[wanttobemommy]

Ok so I am always paranoid when it comes to my baby. I know that Jaxon is gaining but he will not eat from both sides. The dr says he should be eating about every two hours and he should eat from both sides. I try to switch sides and Jaxon refuses. But today I think he has eaten like 20 times already. It seems like every 45 mins to an hour he wants more. Is he just not getting enough since he is only eating from one side or is this a growth spurt. He ate more yesterday than usual but today he is just eating a ton.

[pattiewrites]

My babies all ate about every hour during the newborn phase. Gradually he will nurse longer at every session and go a bit longer in between. Some babies develop a preference for one side or the other. To get him to nurse on the other side, try the football hold or the side lying position when he is drowsy. If I remember your other posts correctly, he is gaining well. As long as he is gaining and has enough wet diapers, don't worry.

[purelegance]

i'd guess he's just growing. izzy has only eaten from both sides only a handful of times.

[wanttobemommy]

Thanks for the quick replies. I was just curious if he was just getting hungier faster because he wouldnt eat from both during one feeding. He does eat from both he just wont eat for ten on one side and then ten on the other like the nurses told me he should. He will eat from the right side for one feeding and then the next feeding will be the left side

[MiracleBaby06]

just go with his flow, aiyana almost never took both sides. infact she tried to not take my right side so i normally had to pump that side. just keep up the good work

[pattiewrites]

OK, I get it. Is he falling asleep at the breast? Mine would do that as newborns. They would nurse on one side, fall asleep, wake up an hour later and nurse on the other side. In that case, it's better to let him linger on one side to get the hind milk. Nurses and pediatricians like to hear feeding schedules, how often, how long, etc. Just keep feeding him on demand and watch for enough wet diapers. As long as he is gaining and wetting enough, you shouldn't worry. It sounds like he is doing great and you are doing a wonderful job!

He's adorable, btw.

[purelegance]

Originally Posted by wanttobemommy

like the nurses told me he should.

if there's anything i've learned in my short amount of time -- never ever listen to nurses. all that matters is weight gain + wet diapers. you're doing fine.

[Alejandros Mommy]

We "nurses" say that as that is what we need to chart when moms are in the hospital or we get in trouble with the docs....that said he seems to be going through a growth spurt Kristin...Aiden and Alejandro both didn't feed from both breasts they just alternated for one to another and tended to fall asleep at the breast...as Jaxon gets older he will stay awake at the breast.

[MommyDee]

Gabriel at first used to only take the tiniest nip when I switched -- but I let him nurse on the first side pretty much until he let go. He was usually every 2hrs like clockwork. Jaxon probably wouldn't refuse if he was still hungry and he's gaining really well, so it sounds like you're doing fine and he's just going through a growth spurt. As long as he seems satisfied, I wouldn't worry.

*Edit -- Further to what Lessly just posted, in the hospital they told me that they stick to a schedule to ensure that the babies are well established before going home. After you get home, as long as baby is eating and gaining well, you can usually feed on demand and track when/how much they do eat rather than wake them on a specific schedule -- I think it's usually only slow gainers or sleepy babies that need to be woken and fed on a schedule to make sure they're getting enough.

[wanttobemommy]

Ok. I honestly think that the whole schedule thing wont work with us any way. Lessly as far as what you posted about getting in trouble that makes sense to me. I used to be a CNA and know how much crap nurses get. I know that he is having plenty of wet diapers and honestly I think he has already gained more weight since his appt. As long as it isnt a big deal if he doesnt eat from both sides then I am not worried. I was just curious as why he was eating sooo much more today than he has been. He does fall asleep at the breast and I do let him sit there. Feeding time is mommy time. I go back to my room and it is just Jaxon and I. I love spending the time with him its my selfish time otherwise someone is always here constantly trying to get some snuggle time with him.

Pattie- thank you for the compliment. I think he is the cutest thing in the world ( but I am the mommy hehe )