Inconsistent sucking - sometimes good sometimes not

[Now we're 3]

Hi

Just wondering if I could get some advice or if anyone else has experienced this issue. My little one seems to be a bit inconsistent on how he sucks. Some feeds he appears to go gang busters gulping and trying to get as much out of the breast as possible and other times really doesn't appear to suck very well. When he does this I try switching to see if this will get him going.

As some people will know from other threads we have been working through a plan to eliminate the comping and expressing that I am currently doing. We have made quite good progress - reducing both down from all feeds to just some feeds but after some of the feeds when he doesn't appear to have sucked properly I feel as though I've taken an enormous step backwards. I don't know if it is my milk supply that is causing the problem or just that he couldn't be bothered at times. I am on motillium so milk supply should be okayish. This ineffective sucking can happen at any feed so isn't for example caused by less milk being produced in the afternoons. We are on 3 hrly (or before if he looks for it) feeds.

Over the last 4-5 days or so he has started to look to be fed after say 2 hrs once (maybe twice a day) but then won't necessarily suck very hard when he is put on. It is all so confusing.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

[Toomanytoomany]

Sometimes babies just aren't as hungry as at other times - or it may be that your milk is flowing really nicely and he doesn't need to work as hard. If he is contented after these feeds, and is having good wet nappies, I wouldn't worry about it.

[ControlFreak]

I agree with the pp - sometimes DS sucks really hard - or needs to to get lots, sometimes its like he's barely moving his mouth - but milk is pouring out the side of his mouth - its too fast for him to swallow!!!

[~clover~]

Maybe he's just looking for comfort. Babies change their suck when they just want comfort & not necessarily a feed. He just wants you to be his dummy for a while I think.
Keep an eye on his weight gains & wet/dirty nappies etc. If everything is ok there, I'd say he's ok & just seeking comfort

[*Beema*]

it can be so tricky BF'ing, never knowing how much they are getting etc.

What are his nappies and weight gain like, Is it a sleepy suck? If he is having plenty of wet and pooey nappies - more focus on the wet nappies they I would be too worried.

Perhaps next time you feed and he does a lazy suck, give him a tickkled under the chin or unwrap him a bit and wake him up a bit more and see if he sucks a little stronger.

DD was a terrible and lazy sucker at times, so I literally had to spend all my feeds tickling her under the chin to make her sucks more efficient, so that she wasn't working for so long to get a feed in.

Take care hun
xxoo