Any suggestions welcome....

[Catherine]

Hi Misty,

xoxo you sound like a great mum.


Do you think you could try using a cup or spoon instead of a bottle for the EBM?

She sounds similar to my DD (who was thankfully my first), and by a month old I caved and introduced a dummy. She was rather small (2.6kg, full term and healthy, just small), but I don't know if that has anything to do with it (I just thought small = small mouth, small tummy...). Before a month old introducing a dummy is not recommended because of the possibility of nipple confusion (and I guess the reaction to the bottle is a sign of nipple confusion?).

In light of tiredness (and as an experienced mum you probably already know?): be aware of your attachment, and possible damage to your nipples from the lengthy feeds.

xo
Catherine

Otherwise, I guess if you ditch the ebm night feed, it might be a few more weeks of sleep deprivation before she speeds up. She is only 11 days old...it is wonderful how patient you are.

Do you have anyone that can help you out with your older kids?

[misty]

sigh.

I think you are all right. I am probably going to have to drop the bottle feed.

Regarding the feeding time - it is about an hour at a time that she feeds during the day. At night time, an hour is about where I give up and give into giving her the bottle. When I haven't given up, she has gone on sucking non-stop for 3 hours (at which point I did give her to DH to hold because I was about way to tired and my nipples had started hurting). I was still able to express 75mls after that 3 hours feed. If I only had the one child, this wouldn't phase me - I would nap during the day when she sleeps. Unfortunately, that just isn't possible with 3 other young kids to keep an eye on.

Unfortunately, She won't feed lying down. So I have to be sitting up to feed her. Her attachment is perfect (when she is not refusing the breast). She is constantly sucking when attached - but her sucking doesn't seem very strong.

I am certain that she will get better and quicker at this feeding thing as she gets older, It is just trying to find that balance now between giviong her time to get there and getting enough sleep myself to function as a mother to the rest of my kids.

Oh well. Even if I end up with no sleep, I guess it will still be easier then dealing with the reflux DD1 had when she was a baby....

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Congratulations on your new baby. What is she now? 11 days old? Just on her L-plates still. I wonder, how did the birth go? Is she full term? How big was she when she was born? Was she separated from you at all? Was she jaundiced? All these factors will have an impact on how your baby feeds. It is just early days for her. Babies are born to breastfeed - and would if they could, but sometimes factors make it difficult. If we can work out why she is taking so long we can offer some suggestions to help. "Lazy" seems rather a harsh term for a newborn. (Sadly I often do hear hospital staff use this term)
The great thing is, you are keeping up your supply and she is getting fed. Pretty soon she will be feeding at the breast like her siblings did. Does she have both breasts or just one? Looking forward to your answers

[Miss E]

My DS was quite similar... He was jaundiced to begin with and a sleepy bub so that also affected the breastfeeding thing.

After a couple of weeks I found that if I let him have 30 mins on each side it worked far better. I read somewhere that even newborns should be able to drain the breast after 20 mins and sometimes they just continue sucking for comfort I'm no expert...

But I did find that if I took him off the first side after 30 mins, changed his nappy and then popped him on the other side for another 30 mins he was satisfied (mind you, he would've happily stayed for much longer if I left him on). So yeah, it did take an hour to feed (and I think it was like this for at least the first 3 months), but after the hour he was nicely milk drunk. Not sure from your post, you could be doing this already, just thought it wouldn't hurt to share.

And, also I just wanted to say - you're doing an awesome job! I couldn't handle 3 hour feeds in the middle of the night either, don't think anyone could.

[misty]

Hi,

Congratulations on your new baby. What is she now? 11 days old? Just on her L-plates still. I wonder, how did the birth go? Is she full term? How big was she when she was born? Was she separated from you at all? Was she jaundiced? All these factors will have an impact on how your baby feeds.

Birth went extremely well, and bubs was up sucking straight away. We weren't seperated at all. No Jaundice.

It is just early days for her. Babies are born to breastfeed - and would if they could, but sometimes factors make it difficult. If we can work out why she is taking so long we can offer some suggestions to help. "Lazy" seems rather a harsh term for a newborn. (Sadly I often do hear hospital staff use this term)
The great thing is, you are keeping up your supply and she is getting fed. Pretty soon she will be feeding at the breast like her siblings did. Does she have both breasts or just one? Looking forward to your answers

I don't like the term 'lazy' either. And truth be told, she isn't lazy - she is just very slow. I have been swapping breasts in the middle of the feed just to see if she will start sucking harder/better from the other side: although there is still a fair bit of milk in the first side, and she would happily stay on the first side for the entire duration. She is much smaller (size) then any of her siblings ever were (she is 3kgs), and her mouth is much smaller; so I have thought that this may be the reason for her being slower, and that as she grows she will find it easier - I have very large nipples that she can barely fit in her mouth.

DH and I have decided that for the next few days at least (he is off work until monday) we will not use the bottle at all and see how she goes at night. We will decide from there what to do next.

[OceanPrincess]

Misty, no words of advice other than what has been posted above, but I just wanted to say best of luck for the next few days

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