baby eating all day? question

[luckylady911]

I was just wanting to ask a question. I had to supplement my breast milk with formula as I have not been able to get enough supply in and it seems now that Alex is a bit confused (as well as his mommy). He seems to graze all day only eating a little bit either breast or bottle at a time and is hungry less than an hour later at times. It is wearing me out. I was under the impression that babies eat every two to three hours and sleep pretty much in between not being fussy. I always worry that he is not eating enough but he must be as he is gaining weight. I am about ready to give this breastfeeding thing up although I do enjoy it, it's just getting to be too much by the time I fit in breast feeding, bottle feeding and pumping. Any experience with things like this or advice? Thanks.

 

[Vickie]

He could be going through a growth spurt right now, which makes them eat more frequently.

Going to move this post to the bottle and breast feeding area, I think you'll get more responses there

 

[1st_baby]

It takes babies about 6 weeks to train your body on how much milk they will need ..same goes with formula but this time there training you ! I did both bottle and breast and At about 2 months old i knew how much he needed ..yet I never actually made enough milk

 

[Samantha675]

My son never ate every 2-3 hours when he was that age. It is only now that he does to be honest. He would eat every hour or so, and come evening he would spend hours at the breast cluster feeding. At that age, his tummy is still tiny, and he is still learning how to work for his food for the first time. All those little mouth muscles get tired pretty uickly at that point as well, so it just takes time for them to build uup where he can feed more quickly and for longer periods. Hang in there love, it does get much better and much easier.

 

[rowleypolie]

yes- i have experience! i know how frustrating it can be feeding them constantly- mine would eat every hour and eat for 40 minutes at a time so really i only had 20 minutes in between so i welcomed any naps she would take! but she was happy and i was happy- some advice- ditch the pump! it just makes your job harder- you have the same amount pumping as she would eat and then you have to feed it to them- i think its like doubling your workload! i never pump but when i used to it was only at night when she was sleeping and wouldnt be up until morning- pumping created low milk for when she was hungry

all i can say about your marathon eater is that it does get easier- breastfeeding is so much easier than formula so i hope you dont give up!

 

[Holldoll]

Bella was the same way. For the first 8 weeks it was every hour, then 2-3 and this last 3 days it's gone to 3-4! YAY!

I would second the ditching the pump! You are creating a lot of extra work and by topping him up with bottles your body will never figure out exactly how much milk to make so you will be under producing. Pumping is not effective and making enough milk.

BF is hard the first 2 months but after that it should get a lot easier!

 

[shanegem]

Couldn't agree more with the replies. It definately gets easier, and much easier than bottle feeding in the long run in my opinion. Hope you can stick with it

 

[Margerle]

Everyone else gave such great advice, I just wanted to offer


It DOES get better. Hang in there mama!