Have a nursing question...

[Jenny-momof3]

Okay even though this is my 4th child....this is the first child I've nursed for this long. He's 3 months this week.

Is this a normal schedule for a 3 month old....nurses every 2 hours ON THE DOT all day long! Does a 6 hour stretch at night, nurses, then another 3 hour stretch.

With 3 older kids I'm having a hard time keeping up with the every 2 hour thing during the day. And if I try and hold him off he starts sucking on everything in sight! I really want to keep nursing him but with the busy season for my kids activities coming up soon I just know I can't stop every 2 hours to feed him.

Your experience?

 

[kelleyrn2000]

Yes, that's normal. They go through alot of growth spurts where they nurse very frequently to increase your supply.
Some babies cluster feed where they eat every hour or two for several hours, then go a longer stretch. Some babies will go longer than others...each of my three were a little different. Most likely it will get less frequent in time, keep up the good work!

 

[LuvLDM]

By about 3-4 months old my babies nursed about every three hours during the day. Have you considered using a breast pump? It may give you a bit more flexibility & more availability for the older kids.
Good luck! I know it's not easy, breastfeeding is something I struggled w/ with all three children.

 

[sunshine1178]

Very normal.

Remember to be grateful for the six hours of sleep.

If you're not comfortable nursing in public, start pumping one side while he nurses at the other. You'll have milk to take along then, and you'll increase your supply in both breasts, which may enable him to space his feedings more.

Source: 17 months nursing one child, 9 months nursing another

 

[minkydog]

All 3 of my babies nursed every 1-1/2 to 2 hours until they were about 4 months old. THey started eating some cereal about that time, so I think it probably tied them over a bit and went to an every 3hour schedule until about 6 months. The first 4 months were busy and tiring. All three of mine nursed for at least a year and none of them slept through the night until at least 9 months.

I don't know if you use formula at all, but if you do might I suggest that you continue to nurse in the mornings when your milk supply is high and perhaps offer formula in the evening when you're busy and distracted and your milk supply is lower. I know that this flies in the face of everything that La Leche League says and they will tell you that bottles are the beginning of the end. But in my youngest child's situation it worked very well. He had a feeding disorder and couldn't nurse well at all. He was failure to thrive until about 4 months when we put him on a high-calorie formula and fed him every 2hours round the clock. I continued to nurse him 3-4 times a day, knowing he was getting almost nothing from me, and all the other feedings were his formula. Do you know, that young'un nursed happily for 12 months! And they all said it couldn't be done. He's the healthiest one of the bunch too.

 

[okeydokey]

Absolutely normal. Great job Mom!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Oh yeah, it's normal. Believe me, I wondered that myself a lot! And I didn't have the internet in 1993! Things will definately get better once you start your baby on cereal once a day. And like a PP said, good job! It's not the easiest thing in the world, so don't beat yourself up if you get frustrated. I can still remember thinking "What? AGAIN?"

 

[4nana]

My four babies were nursed and all had 2 hr schedule also...I nursed till they were 6-9 mos old and remember how sore I got, also how exhausting it was. Back in the day, their ped started them on cereal at 6 wks., so that really helped stretch out the feeding schedule. Now with 6 mos? before cereal is introduced, I agree with pumping if possible to give you a much needed break. Take care of yourself, keep up the good work long as you feel Mommy can handle, it will be worth it.

 

[rparmfamily]

Sounds normal to me too. I have 3 kids and baby eats when baby wants to eat.

 

[PaulaSue]

I fed mine on demand. 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the day and longer streches at night sounds about right for all 3 of my girls. I nursed them all over 1 year and the sling was my life saver.

 

[bumbershoot]

Totally normal. And less than my son nursed.

Pumping is going to increase your supply so you'll have to nurse/pump more often...I am not sure I recommend that.

Try to get a nice sling and nurse in that...it wasn't possible for me without being topless, but many other mama/baby combos can do it.

He's very very likely gearing up for a nice chunky growth spurt, if this is an increase. IF it's not an increase, get ready!

