 hours to 5 or 10 minutes at a time every 3 hours.

huggybugboy replied: In the first few weeks it took me at least an hour to feed Miles, but he wasnt actually eating the whole time. He'd latch on and then off every 30 seconds or so. I had a really forceful letdown and he just couldn't get it. Now when I feed him it only takes 10-15 minutes total. It freaked me out at first too but then I realized he isn't coming off like he used to. He is actually eating for that long. He actually seems to be growing more now than when he was eating forever. Hope all these great replies ease your mind!