My daughter will be 3 months old on Dec. 27 and she still wants to eat about every 2 hours. I breastfeed her when I am home and when I work she gets a bottle. I'm not sure how much she gets from me but its about 2 oz at a time with the bottle. I'll admit there are times I'm surprised my breasts have any milk at alll; they feel empty to the touch anyways. I put her on and apparently she gets some. Sometimes I think she just wants to suck but she will NOT take a pacifer. She gags and throws a fit. Its either her hands or me. There are times I'm not exactly sure what she's doing, whether she is eating or sucking. Other times I'm sure she is eating. She tends to be a lazy eater and falls asleep with my breast in her mouth. It goes from 6 minutes on one breast to maybe 3-4 minutes and she's out and won't eat anymore.
Right now I think she may be going through a growth spurt. Last night I was up about every hour to every hour and a half. I'm so so tired. I'm worried too that I may not be reading her right. She rarely will decline my breast if I offer it. I also wonder if my milk is declining since I work about 4-6 hours and don't always have time to pump. (I'm a worry wart in case you can't tell.) But I greatly appreciate your feedback.
Edit: On the 2 ozs: I used to do more but that is all she will eat and I end up wasting it. I dearly wish she would take more but that is just what she will eat in a sitting... Sorry I didn't clarify.
Edit: I try to offer both breasts but she will usually refuse the other one. So when I feed her again, I start with that breast. In the beginning it wasn't a problem to get her to take both but now it is. She is getting enough to eat, lots of wet and dirty diapers. She is getting very tall though. At 2 mos I had her in 3-6 month sizes. They were big around the body but the sleeves and feet would be long enough. Any smaller and her wrists and ankles hung way out. My husband is over 6 ft and my sister in law (his sister) is 6 ft tall. I'm only 5'5. I guess if she's going to be taller, it would make since to eat a lot....
I think at nearly 3 months she should be having more than 2oz in bottle, that's just my opinion.When I nursed I always as you said "felt empty to the touch" too, you don't always have to be engorged and hard to know you have a good milk supply. You can tell by the number of wet diapers and bm's if she is getting enough to eat.
3 months = growth spurt = increased hunger/feeding frequency/intake amounts= 24/7 = day and night.
Also may include: Cluster-Feeding, which is when a baby needs to feed even every single hour. NORMAL and both my kids did that too.
Her only getting 2 oz. per a bottle. Well, maybe switch to a faster flowing nipple. She is now 3 months old, and a newborn nipple/slow nipple is something she probably may have outgrown.
Feeding... in a baby by this age, they are more 'efficient' feeders and suck more efficiently and thereby, feedings may get shorter per session. Commonly at this age/stage, the breasts do NOT feel 'full' nor get engorged because they have been adjusted to your baby's feedings and amounts. Normal.
Feed with BOTH breasts per session. That is what our Pediatrician and even my OB/GYN said. My kids drank me dry, from both breasts, per session.
My kids ALSO nursed, every 2 hours or LESS.... per growth-spurts. NORMAL.
Always feed on-demand.... when at home and with her.... or yes, your milk may begin to lessen/dry up.
Your milk production, SHOULD produce according to your baby's feedings and frequency and amounts.
Does she have enough wet diapers? if so then she is probably getting enough intake.
Just because she is falling asleep at the breast, does not mean she is a
lazy eater... it may just be, that she is full. Full babies.... often fall asleep at the breast, after nursing.
DO you actually hear her swallowing or see it???? If so, then she IS sucking/latching on properly. If not, maybe her latch, is not good.
If anything, ask a Lactation Specialist....
all the best,
Susan
Our breastfeeding bodies are amazing things! Your milk will be fine as long as you continue to nurse your daughter on demand. Every 2 hours is not unusual for a breastfed baby. Especially if she is going thru her 3 month growth spurt. It will level back off.
Around 3 months they will also cluster feed so it can feel like they are nursing constantly in the evening hours. But this helps them get more of the hindmilk, especially important when they are going thru a growth spurt.
And at this point your breasts shouldn't feel like they are going to pop like they did in the beginning. Not feeling "full" is ok at this point. Can you imagine how uncomfortable it would be if our bodies didn't adjust after a while and we had to feel engorged the entire year + we were nursing!?
Neither of my breastfed babies would really ever take to a pacifier.
And some nights babies just have rough nights. We've all been there. It won't happen every night.
Good for you for sticking with breastfeeding!!
Probably not what you want to hear...but...my second son ate every 1.5-2 hours for 9 months! Even after starting solids after 6 months, he would go about 3 hours during the day, but still 2 at night.
You're right, she's probably going through a growth spurt right now. She could also be sleepy sometimes and not know how to sleep without nursing. That's totally normal for her age, but if you feel you need to get out of the habit, get the book "No-Cry Sleep Solution".
I wouldn't worry about how much or how little she takes at a time. Every baby is different and if she's thriving on 2 oz at a time, it might just be what works for her. Some adults eat 6 small meals, some eat 3 big meals...everyone is different :)
You could try putting her in her own room at night and just see if after a couple days she sleeps better. We found that we were keeping our son from sleeping with our own movements and noises. He went to getting up just once or twice a night after we put him in his own room. So, maybe over your Christmas vacation (do you both have a few days off?) you could just try her out of the room and take turns getting up to get her. If it doesn't work, then you put her back in your room so at least you aren't having to get up and get her every time.
Hi,
Sounds pretty normal to me. I also like What Dori W. and S.H. said. If she's getting lots of wet and dirty diapers you are doing ok. Keep on nursing her, that will keep your supply up. good for you for sticking with it.
you could also contact a La Leche League leader for more info. www.llli.com or 1-800-LA LECHE
Hugs to you, and enjoy your little one!
K. Z.
