My baby ate for 5 hours straight today!!!!!?

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Tristan's Mommy

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I know about cluster feeding and all that but what is going on? he's a week and a half old and fed for 5 hours today, only stopping for about 10 minutes here and there because he either needed his diaper changed or dozed off, when he fell asleep I cuddled him for a while then tried to put him down but he'd wake up right away and start screaming and sucking his hand and if I pick him up he starts rooting around and screams more until he's being fed again. We have an appointment with the pediatrician on Wednesday but I think I'm going to go completely crazy before then! Has anyone else had this problem and what can I do?
 
It sounds like he likes to suck. He's not doing it for the milk, just the feeling. This would be a good time to introduce a Binky or pacifier. Some babies just have a strong suck reflex, and if you don't get him a pacifier, he'll probably find his thumb. I just always rathered they have a pacifier than a thumb because a pacifier can be taken away, a thumb can be a habit for a long time. Studies have actually shown that using a pacifier decreases SIDS risks, so it's really a win-win situation. I was able to wean my kids when they were 1 and 2 with very little problems. Good luck!
 
It can be totally normal for them to nurse that much from just a growth spurt - it will usually last a few days when it's a growth spurt, and then calm down. In the beginning, they are having growth spurts almost constantly. My daughter nursed from 5pm to 9 pm every day for the first 3 or 4 months.
 
Is he your first?
How much formula / breast milk are you giving him? 2-3 ounces might not be enough, try 4 or more, but do not keep the unused milk out. You can add it to a new bottle within 2-3 hours of refrigeration.
Give him a pacifier - he may just want the suckling sensation because it calms him.
Does he vomit much? That could make him hungry more.
You must also realize that in their first year, newborns grow a big way, with most tripling their birth weight and increasing their length by about 50%.
Babies are born with some extra fluid, so it is perfectly normal for a newborn to drop a few ounces when that fluid is lost in the first few days of life. A healthy newborn is expected to lose 7% to 10% of his or her birth weight but should regain that weight by about 2 weeks after birth.
During their first month, most newborns continue to gain weight at a rate of at least 5-6 ounces a week. They generally grow in height about 1 to 1.5 inches during the first month. Many newborns go through a period of rapid growth when they are 7 to 10 days old and again at 3 and 6 weeks.
Don't worry, from your baby's first day, health care providers will keep track of weight, length, and head size. Growth is a good indicator of general health, and babies who are progressing well are generally healthy, while poor growth can be a sign of a problem
Your babies cluster feeding may also come into play here as he is trying to sort out his day and night cycles. Is he sleeping most of the night? My one year old daughter came out, knew my voice, reached out to me, took a whole 5 ounce bottle, went to sleep, pooped...alot, her mother passed away that night, we cried.
She never got her days and nights confused. Awake in the morning for about 4-5 hours, would take a nap or two during the day, eat and then sleep for 9-10 hours a night....still does today.
 
If they are offered the breast, believe they will eat. If he feeds on each breast for 30 mins each and starts rooting, he is not hungry. Babies like to suck. If he dosent have problems latching on I'd offer him a pacifier, but this is only if he latches on right all the time. My baby likes to suck on his hands but I give him a pacifier because he always stabs his gums, eyes, ect. He does not suffer from nipple confusion. Have you tried letting him cry for just 5 mins? My baby will end up self-soothing himself.
 
Your baby should not be feeding for more than 15 minutes at a time. He will probably go on to sleep and sleep a few hours before needing to be fed again. And, please don't wake him for diaper changes. Sleep is one of the important factors and the longer he sleeps the better he will develop and as he grows, so will his food intake. I suggest you talk with an experienced mature Mother that you feel comfortable with.
 
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