How much/How long?

[leighbaby]

I'm am worried that I do not feed my LO enough - though he never seems to whinge for more?! (he is 9 days)

How much milk should he get from a feed? (in millilitres - ml)

How long should he feed for? (My LO feeds for anything between 20mins to an hour...?!)

Sometimes when I worry he hasn't had enough - I express into a mug and feed him from a spoon.

 

[Mervs Mum]

You cant say how much he should be getting in oz or mls - thats for bottle feeding. With BF you feed on demand. Sometimes he will want a snack and other times a 3 course dinner then a rest and then a pudding!! He shouldnt feed for a set amount of time either. If he wants feeding then you should put him to the breast. When he's had enough he will stop. To tell if he's had enough just go by him - is he weeing and pooing? Is he gaining weight rather than losing it? If the answer is yes he's getting plenty.

We live in a bottle feeding culture which is why we get hung up on amounts. Try to let it go. Feed him when he wants and he'll get plenty

 

[mommyof3co]

I agree with MM. He would let you know if he wasn't getting enough, try not to worry too much. Just go by his cues, let him nurse as long as he wants as often as he wants. Sometimes he'll want to sleep or go longer between feeds but I fully believe they will wake whe they are hungry, that you don't need to wake hem to nurse or anything like that. As long as he's having plenty of wet diapers, and dirty ones, he's eating fine

 

[Mervs Mum]

And feeding can last from 5 mins to 2 hours sometimes! You also need to remember that you are both learning. The more he practices the better at feeding he will become and you may see more consistancy in the lengths of his feeds but thats some way off!!
9 days is very young - give yourselves chance to learn - you are doing a wonderful job already!!!! So many people give up so quickly because of this obsession with 'how much'. Try not to fall into that trap!!

Well done on reaching your first milestone!!!

https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m220/benandgeorgialee/Breastfeeding%20Milestone%20Blinkies/1-week-bfing.gif

 

[Samantha675]

MM has said it all. Just let him nurse when he wants as long as he wants. As long as you are getting lots of dirty diapers, then don't worry about how much he is getting. Also, don't fret about how much he is gaining as breastfed babies gain differently from formula feed babies. Focus on the diapers and how he is acting, these are the most important things.