Breastfeeding General Chatter #13

[onthefly]

congratulations on your new baby adn well done getting the feeding working for you!
They do change, yes. DS was alowasy a very slow feeder and it seemed like he was constantly on the boob. An he didn't like being put down either.
It's quite possible the ABs are upsetting her tummy too

[MantaRay]

Gem, it sounds like you are having a difficult time. The first few weeks are really a steep learning curve and all at a time when you are so sleep deprived It might not help you now, but it does get easier

It is hard from your post to know exactly what is happening - if I were talking to you I could ask some more questions. But I can give you some ideas that might help and if they don't you could call the 24 hour ABA helpline on 1800 mum 2 mum to get some other suggestions. They are so supportive and helpful and the calls are toll-free.

One thing that can help fast flow is to express a bit before feeding. If your DD arches and pulls off soon into the feed then this might help. Some feeding positions also help like lying on your back or in a reclined position. Another thing that can help is to know that sucking doesn't necessarily mean hunger. Your DD might have an upset tummy from the abs or from being really full and want to suck because it helps the pain. Sucking helps babies to process wind and can help with tummy pain, as well as giving them comfort. Babies usually get the majority of the milk in the first 20 - 30 minutes on the breast, so it can help to pull them off after 20 or 30 minutes, change nappy and burp, then try the other side, only for 20 - 30 mins again. She might grizzle when you pull her off and try to get back on, but that doesn't necessarily mean she's hungry. Some mums find that keeping their baby upright for 15 minutes or so after a feed and then lying them down helps them to settle better. Or even wearing her in a sling and keeping her with you might help too. If she is still hungry she won't settle and you could then try offering the breast again. You can tell that she is getting enough milk if she is gaining weight and having at least 5 heavily wet disposable nappies or 6 - 8 very wet cloth nappies and 2 or more runny or soft dirty nappies in 24 hours.

Everything is new and different for a new baby so often just cuddling them lots helps. Over time you will both find things easier

[xXHopeXx]

One thing that can help fast flow is to express a bit before feeding. If your DD arches and pulls off soon into the feed then this might help. Some feeding positions also help like lying on your back or in a reclined position.

I *somehow* managed to feed her lying on my back the other day, dont know how I did it? I have tried since but since I have big boobs (around an 18F) it makes things ALOT harder! I don't know how to get her into that position and have her and me be comofortable!

Also, I spoke to the ABA line and our doula this morn, and the ABA line suggested that maybe she's comfort sucking and once she's finished try wrapping her or massaging her or something and cuddle her to comfort her seeing as shed be happy to suck 24/7.
And our doula came when i was just starting to feed and saw that she has a very strong suck, and that perhaps she is emptying the breast alot quicker than what I think and to try swapping sides after her sucks have slowed down from the initial quick sucking during let down.

This seems to have worked a treat during the day, but she is still whinging and crying at the beginning of the feed, but settles down eventually and feeds, so now she is only feeding for about an hour again, and if I can stop her whinging at the beginning, it'll be quicker again!

Now to just hope that she will at least continue this through the night and not revert!

[xXHopeXx]

Another thing that can help is to know that sucking doesn't necessarily mean hunger. Your DD might have an upset tummy from the abs or from being really full and want to suck because it helps the pain. Sucking helps babies to process wind and can help with tummy pain, as well as giving them comfort. Babies usually get the majority of the milk in the first 20 - 30 minutes on the breast, so it can help to pull them off after 20 or 30 minutes, change nappy and burp, then try the other side, only for 20 - 30 mins again. She might grizzle when you pull her off and try to get back on, but that doesn't necessarily mean she's hungry. Some mums find that keeping their baby upright for 15 minutes or so after a feed and then lying them down helps them to settle better. Or even wearing her in a sling and keeping her with you might help too. If she is still hungry she won't settle and you could then try offering the breast again. You can tell that she is getting enough milk if she is gaining weight and having at least 5 heavily wet disposable nappies or 6 - 8 very wet cloth nappies and 2 or more runny or soft dirty nappies in 24 hours.

I didn't actually realize that they suck when they have sore bellies! That would make sense in a couple of past situations, where she has been crying then farted and seemed to calm down! I thought it was coincidence or that she had to fart, didn't realise sucking helped!

She is definitely getting enough milk, does at least 6 wet disposable nappies, and at least 1-2 pooey nappies, which have slowed down in the past couple days though?
She used to have one at nearly every feed, but now only 1-2 times a day?
Is that a normal change?

