Mothers who breastfed bigger babies, when did they start going longer between feeds?

Some babies just nurse more than others, regardless of size. Also, the first 6 weeks are the toughest. After that, babies will often settle into a bit more of a pattern for nursing (which of course, varies from baby to baby).

All 3 of my kiddos were born weighing between 7 1/2-8 pounds. My oldest nursed every 2 hours pretty much from the get-go. As she got older, she gradually started to sleep longer at night, but nursed every 2 hours like clock-work during the day. Even at 9-10 months old, she'd do a longer stretch in the afternoon/evening around dinnertime and then a long stretch at night, but would still nurse every 2 hours in the morning and early afternoon. Her nursing sessions were pretty short, though.

My younger two kids were more sporadic (but frequent) nursers, and they were very, very frequent newborn nursers. They both were still nursing 8-10 times a day (at least) at a year. However, the nursing sessions were pretty quick by then (5-10 minutes most of the time), so it wasn't a burden.

How are you nursing now? On both breasts at a single feeding, or do you feed off only one breast at at time? If you're doing both, you may want to try keeping him on the same breast for an entire feeding to see if he'll get more of the fatty hindmilk. If you're already nursing on just one breast per feeding, then try putting him back on the same breast if it's been less than 2 hours since his last feeding. I did that with my younger two, and it did help them to go a little longer (and to spit up less).

Hang in there!

EDIT: Since you said he's already nursing off just one breast per feeding, try offering the same breast if it's been less than 2 hours since his last feeding. It will help him get more of the fatty hindmilk so that he can go a little longer between feedings. If he wants more than that, of course feed him off the other breast, but try the same one first. You may be surprised to find that that's all you need to do.

My baby wasn't that big at that age, but she fed a lot and often. She went through periods of it. Where she'd feed every hour for a couple of weeks and then it'd be every three hours and then back to very frequent feedings.

My niece is a huge baby and never caught onto the breast she was eating 10 ounces at a time at the 3 month mark but she's a really huge baby. Very long and just big., I'm going to guess around 20 lbs now at 6 months as she was 17 lbs at hte four month mark.

You may end up supplementing or he may just relax in a bit.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, however, if your baby is anything like mine it won't be for a while yet.

My son was born almost 10lb and fed approximately every two hours for 6 months. He only slowed down when he started solids.

My son is 5 months and 22 pounds...wears 18-24 size clothing and can only eat 4-5 ounces every 2-3 hours...his tummy is not big at all. I bf until 4 months but now he is on formula :(...he still wakes every 2-3 hours at night to eat...would love for his tummy to hold more but it can't yet

This depends on your individual 'breastmilk storage capacity', not just the size of your son. This changes as you've had more babies.

Some babies of mothers who have large volumes of milk take in a lot of foremilk, but don't get large volumes of fat. These babies also tend to feed frequently, although they grow quite well.

Whatever it is, your son sounds like he is growing well. Be patient, because he won't be a baby for very long.