Also, my son started teething at that time, and he increased his nursing then, too.

You're doing great, and I'm sure your older kids will understand! I'm the oldest of 5, and I understood that the littler kids needed attention (though the 3 youngest didn't live with us, and me and my full brother were much older...but still, we shared dad's attention with them!), and I bet your bigger kids will get it too.

 

[Ceila]

Sounds normal to me, too. As for your older kids' schedule, can you arrange carpools with other moms? Or nurse while you are waiting for them at their activities, either wherever you are or even in the car? One lacrosse mom used to pull up to the field in her car and nurse there. That was she could keep an eye on her son but still be comfortable in the front seat of the car.

I nursed in public anywhere, so that wasn't an issue for me. When DD was very small I used a cover up, but after I was comfortable getting her latched on I didn't use the cover much. I loved wearing a cardigan with a shirt under - the sweater provided just the right amount of coverage without covering her little head up.

Good luck!!

 

[Jenny-momof3]

Thanks for the positive feedback ladies.

I do pump some because I'm not comfortable nursing in public. He won't nurse if he's covered up. My supply is definitely not an issue thankfully.

I hope to get him to stretch to 3 hour feedings by summer though so I can be hands on with my older kids when needed. I'm fortunate that he goes back and forth with nursing ans a bottle very easily so I guess I'll just give him more bottles throughout the day if needed.

Interesting though...he's been the sickest out of the 4 so far. He's had 2 double ear infections, strep and a nasty cold already. My girls were always the picture of health and they were compltely formula fed.

 

[2girlsmom]

I agree that it is completely normal, but just want to comment that I am thankful that mine were abnormal. I remember when I brought home by first born, we were in the military and they had a "first time parent" program nurse that came around for a home visit about 10 days old. She asked how often the baby nursed and I told her about every 4-5 hours during the day, 6-7 hours at night, and she proceeded to tell me that I was starving my child,etc (this was completely my baby's schedule! not mine). The next day I pumped and fed her out of a bottle for the first time, she drank 10 ounces in a sitting! The day after that we went for her 2 week checkup at the dr office, and I told them about what this nurse said to me and that I tested how much she was drinking at a time with the bottle and how much it was. The dr told me that my baby was fine and healthy, had already gained almost a pound from birth weight, and would absolutely let me know when she was hungry. And that since I was producing and she would consume such large qtys at a time, he was absolutely certain this was why she had no interest in nursing more frequently. My 2nd child did nurse slightly more frequently, but never closer than about every 3 hours, but I literally had so much supply that we could have fed 2 or 3 infants at a time without a problem.

Bottom line, OP, it is a wonderful thing to give your child as long as you can, but there is nothing wrong with a bottle here and there as needed, whether the La Leche people agree or not! You have to do what is best for your baby, your family, and you!

 

[Tinkermommy]

Sounds normal to me. Not sure I would recommend pumping too much either, you might end up making way more than you need.

I found nursing so easy after the first 2-3 weeks were over. But I had to be sitting down to nurse. Couldn't do it walking around like some moms. So it does take some effort to do it, but these guys are little for such a short time it's over before you know it.

I really miss nursing my two (is that weird?). It was a special time just for me and baby.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My babes all cluster fed in the daytime (meaning, more frequently as you are experiencing), but less often at night. I personally welcomed it, b/c it meant sleep. At 3 months, the house wasn't rolling on all cylinders and I was fine with that. I did have a Moby Wrap sot hat I could wear the baby while he nursed and I could at least accomplish something.

But as long as your baby is having wet diapers AND is gaining wait, the nursing on demand that you are experiencing is perfectly normal.

Babies in general can do a pretty good job of moderating what they need.

Baby can also be experiencing a growth spurt. I always found growth spurts to be somewhat annoying....b/c then it seemed they were nursing constantly--but as your body adjusts to the new demand, it settles down.

If you find you need bottles, that is fine--but I'm not sure I'd worry about spacing out the nursing sessions b/c he is getting what he needs when he needs it. Switch out a feeding for a bottle if it is easier for you.