Is my baby feeding often enough

[@llli*kmeiszer]

My baby is three weeks old and has been doing and gaining weight well. She was jaundiced at the beginning so I would wake her to feed. In the last couple days I decided to try feeding more on demand to see when she would cue to be fed. But she seems perfectly content to go 5 or 6 hours at a stretch and then I finally get worried and wake her to eat. Am I worrying too much or do I still need to be waking her every 3 hours or so. She doesn't seem dehydrated but I haven't been trying this for very long. It's 5 pm now and she's nursed 4 times since 4 am. I woke her each time.

I guess the basic question is how long can you let a 3 week old go between feeds? Is this normal?

[llmommy]

Well, 3 weeks is still pretty young. So, I don't think you want to let her go TOO long, but if she has plenty of wet and dirty diapers and is gaining then you know she's getting enough. I'd recommend waking her to eat every 2-3 hours during the day, and then letting her sleep a longer stretch at night if she doesn't wake on her own. Most babies need to eat 8-12 times in 24 hours.

Congratulations on your new baby! It sounds like things are going very well.

[@llli*andrea.wolford]

I agree with the pp!

Have you thought about letting her sleep at night and then trying to wake her more during the day?
Thats what I did when my babies were small. Count diapars and if it gets to be eve and she hasn't had the wet diapars that she needs try and add an extra feed before bed.
3 weeks is the normal time for a growth spurt, I bet she will start eating more soon.
good luck

[Eliza's mom]

When my baby was just about that age she did the same thing (now that she's a ripe old age of 3 months it's hard to remember!) She would go 5 hours sometimes, especially if it was hot out... she eventually settled into her own schedule which was feeding more frequently in the mornings and a long period 'off' in the afternoon, then sort of cluster feeding in the evening into night, then let us get a good nights sleep! She was definitely gaining weight so I didn't worry too much about the long periods between feeding, and usually just woke her to feed because I wanted to do something after and didn't want her having meltdown while we were driving somewhere or in the grocery store or whatever. Sounds like you are doing OK!

[JustSasha]

I know exaclty what it's like to deal with a sleepy baby. At first, I could hardly even wake Sophie, and she would only eat a minute or two before falling back asleep! She was jaundiced and rarely woke on her own to eat either. As long as they have enough output, you can rest assured that they are eating enough.

For the first four weeks, most babies just eat, sleep and poop, with the occasional alert time. I wouldn't worry too much about her excessive sleepiness for the first month. My babe is almost 5 weeks now and she is much, much more alert than she was before, with a much better appetite, and definately recognizes when she is hungry!

It gets a little easier each week! Congrats on the little one.

[Hunoosh]

She is still very young. Wake her every 2 hrs. if you can possibly 3 hrs. But no longer. You should be aiming for 15 minutes each breast. At least that's what they told me at the hospital when I had my twins. If she doesn't eat that long I wouldn't worry too much. My boys only ate about 15 - 20 mins. total and now that they are 2.5 months they actually eat less. They are healthy and thriving...at their 2 month app. they weighed 10.5 lbs and 11lbs. 14 oz. Sounds like you and your LO are doing a great job. Congratulations and welcome!

Mel