Breastfeeders...have I gone bkwards?!

[GregorysGirl]

Right...sooo...finally mastered BF n been going great for a week or so.
After As growthspurt at2weeks n seeing he had gained weight I decided t stretch him to 2hrly feeds..
A) cus he was at time suckin for comfort
B) I was worried I was giving him a feed when he didnt need it n automatically yhinkjn ge was hjngreh just cos he had his hands in his mouth. I later realiaed he puts hus hands in his mouth when hes grizzly n overtired.
C) A selfish reason....that I like to gave a little control*method/organusation to wat I do n the will/nilly feeds were drivin me bonkers.

So I decidex id feed every2hrs for 40mins so I knew hed get the hind milk too. that seemed to work but then my mum noticed that he wasnt swallowin aftrr abt20mins n she thought he was usin me as a dummy.

mmmmmm? so I started to try every2hrs....offerin boob A ...he sucks for 10 n comes off naturally n then I offer boob2 n he duz the same. do u tnk hes gettin the fore n hind milk from each boob when he only gas 10mins on each? or wud y put him bk on boob s for a bit longer even though hes come off naturally?

he seems very contented after n usually sleeps but just worried abt what hes gettin.

also feb/march mummies....what time do u feed in the evening night. ive been doin feed n goin t sleep straight after...but im up again @1...3.30....5.3)....verity u seem to have cracked it. xx

p.s sorry for the essay...joy x

 

[pinkyprincess]

I've only JUST started stretching him at 10 weeks at the was because the doctor and HV advised it. This was because he's been snacking. Is he still around 2 weeks? (can't see tickers) and I really would urge that you let the baby lead for the first 6 weeks they are still building a supply and I think it leads to a happier baby and mummy. If he's just sucking and not drinking he'll be full. I think before doing anything like that to a young baby you speak to your HV.

I'm no expert, I have only been doing this for 10 weeks but I do think talk to your HV.

I also think there is FAR too much pressure on babies sleeping through the night too early. When your baby is ready to it will happen. Don't forget bf milk is digested quicker that formula so you might see a lot of ff baby's sleeping through earlier.

 

[wifeywifey]

I agree with pinky just let your lo lead for now. If lo wasn't getting enough he would let you know but at this age there feeding habits change so often a routine is impossible. I was like you and hated not having a routine but you will soon find they make there own anyway. Well done for bf tho its hard work at times x

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[Cazzlou]

Dont wake him for feeds let him wake and want it you might find he doesn't need it every 2 hrs hence him not taking much. He doesn't sound to be hungry if he's not feeding for long also don't offer 2nd breast make him take hind milk that's what fills them up more. The rule used to be if they hadn't drained first breast and want feedin again within an hour of finishing offer the same breast to them.

Theo is 7 weeks and feeds up to 4hourly for 20-30 mins he never gets 2nd breast as he doesn't fully drain 1st down.
Nights he's fed at 7:30 then put to bed and sleeps til 4 then up at 6:30 again for a feed. I do sometimes offer a dream feed at 10:30 when I go to bed just depends how deep sleep he's in

X

 

[Cazzlou]

Forgot to say with dd I fed her 2hourly to begin but soon realised she would go longer

 

[Verity2011]

I agree with everyone else, I'm just currently being dictated to by LO. But if he doesn't drain one boob, I do keep popping him until he's done. But I think if your LO is gaining weight and seems happy chances are you are doing something right so I wouldn't worry too much. Ultimately I think we need to tale the cue from our bodies, bf just can't be as proscriptive as ff because of the nature of it. As for night feeds, o again tAke my cue from Ariel, but I will say because of DHs job, we do go to sleep late so I feed between 11 and 11.30 which I know some people would be in bed for and wake up to do but Im still up anyway so it seems like less feeds in tge night - if that makes sense

 

[GregorysGirl]

thanks ladies. one other Q...how do I know if he has drained it? i assume when my boob goes soft n squidgy again? xx

 

[Cazzlou]

It can be soft and squishy when milk still present so I tend to apply pressure downwards towards nipple to see if it leaks a bit or listen for him swallowing too.

 

[jojo_2012]

We're baby led, Lewis's last feed is at about 11pm, he then sleeps til mid-day the next day all but 2 quick feeds in the night and around 8-30am til 9 when he gets disturbed by me getting Charlie ready for school. But then all afternoon and evening he feeds almost hourly which just goes to show how bizarre baby's feeding patterns can be sometimes, 2hrly wouldn't agree with him at all!

If Lewis comes off one boob I put him on the other, if ever also comes off the 2nd and seems fussy I put him back on the first one and if he doesn't bother with that too much I know he's done. Then at the next feed I start him on whichever boob I finished on last time so I'm sure he's getting that hind milk.

 

[poppypd]

My LO breast feeds for 15 mins max. Most of the time it's less like 10 mins. Last weigh in she put on 17 oz in a week and she was only 3 weeks old so think timings are all different and depends on how strong they suck perhaps. Worried me when I read in books they should feed for 40 mins !! I do only one boob at a time too x

 

[GregorysGirl]

Im startin t really believe every baby is truely different.

Do u guys wind ur LOs after feedin in the night...I always worry itll wake austim up too much. iykwim?
Do u pat their back or rub it?over ur shoulder or sit them up n pat?

Xxx

 

[pinkyprincess]

I don't unless he fusses midfeed as he falls asleep

 

[l_maclean]

My LO breast feeds for 15 mins max. Most of the time it's less like 10 mins. Last weigh in she put on 17 oz in a week and she was only 3 weeks old so think timings are all different and depends on how strong they suck perhaps. Worried me when I read in books they should feed for 40 mins !! I do only one boob at a time too x

That names me feel soooo mug better poppy. G only feeds for about 10/15mins, and I only do one boob. No one ever said about offering the other one, and I thought switching between was an outdated concept (not meaning to offend - as in used to be recommend but now isn't!)

Xxx

 

[x_larlybelle_x]

I only do 1 boob at a time too. And always start the next time on the other side.

I only wind if he is still awake when he has finished. If he falls asleep I leave him. I usually put him over my shoulder and pat as this works best for him. I know my niece is a knee and rub girl tho ago it depends on the baby xx

 

[jojo_2012]

He's never asleep to wind. I guess everyones baby is different ones only ever enough at night time for Lewis. Maybe that's why my boobs don't feel full, it's all adding up now lol. But I guess whatever keeps baby and mummy happy that's all that matters.

 

[pinkyprincess]

He's never asleep to wind. I guess everyones baby is different ones only ever enough at night time for Lewis. Maybe that's why my boobs don't feel full, it's all adding up now lol. But I guess whatever keeps baby and mummy happy that's all that matters.

That's the amazing thing about this place, someone has always been through it no matter how strange!