[Isadora]

Just wanted to thank you all for your encouraging words. Still breastfeeding and it is getting easier. Now if only I could knock off this darn thrush!!!

[MantaRay]

Gem, it can drop off - 1 -2 a day with runny or soft poo and plenty of wet nappies sounds good. Weight gain as well as skin tone etc are other signs to look for.

[luna moth]

My boobs seem to be full of poison. Dealing with a lot of fussing at the breast here, and it is so frustrating! Sometimes the football hold works, lying down to feed usually works (if desperate I'll do it while she has no nappy on) but I worry that she's not having full feeds - they have become a lot more frequent since the fussing started. But I should just trust that she knows what's best for her, right? Right?

[MantaRay]

It sounds like you are having a tough time

Trust is good hun, yes, but you might feel better with some more information also. Firstly, frequent feeds are normal. Most people are surprised to hear that babies often feed 8-12 or even more times in 24 hours. This makes more sense when you think about how many times you would eat or drink yourself. I know I drink water constantly Throughout the day. Generally the frequency of feeds changes a few times over the first months.

The unsettledness sounds really hard. Do you think it might be a fast flow causing her distress? This could explain why lying down works better. Or otherwise it might be an attachment issue. For fast flow feeding lying down or on a reclined position can help. Another idea is to express a bit off at the start of each feed so that your DD misses the fastest flow. The good news is that this usually settles down around the 8-12 week mark.

Hang in there hun. You and your little one are doing well and it will get better

[luna moth]

She is 10 weeks now. Fussiness seems to happen regardless of let-down or flow - sometimes it is before the letdown, sometimes after. My latest thought is that it's the skin contact in this heat. I propped her up on some pillows this afternoon and she fed for aaaaages without coming off - bliss!

Frequent feeding doesn't bother me, only because she was feeding 2-3 hourly, for 15-20 minutes at a time. Now I find she feeds, fusses, comes off, then still acts hungry, and it's very irregular - it's the change that concerns me, not the actual feeding pattern. She slept through last night though, so not all bad!

[MantaRay]

Hun, it could just be that she's approaching the 12 week mark. You'll find plenty of threads on here about 3 months old being fussy at the breast. It's extremely common - they start becoming so aware of what is going on that they don't want to take the time to finish a feed. Some mums find a breastfeeding necklace works well, and also feeding away from distractions. As difficult as it is though, she is probably drinking more than you realise. As long as the wet nappies keep coming she's getting enough. And this too shall pass

[WeeMansMummy]

Just found this thread and thought I'd join in.

Hi

[HotI]

Welcome! Love your pic. We have almost reached 1 year breastfeeding, not a drop of formula.

[human bean]

Woohoo HotI! You know that was such a big thing for me last week when DD turned 1, that it meant a whole year of BF for us, yet so many folks are saying 'you're not still BF are you' with the good old eye roll that I kept it to myself. But I'm still damm proud that we've made it a year. On the weekend she swiped a friend's bub's bottle of formula and had a quick suck on it, but I'm sure that doesn't count ha ha

[Lenny]

Hi Jaki, Welcome!! and congrats on your little man.
Yay Kate - A year is an awesome milestone.
human bean - lol on swiping the formula! Did she like it?
My DS drinks a lot of water these days. I can notice it in my breasts (well, i do fill his bottles up too). I have proudly been able to hang my breast pads up for the last time. I hated being a 'leaker'.

I have also reached a milestone. I have passed the 14 month mark where I weaned DS1. It's amazing how different it is feeding past one year. Things do get so much more manageable. No wonder some mums manage to carry on into 2+ years.

[onthefly]

Congratulations on 12+ months!

bean. I don't th ink that counts, no

It is totally different as they get older. Your breastfeeding relationship changes. On the whole I think it was a lot easier, though we only got to 2.

[WeeMansMummy]

Thanx for the welcome ladies
I think my poor wee man has bad wind we are about to walk up to the chemist for a dropper for his infants friend. It's terribly upsetting when he is in pain.

[retrogal]

havent been in here for awhile..

We have been BFing for 6months today!!

[luna moth]

Dropping in to advise that poison boob issue was solved by going from co-sleeping to cot sleeping. Our little bunny was taking on all her milk at night, because every time she turned her head it was right there, and then none in the day, which made her very unsettled. All sorted now.

We're feeding by the clock now too, as DD is not demanding enough for demand feeding! I'm really wary of falling into the same pattern as before, so I'm quite conscious to feed at least 3 hourly, and then twice as often after 3pm. It works great for us.

We are, however, well into the fussing at the boob stage. So frustrating! Very distracted baby here.