Breastfeeding General Chatter #14

[Ladylove]

Thanks girls. Breastfeeding is going great- as you know I had the initial latch etc issues and last week I gave the offending breast a rest for three days- Honor has been latching properly for a while now but that nipple was taking a while to heal and feel 100% comfortable as it was still in 'action' thus felt sensitive especially of Honor fussed at the breast with wind or was unsettled prior to feeding. I expressed off that side at feed times for the three days and I'm do glad I did as I now feel comfortable on both sides at every feed (she only feeds from one side per feed though so they take turns anyway).

Re night feeds I guess I'm paranoid I've had it too good with her night routine and scared it will go pear shaped. She usually feeds at 6-7 as I said, then sleeps through to between 12:30 and 2am then again until 5-6:30am then she is fully alert and ready to start the day. She is the most active and alert early in the morning.

I dont have a sling... We have a baby bjorne which we bought for hubby to wear out but at home for me it's a bit annoying as I have to set it up and strap it in place etc just to hang out the washing or something.

Interestingly I discovered at my local parent group that I'm the only one fully breastfeeding. I'm surprised- most are BF with formula comp feeding and half of those are on motillium for low milk supply. It makes me paranoid little Honor is restless as she is hungry and that I need to comp feed but deep down I feel she is fine and just a very alert and expressive / vocal little one. She is five weeks tomorrow and has been smiling for a week already!

[onthefly]

Breastfeeding in our society is often a confidence trick, ladylove. There are so many stories of mothers who have 'failed' and so many who are more comfortable with bottle feeding, where we can see exactly how much our babies are having. It's no wonder we worry...
Fussing, cluster feeding, waking to feed, frequent feeding - these are all quite normal things (we often label them as 'bad' in our culture, but they are actually biologically normal). The best indicators of how much your baby is getting are nappies, overall appearance/demeanor, weight gains, growth, development, etc.
It sounds like you know she's doing just fine. If you're concerned you can always give the ABA helpline a call for reassurance too - 1800-686-2-68

Check out the baby wearning forum for advice, if you want. A good sling/carrier is invaluable for mothers, I reckon.

[Ladylove]

Thanks MadB! Again! I love BB!

[Ladylove]

I needn't have worried- last night she woke around 11pm then fell back into her usual routine, waking at 2 then 6.30. She slept a lot more than usual yesterday actually. Maybe she's growing or developing?

[Cranky Kitten]

Most probably - MonkeyBoy will have a few days where he feeds constantly, then will have a day or so of sleeping a lot during a growth spurt. Which isn't surprising really, DD is 10 and I can tell she's about to hit a growth spurt because she'll suddenly start eating anything not nailed down and sleeping in/going to bed early - followed by needing new clothes. Again.

And it's definitely a confidence game - I'm also one of the few in my mothers group still exclusively breastfeeding and the others ask sometimes how I know he's getting enough. I answer with I can tell by how many nappies he's wetting and that my biceps are getting a good workout lifting him.

[onthefly]

Lol. Good answer CK.
It's a real shame that so many parents really doubt themselves to this extent - and I understand it, because that's me too. Not just with the feeding, but so often turning to experts and books and methods to parent. It isn't easy to just switch off our modern brains and get in touch with our instincts - it's a learned thing, or maybe an unlearned thing - but it can be done with care and support.
The best way- i reckon - is to look to your baby, build your relationship and bond and learn to listen - to them and your own instincts - as you go.

[Ladylove]

Yes and also mine tends to be content after a feed- not always IMMEDIATELY after as she gets a bit of wind and sometimes reflux but soon after. I also feel like I would know if she wasn't getting enough? Like she'd be crying more or not as alert etc? I just feel she's doing well. She is a fast feeder but pulls away contentedly and/or falls asleep at the breast and it always feels lots softer then which I think is also a sign she's pretty much drained the breast?

[Jellyfish]

Sounds like she's doing great, Ladylove.

