newborn eating like a toddler!

[ferozi12]

My LO is 6 weeks old today and is EBF. He nurses every hour and a half, sometimes more often, with no difference in how much he eats during the night or day (I am up every hour at night if I sleep at all)! I'm a little concerned because when I pump, he has up to 9oz in a couple hours (usually eats 4-5oz, then takes a little break to burp and nap, then has the same amount again). I'm pumping about 12oz in every session and am worried about how I'll keep up with this till he's 6 months old! I want to breastfeed but would also occasionally like to leave the house or sleep or shower without pumping huge amounts first! Help!

 

[staralfur]

That sounds like a newborn eating like a newborn to me.

It won't be that intense forever. The first couple of months are all about building your supply and doing some major growing. They also don't eat more milk as they get older, your milk adjusts itself to their needs. My LO was only taking 3-4oz bottles every few hours at 5/6 months old.

 

[Maxy1]

I agree with pp that it should settle down to every 3 hours-ish very shortly. The first twelve weeks involve so much growing by the baby, physically and neurologically and it takes lots of energy. All through the night does sound like a bit of a pain though - you poor thing!! Are you sure that your LO is getting to the hind milk? The hind milk is the really fatty stuff that satiates the baby and lets them sleep for long periods. I usually jump into bed with my LO about an hour before her bed time and we just nurse for the hour so I know she is getting to that hind milk. This usually gives me about 5-6 hours at that age, which is much appreciated.

 

[CupcakeBaby]

Sounds like standard newborn stuff to me.

Is there a reason you're pumping?

Life is waaaaay less stressful without the pump/bottles.

 

[ferozi12]

Thank you ladies! Its really good to know this is normal and settles by itself. I'm pumping partly because I occasionally give DH a bottle so I can get more than an hour of sleep and partly because I want him to be used to the bottle when I start work in a few months. He has been growing a LOT and doubled his birth weight at 5 weeks old so I suppose he just needs to feed this way!