Hello!

I seem to feed for hours each time. I’m not sure if this is reality or that I’m just overwhelmed. Do other mums feel like this?


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  • Sometimes bub isnt feeding at all but just having a comfort suckle.


  • from the start. THen you time until the next one. But watch for bub’s prompts. THey will let you know when they’re hungry. Perhaps bubs is going through a growth spurt.


  • Yes I felt that way too. I also get easily overwhelmed. Stay strong, I know how difficult it is.


  • I used to keep a note book next my feeding chair – so I could keep track of which side to feed from. I used to write down time started, which side, end time. May be worth giving a go so you can see.


  • Depends how old your Bub is. But with all 3 of mine at different stages it would take hours to feed. My eldest also liked cluster feeding from about 5 weeks of age so I would be feeding her non stop between about 3.30pm – 7.30/8pm. Then she’d be crying for a feed an hour later! She wasn’t feeding the whole time, my supply was good so I figured out some of it was actual hunger, getting used to my supply and her needs and also some of it was comfort sucking. This went on for over a month and almost sent me insane. I couldn’t do anything at all during those long hours. I sympathise with you. This phase will pass. Every Bub is different and their feeding patterns change. At the start it takes a while for both of you to get the hang of feeding. And as the get older their feeding patterns change so just when you think you’ve got it worked out – they change! I agree with other poster – check if any other issues might be impacting feeding such as supply, latch, tounge tie etc. sometimes these issues cause Bub to feed for hours. But if all these are ok then I know it’s frustrating and exhausting but hang in there mumma. It will pass and get easier and feeding times shorter. Maybe another tip if you can express? That way you’ve got milk on hand and if Bub is feeding for hours on end it may be a way to give you a small break if someone else could feed her your expressed milk.


  • I sure did – and it seemed I no longer put bubs down than there was more crying for another feed. I thought I wasn’t giving bubs good milk, but the weight was going on and the clinic was happy. Ever so slowly it seemed to me, my child started to sleep longer after a feed and not during it. You just have to be patient and things will work out in the end. Good luck.


  • I too feel like this. I try to make note of what time I start and what time I finish. I try to give my baby the one boob a few times before finishing on the second breast. If my baby wants feeding any more regularly that 3 hours I try everything else first, bum change, settling, distraction etc. There are also reasons why a baby might feed more often, reflux, colic, tongue ties, lip ties, growth spurts, teething etc. Wishing you the best of luck with working it all out.


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