Are you SURE it's supposed to get better?

[Palestrina]

In some ways BF has gotten better in the sense that I'm used to doing it now so I feel like a pro. I have no nipple pain anymore, my breasts feel soft again, no problems with engorgement. Nursing in public has become much more comfortable. My body has adjusted to getting less sleep, I don't feel haggard anymore, and it doesn't phase me anymore how often LO needs to feed.

But I don't feel like it's getting better. He has never gone more than 2hrs between feeds when he's awake and although he's slept up to 5hrs stretches at night since the beginning I haven't seen any improvement from that. I know he's still young at only 13wks but I was hoping he could make it for 3-4hrs between feeds when awake and occassionally sleep for 5-6hrs straight during the night.

I have no intention of stopping BF but I assured those around me who were opposed to me BF that it would get better as time goes on. The fact that it hasn't gives everyone cause to say stupid stuff like "he needs to eat AGAIN??" or "But he JUST ate!" or "are you STILL not giving him water?" And they always come up with these grandiose statements of "MY babies always slept through the night " or "my OTHER grandchild can go 4-5hrs calmly without a bottle and yours fusses all the time" or "you're just a human pacifier." Please give me some encouragement that things will indeed get better. We're going through a rough growth spurt at the moment that's lasting a tad longer than I'd like it.

 

[Lownthwaite]

It is totally normal for a baby at your LO's age to want feeding alot - but like you ask - yes it does get better.

Us ladies who are breastfeeding past 12 months wouldn't continue if it didn't

Try to ignore the comments - you can feed your baby how you choose. Their input or opinion doesn't count.

 

[LucyJ]

My lo is 6 weeks so I cant say whether things will get better but I can say your not alone. My little boy goes anywhere bwtween an hr and 3 hrs between feeds during the day and between 2 & 3 hours at a night occassionaly going 4 or 5 hours but he doesnt always settle well so have him asleep on me sometimes he hates being on his back think he may have a problem with reflux.

Im sorry people are making comments like that around you not what you need. It sounds like your doing a job and I'm sure things will become easier.

 

[Anderson8]

my lo was going 2-3 hours between day feeds and up to 4 hours btween feeds at night, but for the last week his routine is all to pot.
hes 10 weeks and im hoping he goes back to his old ways soon never mind going for longer

 

[MissyMojo]

my lo fed every 2-3 hrs during the day til about 8m, and his nights got better frm about 3m on,,,, it does get beter honest x ignore all the nagative comments ur doing gr8

 

[cheese lover]

If I'm around (not at work) LO will still feed every 2-3 hours but it's usually a quick feed - like 5 minutes, max 10 minutes unless she wants comfort. She's still eating every 2-3 hours at night. Sometimes she sleeps more, dropping one to two feeds.
It's definitely easier than when she was a newborn in that she can latch herself sometimes and mostly latches on the first try etc.
Hopefully someone who's Bfing an older baby can come on with more support

 

[kelly29]

awww hun honestly some babies just love boobie time more than others i know maddie did i would feed like 4 -1 compared to my friend who was also bf it honestly does settle down a bit more as they start to wean on to solids taking more of that all of a sudden you prob wont even notice when it happens good luck your doing soooooooooo well xx

 

[Whisper]

My DD fed every 2hrs during the day until she was starting solids. She went 4hrs between feeds at night, sometimes less. It sounds your LO is doing prettty good tbh.

 

[Blah11]

It does, I promise. Amelie was always a big BFer (and still feeds once or twice a day) and tbh, I think 2-3 hours daily and a nice 5 hour stretch at night is really good going for a really little baby who isn't even weaned yet. I think other people are making you have unrealistic expectations Don't let them! My LO was up 6+ times a night until she was 14m old

 

[babythommo]

I was about to put a post similar to this until I read yours!

I feel exactly the same - my little one is 15 weeks and up until 12 weeks she was feeding every 1.5-2 hours in the day but her nights were fairly good (sleeping 5 hours, feed then 3 hours feed, then 2 hours).

The daytimes were getting me down as felt I couldn't get on with my life at the same time. All of a sudden when we hit 3 months she started going 3 hours between some daytime feeds.

I now feel bad for wishing for this as now the nightimes have got worse - she only goes 2 hours between feeds, which when a feed takes 30mins the reality is an hour and a half sleep between feeds.

Is this a 15 week growth spurt? I'm wondering if I'm not enough for her now and she'll need baby rice soon? any advice?

 

[hellohefalump]

It does get better... honestly. I breastfed Madeleine for 21 months, and seriously, after the first six months (weaning) it just gets so easy and you'll be so pleased you carried on.

 

[Bumpontherun]

Yes it does get easier. Helen was still feeding every 2 hrs during the day at 6 months but they were quick feeds. Night time gradually got better but she was sleeping 7:30-5:00 then 5:30-9:00 by 10 months and sleeping 12 hrs straight by a year.

 

[ashley2pink]

My last baby didnt really start stretching out her nursings until she was 7 months or so. She was nursing every 2 hrs and about every 3 at night. I nursed her for 24 months and it got easier and easier. Like you I did get used to it so it didnt bother me but in reality her nursing habit was to nurse a lot I just got used to it. Now I'm just waiting for my 3 week old to get more into a routine. She cluster feeds so much right now I pretty much just live in my bra cuz I feel like I'm plopping a boob out every hour sometimes. Nights are killing me right now.

 

[minties]

Who on earth came up with this 3-4 hour break between feeds idea anyway? That would feel like a lifetime if your entire food source was liquid. Imagine how hungry you would feel if all you had was a glass of milk every 4 hours.

That is only 5 feeds in a 24 hour period if your baby drank every 4 hours.

 

[babypowder]

I could have written your post a few months back! I kept being told it would get better but it wasn't seeming to, however it has started to now we have started solids

Just to give you a bit of hope, my LO who fed every two hours for 9 weeks and every 2-3 hours for 16 weeks or more, now feeds at 4am, 6am, 8am then 11am, 4pm, 6pm (all rough times) and only takes 5 minutes per feed xx

 

[Palestrina]

UPDATE

Ok, growth spurt over, baby is normal again. So cute and sweet as opposed to the hungry monster he's been for over a week. He even slept through the night thank goodness. Thanks for the support.

 

[BlackBerry25]

I live with an old hag (my grandma in law haha) and she says the same stupid things.

People just completely forget or did not nurse their children, so they don't have a clue.

 

[patch2006uk]

Who on earth came up with this 3-4 hour break between feeds idea anyway? That would feel like a lifetime if your entire food source was liquid. Imagine how hungry you would feel if all you had was a glass of milk every 4 hours.

That is only 5 feeds in a 24 hour period if your baby drank every 4 hours.

Wouldn't 4 hourly feeds make 6 feeds a day?

I'd love for my LO to go 5 hour stretches consistently at night. I've just made my peace (sort of) with the fact he's going to take his time to sleep through. He sleeps enough for us to function, so I suppose that's something.

He can be encouraged to go 4/5 hours between feeds in the day now he's weaning, but I don't like doing it. I went to see Harry potter, and the duration of the film was the longest he'd ever gone without me and a feed! Daddy took good care of him though

Think little and often. The biggest difference is how quick feeds are. I can go from really heavy and feeling full to completely drained in about 3 mins these days!