Help. 5 month old DS only breastfeeds for minutes! He can't getting enough can he?

DS is 5 months and is now nursing for about 3 minutes per side. If he goes 5 minutes I'm ecstatic. I just don't think he could be getting enough and I don't know what to do. I also think my supply is dropping bc of this. I'm not getting as much as I used to when I pump (i was getting 4.5-5oz in about 8 minutes, now I'm getting just 4oz or 3.5). I pump once before bed and when I'm at work (about 10 hrs a week).

At birth he'd nurse for 45 minutes. Then he dropped to about 17 minutes, then 12 minutes, but now 6 minutes (TOTAL) seems crazy. He was 27 inches and 18 lbs 9oz at last check. He still eats about every 2-2.5 hours, always has, although he will occasionally go longer. When I'm at work he takes a 5oz bottle. Don't see how he could nurse 5oz in 6 minutes

Help. 5 month old DS only breastfeeds for minutes! He can't getting enough can he?

They do say they become more effecient eaters; but 5 minutes does seem quick. Does he maybe seem distracted and unlatches to look around? My son used to do that around that age. After he stops eatings what does he do? As far as the supply...if he doesn't want to eat anymore maybe hand express or pump afterward to completely empty the breast. This way your body will know to produce more.

Re: Help. 5 month old DS only breastfeeds for minutes! He can't getting enough can he?

DD was the same way for a while. She was a slow nurser in the beginning, usually taking 30-40 mins to nurse. Then at around the same age she started to get faster and faster. It got to the point where she would nurse for like a minute and a half on each side or would only take 3 mins on one side and wouldn't take the other. I had the same feelings as you, I thought there was no way she was getting enough. She was a happy baby though, never cried b/c she was hungry and I would nurse like every 3 hours, sooner if she wanted it. It became so frustrating and I would try to force her but that didn't help at all. I talked to the Dr about it and he said as long as she seems happy and not hungry then she must be getting enough. She did eventually slow back down a little but she still would only nurse 5-7 mins a side. I nursed her till she was 12 months and just got used to the fact that she was a fast nurser. Hope your worries ease soon.

Re: Help. 5 month old DS only breastfeeds for minutes! He can't getting enough can he?

my kids were like that (a little later on, around 7-8m). all i can think is that as long as his poop/pee diapers are fine adn the docs have no concerns with his weight, there's no need for concern. your supply may not be "dropping", it's just being emptied faster/more efficiently and there would be no need to pump afterwards.

eta in general, my supply slowly dropped throughout the first year, which was maddening.

Message edited 2/10/2014 11:37:27 AM.