B/f questions!

Ok firstly when I changed to formula at 14 weeks Spencer still fed 2 hourly (that wasn't my reason for changing but thought it might be a nice side effect). Plunket said that once a breastfed baby always a breastfed baby (i.e they will take less formula at the same frequency as b/f).
Spencer only goes 3 hours between feeds now and he is on 3 meals a day, when I first introduced solids he stretched out the one feed, so would have lunch and then go longer before the next bottle but the others stayed shorter.
Just to let you know at my antenatal group everyone is still b/f except me, and my baby still feeds the most frequently. It is normal for them to feed 2-4 hourly. I say go with the flow for now, introduce solids when she seems ready and be really happy that you have a baby that sleeps through the night and is still getting that fantastic breastmilk from her mummy.

peachy wrote: O.k, Lauren is 4 months this week and currently b/feeds every two hours and has done for about the last 6 weeks or so but sleeps through at night from 8pm till around 6am with no feeds at all. Sometimes she can stretch to 3 hourly between feeds but its a big ask and I have to use the dummy to stretch her out. Feeding every 2 hours doesn't really bother me at all, but its hard to get anything done. She is a guzzler and I have loads and loads of milk, her feeds only take about 5mins, they always have, so I know she is getting a heck of a lot at each feed, so its not that she's underfed or anything! Now for my questions!! How long will this go on for feeding every 2 hours? When will she start dropping a feed or two and going for 3 or more hours between? Do I need to introduce solids to get her to stretch the feeds longer? I know switching to forumla you can get around 4 hours between feeds, is this my other only option? I am the last in my coffee group still b/f, all the others have switched to formula and are getting atleast 3 hours between feeds!! I feel like I have a baby permanently attached to my boob!! TIA for any replies ladies and sorry for the long winded essay

How long will this go on for feeding every 2 hours?

Babies got through a big growth spurt at around 3 months and it can go on for a while. She will gradually round it out, but first up, and no offence intended here, are oyu misreading her cues? You may think she is hungry and she isn't but will takew it cos its nice and you are offering!

Do I need to introduce solids to get her to stretch the feeds longer?

No. If you are positve you aren't misreading her cues and she's not bored or tired, you could try makingher wait a bit linger, say 15 mins, then do that for 4 days then strtch it out to half an hour, and so on, so she slowly becomes a clock fed baby instead of demand.

I know switching to forumla you can get around 4 hours between feeds, is this my other only option?


NO!!!! that is a myth. All babies have different needs and cues. Could stillb e the grwoth spurt. See a lactaton consultant or ask your plunket nurse!

I am the last in my coffee group still b/f, all the others have switched to formula and are getting atleast 3 hours between feeds!! I feel like I have a baby permanently attached to my boob!!


DON'T feel bad cos you are still b/fing, feel proud that you are doing the best thing you can do for your baby. Ask plunket or ring your hospital and talk to their lactation cinsultant or la leche. And remember, all babies are different!

Well done you are doing a FAB job.

peachy wrote: I know switching to forumla you can get around 4 hours between feeds, is this my other only option?

The others have given you good answers but to this question I want to say this is such a myth!

Daniel switched from BF to FF at 3 months (his choice, not mine). And he was 2 hourly fed during the day on formula until around 5 months, then I got sick of it and stretched him out.

Formula won't stretch out her feeds.

Off topic but I just noticed a sneaky little ticker...CONGRATS cuppatea!!!!

Yes I saw that too Cuppatea....congrats!!!

Thanks for your replies ladies. No offence taken fattartsrock. I tell ya this b/f can do my brain in sometimes! I can normally tell her tired/bored whingy cry to a hungry cry, but to tell the truth I just started offering it 2 hourly as thats what she was demanding for so long, so I kind of got in the habit. She has become very spilly lately so maybe she is over eating because its nice and comfy on Mummy!

Hmmmmmmmm man I though b/f was so natural and easy, I do find it easy now, but that was after 6 weeks of shear hell at the beginning.

I can see why people give up so easily, but I am a determined and stubborn person, it will not get the better of me

I am kind of in a catch 22, do I try and stretch her and have her wake at night for feeds, or continue doing the 2 hourly thing until she drops a feed herself I would prefer her obviously to still sleep through, gives me a nice break and a decent sleep!

Peachy, you may have seen my reent entries on the Oct thread. I have been bfeeding Eva 2 hourly and she has become more spilly and refluxy. I tend to go by the clock ratrher than waiting for her hunger signs. Anyway, I rung plunketline about the reflux and the nurse said that at 4 months, I can be spreading her feeds out more, even up to 4-5 hourly! She said to use distraction techniques and try and gradually stretch them out. I did 3 hourly yesterday with no problems at all, so will stick with that for the time being.

Hye Peachy - you are doing fab don't worry. My babe is 6 months and feeds more often than two hourly sometimes and he still wakes at night.

I would wait till the six month mark for solids if you can.

It is hard to get things done, but I love it cause its an excuse to sit down and snuggle.

Congrats cuppatea!!!!

Thanks for your advice ladies, its very much appreciated. I normally only give Lauren one side at a feed as that is all I thought she needed, she seemed satisfied. I actually never thought to offer both sides I must have severe baby brain!!

Today I have offered her one side then a short break of 10 mins then offered the otherside and she has taken it. I will give this a go for a few days and see if there is any change or increase in legnth between feeds.

Guess its trial and error! I think I have also only just relised that she may have reflux. She is a happy chucker though, so I thought she was just spilly, but it seems it may be more severe than that. Am looking to relux now too and she has alot of the symptoms that are on the Crying over spilt milk website so am going to try a dairy free diet for myself to see if that helps her at all.

peachy wrote:    She has become very spilly lately so maybe she is over eating because its nice and comfy on Mummy!

Hey Peachy. I was just rereading this thread and saw this. I was feeding Michaela regularly (just about every hour, I swear we were attached nipple to mouth) until she was about 8 weeks old and a friend of mine said that she was feeding 3 hourly at min sometimes 4-6 hourly so I decided to start stretching out her feeds to 3 hourly and also stopped letting her sleep at the breast.

She fell into this routine really quickly but would feed 20 minutes one side then spill then take another 20 minutes on the other side. I got worried becuase the spills where yellow so I rang plunketline who told me that she was throwing up the cream of my milk because she was taking too much. The sneaky little sod had decided that if she had to feed to stay at my breast she would and then she'd throw up to make room for the other side.

I have always been pro demand feeding but found that at about 10 weeks I had to change to routine feed and limit her time at the breast (or I might go insane) to my great surprise at the time she didn't mind changing her feeding habits and I managed to get a lot more done in the day and started enjoying her more.

Someone else suggested it and I second the idea of contacting to Le Leche league (they have a good website you can use). Also do you have any idea how much milk she is taking when she feeds (an inaccurate way to find out is the express one side while she feeds on the other)

Edited by The_Stuarts

How was the spilling after the 6am feed? Did any of the websites help?

I'll say it again I think you're doing a fab job.