Forum Breastfeeding

Every 1/2/3 hours, for example

4 replies

Newborn2017
Hi there,

I have a 3.5-week-old baby boy. For about a week now, he keeps asking to feed regularly—every hour or every 2-3 hours. I try to stick to fixed 3-hour intervals, but sometimes I just can't manage it. Then the little guy gets very upset, starts crying, sucks on his thumb, or looks for the breast. When he does feed, he really drinks for about 20-25 minutes, so it's not just short snacking sessions. He falls asleep contentedly afterwards, but then soon calls out again. Our boy is growing well, and it's not colic.

But does anyone recognize my story, and is it normal not to have a routine yet?

I often get tips like giving water, starting solids, or using a pacifier? How do you all view this?

I'd love to hear your tips or experiences!!!

Replies

  1. MamaN #2

    Could just be adjustment days. I wouldn't hold too tightly to those 3 hours either, but rather feed on demand. If it's gas pains, you'll notice it in the way your little one drinks; they usually get a bit angrier and more aggressive because they want to suck for the gas pains but don't want the milk that's coming out of your breast at that moment. Could he have picked up a pacifier by chance?

  2. MamaN #3

    My first one didn't want a pacifier; I ended up breastfeeding him for 21 months. But he also used me as a pacifier quite often. And when he had colic and I gave him the breast, he'd spit the milk out because he didn't want it.

    With my second, who is now 2.5 weeks old, I just gave him a pacifier around the 6th day of my postpartum stay. And he's okay with it. He sucks on it to ease his colic. I find it a relief because now I'm not constantly having my breast out.

  3. MamaN #4

    It could just be cluster feeding, then the little one is just hungry, hihi. Don't stress too much about those times and just go with your little one's rhythm; that way, you'll have the least "stress" yourself. If you try to make them follow your rhythm and it doesn't work, it'll only be stressful. And maybe the pacifier will work too, but that can also take a while before he gets the hang of it.

  4. Betty Guest #5

    It could indeed be growth spurts. Or cluster feeding. I still remember clearly how my son would cluster feed in the evenings and then come every 2 hours. Not a problem at all, because then he actually slept longer through the night. At 3 weeks, the day/night rhythm should start to kick in anyway. My son came in the wrong rhythm of sleeping, waking, and feeding, but then was too tired to feed. It's better to feed, stay awake, sleep, and then feed again. That way they have more energy to feed, which is something to keep in mind.

    Supplementing shouldn't be necessary because he's essentially boosting your milk supply by feeding often. I would definitely offer the breast if he seems hungry. That should improve within about 2 days. If that's not the case, I'd consult an expert for advice, but trust your maternal instinct!

    A pacifier for colic isn't really a big deal, and he'll definitely spit it out if he's just hungry. My son didn't want a pacifier; we gave him his thumb or pinky to suck on instead.

    Good luck!

    Oh, PS: To check if he's really hungry, you can look up the Dunstan Baby Language on YouTube. You need to be open to it, but it really works!

    Rubbing gently over the cheek is also a way to check; if he starts rooting or searching, it's also a sign of hunger.

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