Breastfeeding General Chatter #15

Thanks madb - I gave him a feed and he is back sleeping. I know it may not last the sleeping through but I want to engourage it if I can. I just didnt want to confuse him with sometimes giving him feeds and sometimes not. It's so hard to know what the right thing to do is!!!

And it was a nice time out - i used to play team sports before pregnant and this was my first game back. I'm completely exhausted now since I'm normally asleep by 9pm! But it was nice to do some exercise and run around! I just feel guilty bout the little guy not having a great time the bottle at bedtime. And also for dad having to deal with him getting upset when trying to feed.

Sararose - I would think uve just had a growth spurt so I think u might just have a bit more oversupply then your boobs have been getting used to

Well I gave him a "dream feed" and he slept till 5am with a quick pat and back to sleep till 645am so that worked out well. He is normally fine with a bottle of EBM during the day I guess I just wanted his mummy cuddles as well at night.

I just realised it's been more than 6 months! I only managed to feed my DD until 4 months when I went back to work and everything dried up, so kind of chuffed with myself as we're still going strong, occasional piranha-baby attacks and all :D

I just thought I'd join in here...

We have had a challenging BF journey so far, it will be 3 months tomorrow since we have been baby led nursing.. We have had issues with periods of breast refusal, weight gain and naso gastric tube feeding, but things seem to be getting better again now. DS still has 3 tube feeds, 2 overnight and 1 when he has his morning sleep, but apart from that i BF him on demand.. I love breastfeeding and want us to have this relationship for a long time. The bonding is beautiful..

There is nothing quite like those milky smiles :)

Cranky Kitten- That's great you have made it past 6 months :)

yay BAL! That's great.

Congrats CK! The time really flies once you hit your stride.

nice one ck!! you're flying along :D

congrats bal - it's been such a long journey for you guys it's so lovely to hear that you're going strong.

im amazed how much more relaxed i am this time round & feel very lucky so far we haven't hit amy hurdles. im also shocked to have a baby that will sometimes refuse a feed - my ds definitely wasnt like that!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

What do you do if bub has breast refusal?? I must admit I get so stressed over it sometimes.. I try not to though. He can be so fussy. Some days we wake up and start the day with a BF and the rest of the day he feeds beautifully. Other days it can be 11am and he still hasn't fed. That's when I will coax him a bit more.. there is a fine line between coaxing and forcing and I definitely don't want to force him... I took him to an osteo path to make sure it's not positional.. The osteo didn't seems to think it was.. He's just fussy lol..

I am also finding it more difficult to feed in public because of this fussiness. I guess now too he is getting older and gets distracted a bit more easily, coming off and leaving my boob there lol..

What you describe is quite common BAL - you have the added stress of everything that has come before this, though :hug:
Gentle coaxing is the way, and back off if he just doesn't want it. Their feeding patterns do change with time - the get shorter, fewer, more at certain times of day and less at others.
One way to encourage more feeds is to think about the sorts of times when he's happy to feed and try to recreate those conditions, if you can, or concentrate on feeding more at those times and don't sweat it if he doesn't want it so much other times.
It sounds like you're doing great!

Well done BAL and CK!

BAL - DD2 can't get through a feed without taking as much time to look around and smile at me as she does to actually feed. Lol Each feed is taking longer now than it did when she was a newborn!

I can't believe how quickly this is passing. I'm enjoying what time is left of exclusive bfing, it is so much easier than adding other food!

Bal - how old now?

Barb - DS is 7.5 months actual age, 4 months adjusted :)

I can't believe DS2 can be finished a feed in about 5 min. DS1 was about 15-20 min for a feed. DS2 must be getting enough milk though - just over 1.5kg gained and 4.5cm in length in 4.5weeks; just wish he'd burp - we have to wait for it to come out the other end (overnight of course) with assistance (needs legs to be bicycled); trying infants friend tonight to see if we can get the wind out a bit easier. DS2 has burped clearly maybe a dozen times that I have heard.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so may be slightly confusing :)

Is it normal to be so hungry all the time?? I swear I'm eating more than when I was pregnant!!