DD2 just got weighed recently and I have a monster girl on my hands, 100th percentile - 7kg at 2months - all from my milk. It is weird for me because DD1 was/is a tiny thing (she is 12kg at 3, was always between the 5th and 10th percentile). Just goes to show how much is genetics rather than milk, you know? Some people are meant to be small, some are big! They were both demand fed, I have the same diet... DD1 fed 1-2hrly till 18months and only slept through at 2yr9months whereas DD2 already has a 5-6hr stretch overnight so they clearly just have very different metabolisms and body types. Both absolutely adorable of course

[Cranky Kitten]

You're right there Jellyfish. DD was a petite little thing and only went into size 0 at around 9 months, DS is 90th percentile at 4 months and already in size 0 clothes. Same me, same milk...

[Jennifer13]

That's fantastic Jellyfish!

DD1 has always been light, just like me. DD2 is going to be much bigger than her sister, despite them starting off around the same weight. She'd jumped to 50th percentile by two months whereas DD1's weight will never get near that. DD2 is longer too and has chubby thigh rolls!

Went to my post natal exercise class today and it's quite sad how few are bfing their babies less than six months. I think there are three out of eight exclusively bfing and one mixed feeding. I also noticed the exclusive bfers aren't introducing solids as early, although one tried with her ff four mth old and after she threw everything up for half the night is now holding off until six mths.

[Arimeh]

Made it to a year!!!

Couldn't have done it without your support and answers to my dumb questions - so a huge thank you to everyone

Xxxx

[Sterla]

Made it to a year!!!

Couldn't have done it without your support and answers to my dumb questions - so a huge thank you to everyone

Xxxx

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I've already said it (a couple of times), but I am just so darn proud of you! To keep giving breastfeeding a go after unsuccessful attempts in the past takes a lot of guts! I know you struggled (mainly mentally) a bit - but look at you now! Breastfeeding a toddler! Well done Mel! .

[Khaleesi]

I haven't been in here for ages, thought i should pop in & say Hi

DD3 is doing really well, we have made it to 6 months, We hit a rough patch back in Dec when i was admitted to hospital for 10 days & my supplied drop down to almost nothing.
The hospital was great the let her stay with me & they got a LC from Maternity to come visit, they even lent me a breast pump so i could pump & not have to give her formula.
Once my illness when into remission my supply picked back up & things have been going great again

JF wow she is doing great.
Congrats MNB on making it a year

[onthefly]

Congrats Nerd!

That's so great Cheshire! Glad you're doing well again

[Jellyfish]

CONGRATS Mrs Nerd Burger! You should be so incredibly proud, what an inspiration you are

Congrats on getting through it all Cheshire! Glad things have picked up for you after all of that xo

[HotI]

I did a breastfeeding demo at an ABA breastfeeding class on the weekend. Kinda ironic as the majority of my feeds are done so that noone sees any breast. there were 3 demo mums and it was nice chatting with the soon to be parent couples.

i have been feeling quite amateurish with DS, he is just such a different baby to DD. He still 'squeaks' when he feeds, but positioning is reducing the amount of squeaks. Still dealing with reflux, so feeding is not very comforting to him. After the chucking etc after a feed, he will generally settle with being wrapped and rocked for a little while. DD was much more of a feed to sleeper (and still is).

DS was born big, but i think he is going to be a slow grower like DD. His weight has gone from 98th percentile to just above the 50th. all the chucking is probably not helping weight gains.

[WannabeMum]

Just found this thread - love it! How awesome is breastfeeding. DD's another big 'un. Can't imagine introducing solids yet - she's nearly 4 months. Not until much MUCH closer to 6. Why would I want a rod for my back when her food's prepared without effort, heated to the perfect temperature, requires no thinking about and is infinitely portable. I love my little girl! She's never so much as had a bottle of EBM, although sometimes that would be nice, lol.

[Ladylove]

Hotl - Honor sometimes squeaks on me too. I actually think her suction slips sometimes while feeding. She does it more on my right side which is the troublesome side to feed on as the nipple gets a bit sore sometimes. I am not sure how to stop that loss of suction, or slipping or whatever it is though.

I have a random question - do many people feel their let down? I do not ever feel mine. The only clue it happens is that my opposite nipple starts dripping like a tap but this happens almost as soon as baby starts sucking and surely let down would not occur so quickly?