How Long Does It Take For Your Newborn To Fill Up While Breastfeeding?
November 5, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Breast Feeding Supplies
I bottle fed my son because I had a hard time breastfeeding. I am now breastfeeeding my 2 week old daughter and doing it exclusively. It takes her an hour to fill up and 2 hrs later she’s hungrey again I keep getting tempted to just give her a bottle. Any words of wisdom?
Should not take an hour! She will be hungry every 3 hours – so she is on schedule. I would suggest that she is done long before you think she is. She still very young, but could be developing a habit of using the nipple for comfort – kinda like a pacifer. Is she going to sleep? My son was done in seven to ten min. on one breast. Then for the next session, use the other side.
My suggestion is to take her off the breast after 15 min. Burp her, or better yet hand her to Dad for burping. This is because she knows your scent and associates it with the breast. If she gets mad – that is ok – the two of you are still getting to know each other. If your breast tells you she is truly hungry after about 10 min – let her nurse another 10 to 15 min. You should be able to tell by the speed and intensity of her nursing if she is truly feeding – or just likes being there.
Another thought – your breast are still “learning” . After another 3 days or so your supply will become more in tune to your baby. This is another reason to encourage her to get busy and stop dawdling while nursing.
Trust your instincts – if you feel like she should be done, you are probably right. Learn to listen to your breast – they will become very in tune to your baby. Be confidant! And she will do what you expect her to do. If you are wishy-washy, she will be too. Remember you are the mommy and what you say goes! She will adapt quickly.
It always starts out bumpy – work through it. This will be one of the most rewarding experances of your life! Please don’t give up! I envy you, I would love to have a second oppertunity – I loved the first one!
my son ate for 40 minutes every hour and half! I seriously though I was going to lose my mind for awhile there from lack of sleep or just lack of anything else period except feeding him, lol. He would eat for 40 minutes and then fall asleep for a little while, poop or pee and then cry to be fed again! Some babies eat very vigorously and only take 20 minutes and then some like my baby and your baby take awhile to eat, its all normal! I wish you the best!
breast milk digests in approximately 90 minutes so after two hours it is normal for her to be hungry again. if if it takes you 90 minutes to feed her, she will be hungry by the time you are done…lol…she will start spacing out feedings soon. remember, now her stomach is very very tiny and can’t hold much more than 2 ounces at a time, which is nothing, so baby needs it constantly. the norm is to breastfeed a newborn every 2-3 hours so you are right on the dot. it will pass. congrats on your bundle!
Don’t give up. Breast Feeding is the BEST Thing for her I’m sure you’ve heard that a million times though. Breat milk will go though her system faster than formula. It digest easier in her little body. Typically is keep baby awake while feeding they (doctors, nurses) say you should feed on one breast for 15 minutes at a time.
Good Luck. Your doing whats best for baby!
make sure she’s getting both the foremilk and hindmilk from the breast. If you switch breasts before empty, she’s only getting foremilk and won’t fill up. I would keep breastfeeding. Get in touch with a lactation consultant.