Downside will be when I stop BF I'll have to actually stop eating everything in sight lol! Some how I don't think I'll be able to keep doing it and not put on weight!

Totally normal - especially during growth spurts when they're feeding more than usual. I'm not as hungry now that DS has started solids

Hello everyone! I'm so glad to be back now that I've sorted my password issues. It's been ages!

DD turned three on Tuesday - so i'm now 3y3d into our BF relationship! woot!

Woohoo BG! Well done, BG! Does DD still feed often? DD1 was down to two a day by then.

I wonder if DD2 will bf for that long? She doesn't bf to sleep or for comfort, so I have a feeling she won't need bfing for as long as DD1. I'm enjoying our last weeks of exclusive bfing. Can't believe DD2 is 5 mths on Monday.

BAL I'm having issues with extremely fussing feeding too at the moment. DD is three and a half months and she has been like this for around three weeks. She does not refuse the breast but goes in for a mouthful then SCREAMS blue murder, pulls off, arches her back, then goes back in for another mouthful, then repeats the scream etc. The community health nurse said maybe fast flow or forceful letdown but I'm not sure... she sometimes does it before I've felt letdown. And how fast is 'fast flow'? I never squirt but she does sometimes choke and her mouthfuls sound super loud like I can hear stuff going down her throat. Oh and she is a very powerful sucker - no gentle sipping here! I've tried feeding lying down, reclined etc but it makes no difference.

However one thing that sometimes works is waiting until she is truly hungry. I only tried it because a friend said maybe she wasn't that hungry as DD also has been happily distracted of late too while feeding - smiling and 'talking' and reaching up to touch my face and put her hand in my mouth. I had been feeding her on average every 2-2.5 hours (demand feeding) and every time I was able to draw the feed to within around 15 minutes of the three hour mark she drank completely without much fussing at all. But this does not support the fast flow as a reason for the crying because surely after three hours my milk would come out even more forcefully? When she's in the mood she is just hysterical. Sometimes the crying continues for a few minutes after I have taken her off the boob too.

BG congratulations! I am so admiring of long term breastfeeders.

really depends on the day Jen - some days (like today) it's only one in the morning and night. others she'll feed a few times through the day. this week it's been heaps cos we've both been unwell. i figure her feeding is better than her dehydrating so i just run with it. i think she thinks it gives me the same comfort it does her - when i'm not well and laying down, she HAS to feed - like she is trying to give me comfort too. it's very cute (even if i'm fighting the urge to hurl the whole time lol)

bg - happy 3rd birthday to your dd & congrats on your 3yrs of bfing!

jen - i can't believe your dd is nearly 5 months! it feels like i was only just reading your birth story!

ladylove - how is your dd if you do wait that bit longer? you say she feeds better which is good - if she's not distressed to wait that bit longer then i'd stretch her out.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

i am finding it really uncomfortable to feed my 2 yr old. it has been like it for a couple of months now, i think it is her pointy teeth and they just dig in. she never leaves any marks, it just feels like needles digging in. i tell her big mouth etc, but it doesn't make a difference. i feel sorry for the kid cos i have to take her offf. is there anything i can do?

DS is drinking expressed bm, which is kinda handy. DD never would. i think i want to get a few more bottles so i can freeze ebm in them. anyone know where to get medela bottles? i have seen kits but i don't need all the pumping stuff, just some extra bottles.

Possibly get more medela bottles from the chemist (not all seem to stock them). I know I got some more to express into from the chemist at one stage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so may not make sense

HotI we got bottles in the chemist. I am pretty sure we still have the bulk of a box of the medela bags if you'd like me to post them to you? Just pm me if you'd like them.

Hotl you could try those milk trays? Saves a lot of room in the freezer compared to bottles and they're reusable unlike bags.

i looked at the milk trays, but they only hold 240ml. and then i would have to move the milk-cubes to bags. i am still working out the right way, but the only benefit of the tray i could see was that you could freeze small amounts (30ml). think i will do mix of bottles (easy and convenient) and bags (stackable). day to day i will still mainly be breastfeeding so don't need a massive stash, it does give me a few more options for work though.

