Is it normal for a newborn to nurse for over an hour

If your child is doing the same, then hang in there… things almost always start to calm down somewhere between 6 and 8 weeks. We were still adjusting to a change in family size and the older child is having to adjust too — not just two adults , and our new baby was having to adjust to life outside of mom. First of all, do know that frequent nursing is normal and expected in the early months — most newborns need to nurse at least 8 — 12 times per day.

Frequent nursing may sometimes be a warning sign of inefficient milk transfer or low milk supply , but if baby has good diaper output, is gaining well and is generally happy and healthy , then the frequent nursing is unlikely to be a sign of a problem. If baby seems to be nursing all the time, you first want to make sure that breastfeeding is working well. Problems with latching can result in frequent nursing if baby is not transferring milk efficiently.

Often, even minor changes in latch can help a lot. If you feel that breastfeeding is not working as well as it should, do your best to get some local help — evaluating and fixing latch problems over the phone or online is difficult. Using breast massage and breast compression can also be helpful at times for babies who are frequent nursers. Most babies find breastfeeding very comforting and, just like if we feel upset a hug can do wonders. Likewise, a short extra breastfeed does the same for calming our babies!

It will most likely be completely different from yours. There are, of course, some mums who say that a routine was the best thing for their baby. For most babies, a strict routine does not work! So why do we think this is normal for our babies?! Most mums report that their baby feeds frequently and is unsettled more so during the evening hours, most commonly between 6 — 10pm. This is a very normal and common behaviour for babies who are otherwise content during other parts of the day, feeding and gaining weight well and are generally healthy.

Babies do have these periods of cluster feeding , often most present between 2 and 9 weeks of age, but of course some babies will have these periods for several more weeks and still be totally healthy.

Researchers think it is a developmental stage that all babies naturally need to go through. Babies can easily get overwhelmed or dysregulated in the first few months in particular. Babies who are overtired or overwhelmed, find it hard to calm down by themselves in the first few months of life and need someone to help them.

And what better way to be calmed than having a breastfeed, which of course is not just food, but also a pain reliever and a happy hormone giver! Also, being held and rocked allows baby to feel safe and warm, like being back in the womb.

So, it makes sense that they need to be held and fed so much in the evenings after a big day in the big wide world! Some of us have another person around to help us out, whilst other new mums have to manage alone during the cluster feeds.

Your milk supply will increase over time. Do not worry about how much milk you are pumping. When you are able to breastfeed your baby, your milk production will be better. Caring for more than one baby is a challenge that requires a lot of time, energy and patience.

Breastfeeding can be a less expensive and convenient way to feed your babies, once you ease into the routine. Your milk supply will be plenty as long as your babies nurse often. Breastfeeding is a supply-and-demand process — the greater the demand, the greater the supply. Support groups, such as Mothers of Multiples, offer valuable support and helpful tips for nursing your babies.

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Search Close Search. Your baby may latch on and breastfeed well from the first feeding or take a while to catch on. You may have no trouble at all with your let-down reflex and building up a healthy breast milk supply, or you may have a difficult let-down and a delay in your milk production. There are so many things that can affect how long a feeding will take.

In the beginning, patience is the key. You and your baby need time to learn together. It can definitely be tough and exhausting if you're breastfeeding for forty minutes every two hours. But, don't give up. Before you know it, you'll have a healthy breast milk supply, your baby will get the hang of breastfeeding, and feeding times will be quicker and easier. Of course, if you're worried about feeding times that are too long or too short or if you have any questions, your doctor or your baby's doctor is the best source of information.

Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published March Your Guide to Breastfeeding. Updated October 08, American Academy of Pediatrics. Updated November 2, Lawrence, Ruth A.

Elsevier Health Sciences. Protocol AB. ABM clinical protocol 7: model breastfeeding policy revision Breastfeeding Medicine. Riordan, J. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Fourth Edition. Jones and Bartlett Learning.

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