5 week old - 2 hourly daytime feeds? Is this a growth spurt?

Hi Everyone,

Not sure if this is a phase, I hope that it is and then I can just carry on doing what I am doing.

My DS is 5 weeks and from Monday he's been feeding every 2 hours during the day. Some of the time he has a super quick feed (less than 10 minutes, but really good sucking and I can feel my BB has gone down so he's getting lots), other times a decent feed where he'll have both sides and take his time.

At night time he usually has a long sleep (between 6-8 hours) starting from about 6 or 7pm and then wakes after about 3-4 hours for the rest of the night and once the sun comes up it's every 2 hours again. So I am quite happy with the night time the way it is given he's so little.

I don't really mind but would rather he feed less often. At 5 weeks is he having a growth spurt and that's why he wants so much??

I try really hard to get him to feed for longer, playing with him to wake him up or changing him and trying again but he really knows when enough is enough.

Anyway I hope that this makes sense! Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks :)

Certainly sounds like a growth spurt to me!

You're doing a fab job...hopefully he'll tweak it to a bit less for you soon!

I remember this happening with my DS when he was really little.....and it changed again, and again, and again and again!!! :)

Sounds pretty normal to me, DD is like this when she goes through a growth spurt. Temperature can have an impact as well so if it is warm bub may suck more as he is thirsty, even in air con as that is very drying as well despite the cooler temp itms.

some of it could be comfort as well, but rest assured it will settle but only until the next growth spurt or hot days etc.

:hug: your doing great hun, its hard work sometimes but its so worth every effort.

Nae x

Thanks Ladies,

It's actually been the coolest this week since he's been born so I don't think the temp's a factor.

As long as it's 'normal' I'll carry on doing what I'm doing. Mind you....He's been feeding 2 hourly all week long during the day and I posted this question and he went 4 hours! So who knows when he'll wake up again. Always the way :)

I'll just bop along with him.

Im a demand feeder and would have no idea how many hours my kids went between feeds LOL i just go with it :)

Sounds very much like a growth spurt and should settle down soonish. i always think that the first 3mths are up and down with feeds and routine. the more you go with the flow the less stressed you will become, and the less stressed you are the happier bub will be and prob sleep a little longer due to him being calm all the time :)

sounds pretty normal - especially with a decent sleep overnight. my DS still feeds 2 hourly sometimes during the day & he's having 3 solids meals as well.

Yep pretty normal. DD is a 2 hourly (give or take) feeder during the day. Sometimes she just wants a quick drink 20 min after finishing a feed, sometimes she'll have a big long feed, sometimes it's just comfort. I'm just going with her patterns. They usually sort themselves out sooner or later! But, I do understand how you're feeling - there are days where I wouldn't mind a bit of a break! I just tell myself that it will all settle soon. :)

My little guy has been doing the same thing too, he also went through a stage at 2 weeks the same. It can take it outta ya a bit, but I just go with it too... and make sure I keep up my water!!

My 15 week old DS's patterns differ. It is usually 2-3 hours feeding (Both BF/Formula) and every 4-6 hours overnight. One night he fed every 2 hours at 14 weeks and yesterday I was away from him and his feeds were breast, 180ml formula, breast, 120ml formula every two hours. Sometimes he can drain my breast in 5 minutes other times 10-15 minutes. Babies know when they're full and may take themselves off breast/fall asleep. If he wasnt satisfied then he'd let you know, 6-8 full (pale yellow) napkins will let you know he is getting enough. I noticed my DS's napkins weren't as full when my supply was low.

Its pretty normal for a breast fed NB to feed every 2 hours. BM digests alot easier & there for quicker than formula. So 4 hourly feeding really should be forgotten about with BFing.
My DS was a 2 hour feeder right up til he was 8 months old.

dd goes 2 -3 hourly during the day, then 10 hours over night.. so i dont mind, but go with the flow

You are doing a great job hun. It's a pity that no-one tells you before you have a baby that the average number of times a new baby feeds is 8 - 12 times in 24 hours. Often these can be mostly at night, so at least your little one has a good day/night pattern going.

At the moment it probably seems like you are feeding all the time. It will settle down though. I don't mean this to sound dismissive - it is hard work in the beginning with a new baby, and sometimes you really are feeding all day. But it is normal, so most mums find that the easiest thing to do is go with the flow. Give up on any ideas of getting lots of things done around the house, and combine feeding with rest. It is good for both you and baby to have lots of skin to skin contact, so feeding in bed while you rest can work really well.

Keep up the great work, and before you know it, the feeding will be less frequent and quicker, and you'll have more time for other things again.

I swear I fed so often it was crazy at the start but it does sound like a growth spurt. Keep up what you are doing and if it diminishes soon you will know.

It is them putting in their order so to speak. They are taking everything u have so that your boobs know that they need to make more:)

Could be a growth spurt although at that age 2 hourly feeding was normal for my DD. She still feeds around every 3 hrs at almost 12 months and has 3 solid meals and 2 snacks a day, lol. So all babies are different! Some feed lots, some less. You're doing great just going with the flow!