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 Ask Dr. Jana
Worried 11-Week-Old Is Not Eating Enough | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Jana,
My 11-week-old son is sleeping through the night--10 to 12 hours! During the day, however, he is usually frustrated at the quantity of milk he gets at each feeding. I breastfeed, but have begun supplementing with pumped milk (if I have it) or formula, until he seems satisfied. I don't want to wake him, but he only gets four to five (occasionally six) feedings during the day? Is this okay?— Paranoid Mom in Baltimore, MD | | | ANSWER |
June 15, 2001 | | | Dear Paranoid Mom,
It is quite common for breastfeeding moms to wonder if their babies are getting enough to eat (or drink). My immediate response to your question would be to suggest that you consider if your son is urinating frequently. If he urinates six or more times a day, he is probably getting enough fluid. The other, and perhaps the best, way to know if he is getting enough is to make sure that he goes to his regular check-ups. At these examinations your son will be weighed. At this age, his growth and development are extremely good indicators of his nutritional well being, and check ups are a great time to talk with your health care provider about any concerns you might have regarding your son's growth.
As for your son's specific sleep and feeding patterns, I will tell you that a ten hour stretch of nighttime sleep can be perfectly normal for a three-month-old, along with as much as five more hours of daytime napping (which, at your son's age, often ends up as a three-nap-a-day routine). I will say that it is also normal (and quite common) for a baby this age to have brief wakings every 4-5 hours during the night.
When it comes to the daytime feedings, each baby is very different. Some eat a lot at each feeding and go for hours before being hungry again. Others take less at each feeding and need to be nursed more frequently. Because there is so much variability in nursing schedules from one baby to the next, following your son's growth is particularly important in gauging how he is doing.
You mentioned that you are supplementing your breastfeeding with pumped breast milk or formula because your son still seems to be hungry. This is a perfectly reasonable thing to do, but you should be aware that part of the reason babies still act hungry after nursing and want to nurse more frequently is to increase milk production. If you want to be able to nurse exclusively, then your body needs to get the signal to increase your milk supply to meet your baby's demand. If you are concerned that your milk supply is low, make sure that you are eating well and drinking plenty of fluids. For additional information on milk supply, see our article on how the body supplies milk.
In addition to taking your son for regular check-ups with his health care provider, I hope this information will help you enjoy your son--as well as your uninterrupted sleep--without having to worry about his well being.
For more information on these common concerns, look at our programs on Sleep, Breastfeeding, and Growth.— by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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