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Expert Q&A

	By Ann Calandro BSN, RNC, IBCLC Lactation Consultant

I have a 2-week-old son. I am getting frustrated with breastfeeding. I have two other sons, and he was the first to latch on right after birth. He seems to latch on fine, and I feel the letdowns, but a lot of times he only eats for about three to eight minutes on one side, and that is it.

He is not snack feeding, because I have been trying to feed him about every three hours. The problem is I try to wake him and get him to feed longer, but he doesn't seem interested, and then he wakes before the three hours. He has a lot of wet diapers and is gaining weight, but he doesn't have a lot of bowel movements. I don't know if his short feeding time is normal. I have read in the books that the norm is 15 minutes per side.

Do you think I am doing something incorrectly that is making him only interested for three to eight minutes? Sometimes he seems like he is so hungry, and then he latches on for three minutes, and then he barely eats anything else at that feeding. One other thing, sometimes he latches on and then he comes off and then latches on again, and he doesn't stay latched on and I don't know why."

The trouble with books and averages is that they address only what the average baby does. This means that some babies will finish nursing in five minutes and others in 30 minutes. A lot depends on how quickly the mother's milk lets down, how efficient the baby is at eating and the age of the baby. It is true that most newborns take longer to eat than your baby. However, it sounds like your baby is getting lots of milk because he has lots of wet diapers and bowel movements. That is the clue that he is getting plenty.

When you are used to bottle-feeding, you are used to seeing how much your baby drinks, and you are used to more of a schedule. Breastfed babies eat differently, because they receive a whole different food. They actually eat more like we do as adults. As he grows, you will see that he has short feedings sometimes, longer feedings sometimes, and sometimes he just barely latches before he is done. This is similar to the way we snack, eat a large meal or get something to drink.

Hopefully you have had him weighed by now and have found that he is back to birth weight or beyond it. After the second week, breastfed babies normally gain about 5 to 8 ounces a week. Many mothers are very relieved when they see how well their babies are growing. Just yesterday, a mom turned and gave me a big hug when we saw how well her baby was growing on my office scale. She was so proud of herself! You should be too!

A mother support group like La Leche League would be great for you and your baby to attend. Once you get around other nursing moms, you find that your baby is not at all unusual, and it will give you a sense of contentment to surround yourself with other moms learning about breastfeeding. Once you have gotten used to the ways of a breastfeeding baby, you will find breastfeeding to be rewarding and very easy. Moms are often so caught up in learning how to breastfeed and making sure that everything is all right that they are surprised to find just how much joy they experience as their babies grow older.

I wish you both well.

Sincerely,
Ann Calandro, RNC, IBCLC"

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