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KiwiL
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Joined: 29 December 2006
Location: Wellington, NZ
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Topic: Breast Feeding - Timings Posted: 23 October 2008 at 7:55pm |
Hi ladies,
I know there is a HUGE variation so this is not a scientific poll. I am just curious! Jackson is a very fast feeder, and as he has been slow putting on weight, I am trying to judge if he is getting enough food.
At around a month old, how long did your babies feed for (if you can remember)? And did you time your feed for the total time you were feeding (i.e. including burping time etc) or just the time they were actually sucking and swallowing?
For example, Jackson only actively feeds for 12 - 15 minutes all up, but feeds still take 25 - 30 minutes when you consider the change over time, burping, waiting for him to be interested again etc.
Thanks in advance from your resident stresshead!!
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weegee
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Location: Kaukapakapa
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Posted: 23 October 2008 at 8:02pm |
Back then JJ was actively feeding for 15-20 minutes and the whole feed could take up to 45 minutes (but that included a nappy change between sides). We've both gotten a lot more efficient since then
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Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010
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peachy
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Auckland
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Posted: 23 October 2008 at 8:04pm |
I only timed the sucking and swallowing as to me that was the "actual" feed length I thought?!
Lauren was a very quick feeder, 7 mins per side and sometimes she would only take one side.
I so know how you are feeling regarding how much bubs is getting. I spent the first 7 months (the length of time I b/f) stressing about how much milk she was getting from me! Everyone would say if she's putting on weight, sleeping through the night (she did from 8 weeks old) and is happy and content she MUST be getting enough. But I still stressed!
Welcome to the world of motherhood, its all about stressing and worrying
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kathyandbub
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Joined: 05 August 2008
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Posted: 23 October 2008 at 8:16pm |
noah is a very very quick feeder like 10 mins at most and always has been(unless he is sooking then it can be forever lol) and hes like 10 kgs at 5 months so hes def getting enough, because of his weight gain i was never worried about it, instead i worry if hes getting over feed. but like you said all bubs are different. have you talked to your midwife about it
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tishy
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Location: Wellington
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Posted: 23 October 2008 at 8:26pm |
For the first 3 months it was an hour turnaround from start of feeding to end. This included feed, burp, nappy change, feed, EBM top up and they were on a 3 hourly cycle!
By the time the EBM top up and the second feed wasn't needed it was still 45mins from start of feeding to nappy changed.
They would feed for 12 - 15 mins overall which in the last few months increased to 20 - 30 minutes as they started sleeping through the night and my milk supply started to decrease.
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MonicaMouse
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Posted: 23 October 2008 at 8:29pm |
If you are really concerned about whether Jackson is getting enough, one way to find out is to weigh before a feed, and then weigh after a feed, and find out the difference. Off the top of my head I can't remember what the 'suggested' intake is for that age group, but when we did this at the mothercraft unit in town they worked on 1g = 1ml, ie if bubs is now 150g heavier, they have taken 150ml on board. I did this for 4 consecutive BF as I was unsure if Blair was getting enough and he was within the suggested range for his age. - If you do this don't change a nappy half way thru as it will affect the outcome. - it will also give you an indication on how long it will take for him to get x amount (hope that makes sense)
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Blair 15/10/2007
Daniel 30/07/2009
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KiwiL
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Location: Wellington, NZ
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Posted: 24 October 2008 at 10:58am |
Thanks for the comments and ideas - more would be appreciated!
MonicaMouse, I guess I could try the weight thing, and see. I might give that a go.... possibly might just give me something to obsess about though!
I am not so concerned about the feed length, just that he is getting past my fast let down and taking in the necessary hind milk.
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mumtooboys
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Joined: 31 May 2008
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Posted: 24 October 2008 at 3:25pm |
Hi,
Though I agree to some extent that it is in our job descriptions as mums to worry about everything....I have actually noticed that the mums who ff worry way more than I ever did about how much Alex was getting.
In case anyone is wondering, this lets you know what the average bf baby will gain a week.....bearing in mind they are all individuals and some weeks Alex would gain more or less than the average. This one gives a quick overview of how to tell if they are getting enough.
That is not to say that some women don't have supply issues, but I think that sometimes because you can't measure how much is going in, you can worry that you don't have enough.......even when you do. I had 1 poor weight gainer(DS1) who was comped because I was told it would help....did naff all except stuff with my supply. With DS2, though he has had similar issues, he's never been comped (despite huge pressure from Plunket) and he is happy and healthy and doing just fine on mummy milk (and now solids too), he's just a dot. He's just gone 13 months and he's a "tiny" 7.6kg....but then I've always been able to eat whatever I want, when I want. He'll catch up....his big brother who was on the bottom of the charts as a baby is now near the top for height and weight for his age (he's just turned 5).
Sorry for the ramble............hope those links help.
Forgot to actually answer questions. LOL Alex was on the boob for on average of about 30-45 minutes at a time, but he was only having one side(until he was about 12 weeks, his choice though). Now it might be 3 minutes! Think he was using me as a dummy, but after all the issues I had with DS1, I wasn't going to stop him and was happy to be one.
Christina
Edited by mumtooboys
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Maya
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Posted: 24 October 2008 at 10:00pm |
Lil miss is a super efficient feeder and has been since day one, she feeds 5-7 mins tops, sometimes only 3-5 mins. I have heaps of milk tho and it lets down really fast.
We had the hindmilk/foremilk problem Laurie, she wasn't gaining enough weight to start with and her BM's were really foamy, so now I feed off one side at each feed. So I feed her on one side till she's done, change her, play time etc. etc. then put her back on the same side instead of the other so she gets more hindmilk. As long as you've got good supply one sided feeding works fine. The odd time she's completely drained one side (usually after her bath when she's been cluster feeding for 2-3 hours) then I stick her on the other side.
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 Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
  The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
 Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
 Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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KiwiL
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Posted: 28 October 2008 at 9:56pm |
Emma - thanks so much for your helpful reply. Your situation sounded a bit like mine.
The good thing is that I saw a Lactation Consultant today and Jackson has put on a fair whack of weight in the last week and she is convinced he is just really efficient and is getting enough with my fast let down and heap of milk.
It was so reassuring!! That coupled with some amazing support I have had on OhBaby lately has really helped me through this rough patch. I know things won't instantly be better but I feel we are almost at the top of this next hurdle.
Wonder what's next?!?
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