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My baby STILL seems hungry all the time?

Mary - posted on 02/26/2010 ( 1 mom has responded )

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20

My son is 11 weeks old and just under 10 lbs. we just went to the doctor yesterday and she said he was a little underweight (but my husband and i are both small and the baby was 4 weeks early.)
My doctor said that i should be feeding him every 3 hours. But he usually doesnt make it to three hours. He'll start screaming and crying around the 2 hour mark. and they say that crying is a sign of "late" hunger. but if i feed him any earlier i'll be feeding him every hour on the hour.
so my doc said i should nurse him then immediately give him 1-2 oz of formula to "top him off."
but if i do that he spits up (like he's overeating - his stomach can only hold so much, after all.)
so should i do what my doc says and feed him more milk, less often (and let him spit up) or do i do what I've been doing and feed him less milk, more often???

PS: my doc seems to think that maybe im not making enough milk...
or that maybe he's a "lazy nurser."
he'll actively swallow for about 5 minutes (like gulp gulp gulp), then my milk slows down and he'll "nibble" for the next 5 minutes and fall asleep. then i'll burp him and change sides, and he'll do it again.

PPS:
I've tried to "let him nurse for as long as he wants" but he'll end up "nibbling" on one breast for like 40 minutes. how do i know he's actually getting milk after the initial "gulp gulp gulp"?
I dont want to be used a human pacifier...

PPPS:
I wanted to mention that he gained 3.5 lbs in 7 weeks.

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1 Comment

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Aileen - posted on 02/26/2010

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As far as I know a half a pound a week is completely acceptable weight gain. His weight should be adjusted for the 4 weeks also. My daughter is 12 weeks and just over 11 pounds which is fine, so he's not far behind her. They still get milk even when nibbling, the gulping just isn't as obvious because the flow is slow. If you squeeze your nipple and milk comes out after the initial gulping he is still getting milk. Maybe you can try block feeding, where you feed him on one side for a few consecutive feeds, it ensures he gets more of the fatty hindmilk that is higher in calories and keeps them full a little longer. Remember too, that crying is a late hunger cue, but it doesn't have to be. Babies just cry sometimes no matter what we do. My daughter was spitting up a lot and really gassy and my mom pointed out that every time she cried I stuck a boob in her mouth, and I was over feeding her. As long as his weight gain keeps on the same trend and doesn't drop, and his dirty diapers don't become lots less he's likely getting all the milk he needs. If you feel like he needs the formula maybe he would spit up less with a different one. Good luck!

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