Irregular feeding times?

[Fenella]

Hi all,

I am fairly new to breastfeeding (first baby is just over 4 weeks old) and am feeding whenever she wants it. This seems to be at totally irregular times, anything from 45 minutes to 5 hours apart (the ones at night are usually some of the longer ones, but not always).

I am just wondering if this is normal? Did / do your babies have more regular feeding patterns this early? I'm not planning to change what I'm doing at this stage, just curious really O

[beckles]

fenella well done on bf your bubba. my experience is that bubbas feedings are quite irregular initially - actually mine are always irregular but i know some bfing mums say their bubs settle into a routine. it's great you are happy to demand feed and you sound really relaxed which is fantastic. oscar is 4 months and still hasn't got any regular pattern although in saying that i don't watch the clock at all around feed times so i don't really know i just do what you're doing meet his needs when he asks. well done you.

love beckles

[Lucy]

Fiona,

Tamsin sounds a lot like Olivia as a newborn: feeding whenever she was hungry or thirsty, rather than by the clock. Sometimes I would feed her on the hour, other times it would feel like forever between feeds: totally irregular!

It settled down into a regular pattern by the time she was about 4 months.

Charlie, on the other hand, is a lot more regular, and I kind of feed him every 3 hours through the day, as he is so placid and never cries or gets unsettled, so he never "shouts" for food, IYKWIM? But he always takes the boob when I offer it!

Just goes to show all babies are different, and to really follow them & your maternal instinct as to when they want/need feeding!

[nellbe]

Hows the feeding going now Fenella?

Matty was always irregular and still is! He is now 9 months old and had 4 feeds today (in between his solids) and 6 yesterday! I can never tell day to day with him, but that's okay, I love the fact he will tell me when he needs a drink.

[Tracey]

Indah's the same, it could be 2 hours, 3 hours or 6 hours!???
Whenever she is searching for boob, I get it out, as sometimes she will just be cranky coz she is female! 8-[

[Fenella]

Thanks for your replies everyone - it's nice to know it isn't just me! Things are going pretty well at the moment for us, still all over the place though

[BellyBelly]

Very common, very natural and very gentle. Well done on following your heart and your bubbas needs. Great stuff mum!!!