BG - that would be awesome, will PM

I do the trays when freezing ebm then move to ziploc bags and store these in a plastic container/s in the freezer for stack-ability. That way I can constantly freeze ebm if needed.
(this reminds me I need to get my pumps out and wash them and find my crate of bottles & trays so I can start pumping so I've got a good supply ready for when I go back to work)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so may not make sense

Actually I've been using the mini bottles the hospital gave me when Honor was born- they are Medela ones. Not sure where to buy them though.

:

---

Actually I've been using the mini bottles the hospital gave me when Honor was born- they are Medela ones. Not sure where to buy them though.

---

I think most chemists should sell them; we were just discussing these above ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so may not make sense

Oh you meant the mini bottles? I thought you were talking about the normal ones. Mine are about 90 ml I think.

Hot1 - just something to think about frozen bottles are handy but they take awhile to defrost. The expressed bags take seconds to defrost in hot water in a sink. (which is what I do)

Not sure now - I think they're 150ml bottles the ones I use to express into at least.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so may not make sense

Yeah, i have the 150ml bottles.

Leckert, how many trays do you have? Do you use regular (Glad or equivalent) ziplock bags? (apologies if you have answered these questions before)

I have 3 (?) sensible lines branded ones - stick type things when frozen and 3 qubies (?sp) which were advertised as being great for individual puréed food portions for baby - look like oversized regular ice cubes.

Both freeze in 30ml lots. Positive about the sensible lines is I don't have to have 240mls to freeze. Bad thing:The lids have slightly shifted out of true & so don't stay on straight fairly early on when using them. Downside to the qubies is that I have to have 240mls approx to freeze as the lid makes the portions (dividers on lid) but the lids stay on.

Overall I prefer the qubies to the sensible lines trays.

Bags for storing in freezer - I just use regular mini ziploc bags. I fit about 5 ebm blocks (from either tray) in a bag with date on bags (I usually had to mix pumping sessions so don't record time)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so may not make sense

=) as i am currently bf my little girl as we speak i am joining here!!

one minor question, more a curiosity thing.. does bf make anyone sleepy? doesnt mattrr when or where i do it it makes me so drowsy i cant keep my eyes open whilst doing it. mum said its cause it makes you relax. But just wondering if anyone else was like this?

sent via my vortex manipulator!

Teirea - yup!! BFing releases oxytocin which makes you feel calm and sleepy. Totes normal. I used to love that feeling during BFing! Almost like taking a mild sleeping tablet!! I can't wait to start BFing with new bubs so I can feel that again. It's so lovely!! Enjoy :)

Yep me too Teirae. In the first weeks particularly BF made me so sleepy I actually felt like I had vagued out and was off with the fairies. I don't feel it so intensely now.

Yeh I felt the same it was so draining I was always so tired after breastfeeding!

Wait till u are at home feeding during the night! I use to wake up in such a panic cuz I couldn't find DS in my arms breastfeeding but I was so tired that I had already finished BF and put him back in his bassinet lol I must have started dreaming I was feeding him again! Scary at the time but funny now!
(also prob why we don't co-sleep lol)

Minivini oddly enough I've just started dreaming that I'm in bed BF DD but that I've dozed off and lost her in the bed. She's three and a half months.

My fave hormone is CCK (too late at night for me to spell it) but it makes you feel sleepy when the baby feeds - you are meant to relax and go to sleep with your baby on your breast. Thats why research shows that breastfeeding mothers actually get more sleep than bottle feeding mothers (This is a FACT) even though the baby feeds more often - because the hormones of breastfeeding help them relax and get back to sleep quickly.
So your body is doing its thing perfectly!

The number of times DH has stuck his head into DS's room where I'm feeding in the comfy chair to find me dozing lightly while DS snores with milk dribbling down his chin - it's AWESOME!!