5 1/2 month old b/f and solids question

[julie_ann_jules]

DS is 5 1/2 months old and about a week or so ago I started him on solids.... he was screaming and wanting to eat what I was eating so I began giving him tastes from my plate. He just loves banana and will eat 1/2 - 3/4 for brekie

Anyway he has always woken 2-3 hourly during the night for feeds but the last two nights he has slept from 8:30pm- 5:30am My problem now is the size and pain in my breasts when I wake! He has a really good b/f at 5:30 then another one at 7:30. Then I give him food at 8:30 then b/f at 10:30. but I'm finding that even after three feeds my breasts are huge and sore. Yesterday and today I have expressed about 80ml after his feed at around lunch time. He has no routine at all in the afternoon nd would usually feed 1.5 - 3 hrly. But over the last two days he has been going 4 hrs. I will offer him the breast and he will have a little drink then not want anymore (and thats after nothing for 4 hrs!). I don't really feel as though he is having a good b/f at all after his first two feeds of the day. He is having 3 meals a day but he is probbably only having a table spoon of food at lunch and dinner (and about 1/2 banana at brekie). I

I'm quite worried that my supply is going to reduce from the huge reduction in time he is at the breast and the reduction in amounts of breast feeds per day. Am I doing something wrong or will it be ok?? How many b/f should he be having at this age?

[Salad]

Hi I dont have much advice for you but just wondered are you offering a breastfeed before solids they say that you should do this??

[[M]umma[M]ia]

its a tough one. 3 meals a day does seem like alot. I would think about 7 Bf's a day around this age. as sal said, always BF before solids. If he isnt feeding as often and as long, then yes, your supply will drop but still be enough to satisfy his needs. I would be cutting down on the solids a little and offering more breast and see if that solves the problem? DD was only having 1 solid meal at that age (tea time).

[MantaRay]

Jules, it sounds like your DS might have dropped his milk intake due to the amount of solids he is having. At that age, solids should not replace breast milk. If his milk intake has dropped he is at risk of not receiving enough of the right nutrients. I would suggest reducing the solids and trying to increase his milk intake back to the level it was at. This doesn't necessarily mean he needs to feed in the night, but it might (sorry).

The other thing, as you have said, is that if his intake has dropped, so will your supply. So it would be best to increase his feeds now before that happens too much. It shouldn't be too hard to get the milk and solids in balance. GL hun.

[julie_ann_jules]

Thanks everyone for you replies
Plan for tomorrow is not to bother with solids! I'll just b/f and at dinner time he can have some steamed vegies to play with (Maybe get some in his mouth if he is lucky ). I'll just keep an eye on him and if he seems unsatisfied after a good b/f I'll offer him some solids then.
He is bubs #3 but my 1st b/f baby and my other kids are 6 nd 4 so its been a while! MCHN has given me NO info on introducing solids or anything. We had a weighin at 4months and the next one is at 8 months at the 4 month appt I was told he hadn't put on enough weight and to start solids but after talking to my neighbour (who b/f 2 babies) and posting here (barb is great ) I found that it's normal for b/f babies to slow in weight gain . I feel like I'm doing all of this in the dark!
Thanks again for your replies

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

If you breasts are uncomfortably full, the best thing to do it to feed your baby, but if he won't be in it, express a little off for comfort. If he keeps sleeping through, your breasts will adjust (but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't) At this age, always try to breastfeed first, before offering solids. You really can't go too wrong at this age. Well done.