Breastfeeding General Chatter #13

[Barb Glare]

Hi, em,

it sounds like you are doing better than you know you are doing - it sounds like you have been through some tough times though. There is always so much to worry about when you have your first baby. It's a lifechange like know other, and the birth, ealry parenting, breastfeeding and a huge life adjustment just get rolled into one. would it help to think of other times in your life when things were tough and you got through it. I remember learing to ride a bike - terrified to go without the training wheels, even with my grandfather holding on. It just seemed so improbable - trying to balance that thing, and I never was co-ordinated.....Not helped because a few weeks I 'bit the dust" on gravel having my front (second tooth) broken in half and the gravel cleaned out of my knees under a general, but surprisingly, I got back ont he bike and kept riding.
A talk to a counsellor on the helpline I think would help enormously - talk it through, acknowledge the pain, disappointment and stress. It's hard, but you will get there, and over time the good outweights the bad until it just feels normal

[Arimeh]

Urgh I don't know what I'm doing wrong, she's so fussy! Has fed every hour today (except for a 2 hour break) but she is so fussy, she attaches fine, milk goes everywhere and I can hear her frantically swallowing to keep up, then a few minutes later she starts tugging at my nipple and fusses around hopping on and off all the time and then starts crying. I've been burping her and then trying her back on but she keeps on doing it - am I out of milk after the initial let down or something? If i put her on the other side, the same thing happens? Is it a stage? I'm wondering if she has silent reflux like dd1 did - but ithere isn't any painful screaming

Driving me batty. Not to mention the little devil I have sitting on my shoulder telling me to give up and use formula because at least I am familiar with that.

Help!

[MantaRay]

Congratulations hun. I have been away and must have missed the big announcement. Another beautiful DD hun - how awesome. How old is she now? It's awesome to see you in here and it sounds like feeding is going really well for you (even if it's a little more often than you would like ).

It sounds like you have plenty of milk hun. It might be that she is feeding so often because there is so much and she's getting lots of watery fore-milk. This will settle down over the next few weeks. What are her nappies like? Have you weighed her? If she is having lots of wet and dirty nappies and putting on lots of weight, there is a good chance it is related to a huge supply. In this case you can either wait for it to settle (it's not doing any harm), or try feeding from one side only for 2 or 3 hours and then switch sides. If you do this, be sure to express from the other side for comfort if you feel full and uncomfortable.

Keep letting us know how you are going hun. You've got a huge cheer squad here!!

[Arimeh]

Hi manta

She was a month old the other day. She has wet nappy every 2 hours, sometimes blows them out (cloth). She was pooing every change, now it's more like every second change.

Her weight gains have been consistent I think, just weighing her at home. Was back at her birth weight by day 6, a week later she had put on 200g, then a few weeks later she had put on 500g, then she had put on another 200g a week after that. That last weigh in was the other day.

So maybe she is getting too much? Im not engorged any more so don't even feel like I have milk lol

[onthefly]

DD was doing that a while back, it might just be a wonder week thing too. And/or forceful letdown? Now she can deal with it but was often spluttering and pulling on and off. DS was actually playing at being mummy with his toy a while ago and said "Come on, have some milk. Oh, you got milk everywhere. Now I need a towel" - so I guess I wasw saying that a lot.

[Arimeh]

Mad- yeah S sometimes splutters or chokes and pulls off, but then does it again later. Frustrating! And I think my iPhone is sick of getting covered in milk lol

[MantaRay]

Wow Mel, a month and still going strong. That is so great hun

That is lots of wet and dirty nappies hun and really good weight gains. It does sound like you have plenty of milk. It is really normal not to feel full between feeds and with all those nappies you definitely have milk there! If you are able to go with the flow for a bit, it is likely that she will start going longer between feeds soon. Great work hun - I know how much this means to you.

[Arimeh]

Wow Mel, a month and still going strong. That is so great hun

That is lots of wet and dirty nappies hun and really good weight gains. It does sound like you have plenty of milk. It is really normal not to feel full between feeds and with all those nappies you definitely have milk there! If you are able to go with the flow for a bit, it is likely that she will start going longer between feeds soon. Great work hun - I know how much this means to you.

She fed 17 times in 24 hours - is that too much?! I've tried the block feeding stuff, did it last night and this morning - and she actually settled in her bed after feeds, however, has been really unsettled this morning, wouldn't stay asleep in her bed, so I've had her in the carrier for a while now, just so she can sleep. How long does the whole fore milk/hind milk last for - does your body adjust and just make "milk" so to speak, or do you always have to be mindful of it?

Ezy - hey lovely!! I have no advice, but wanted to say that S was doing the same thing at that age, she would take no more than 10 mins on each side and then sleep for a bit, and then want another side, and then have a longer sleep. How I miss the sleeping period already!!