The Breast Feeding Support Thread

Nead21 · 03-06-2013 9:54am

I fall asleep all thr time during a night feed. Lately ive justed accepted that he rarely settles back into the basket afterwards so i feed him lying down with him beside me.

holding · 03-06-2013 10:30pm

How Strange, re positioning and getting sore, I find that the odd feed in the cradle/ rugby/ lying down position is fine, but the only way I am consistently not sore is in the position described in the What to Expect when You're Breastfeeding book. You sit, put two pillows on your lap, lay the baby across, point your nipple (supported by your hand at first, then by pillow) towards the centre of the pillow/ nose of the baby, and feed that way. I don't know why but this is the only way that I am never sore at all consistently. HTH.

dublinlady · 04-06-2013 3:48am

Well now she won't even settle in my bed

I'm losing the plot... I got her down by 11, she woke at 12.40. Fed her for 2 hrs . She's still crying another hr later. Doesn't want food, seems in pain from wind I can't get up

it's almost 4am. No sign of her settling. My toddler wakes at 6. This is the third night of this. I'm exhausted

How Strange · 04-06-2013 7:51am

Thanks holding I'll take a look at the book and try that position.

DL, is she 3 weeks? Could be a growth spurt. I know it's my catch all excuse for everything but they get very fussy when going through one.

A spewed all over me this morning while we lay in bed together. Oh the glamour of parenthood.

dublinlady · 04-06-2013 8:17am

How Strange wrote: »

Thanks holding I'll take a look at the book and try that position.

DL, is she 3 weeks? Could be a growth spurt. I know it's my catch all excuse for everything but they get very fussy when going through one.

A spewed all over me this morning while we lay in bed together. Oh the glamour of parenthood.

I'm not sure because she's fine all day ? It's just night that's the problem!

How Strange · 04-06-2013 8:26am

A had really terrible wind over the last couple of days too and I've noticed she can be awake grunting from around 3-4am until 6-7 too. She seemed much more content this morning once she spewed and did a huge dirty nappy.

Btw a friend recommended the tummy tub as a bath because she said its great for wind and colic. I think I'm going to get one even if my husband thinks they're just an overpriced bucket.

Nead21 · 04-06-2013 9:04am

Having a huge wind problem here too. Last week was fairly nightmarish with constant crying feeding and then more crying from wind. Exhausted too and feel likw im loosing the plot. Im hoping its all just tied into the 6week growth spurt.

"helpful" comments from family members suggesting bottles are not helpful Grrr

How Strange · 04-06-2013 10:42am

Yeah those comments are very annoying even if they're well intentioned.

dublinlady · 04-06-2013 3:07pm

Sorry everyone having a crap time of it!

It's so hard at the start - in just 15 months I had forgotten.
I think I need to get S into a routine.... I think it's a bit of everything! Wind mostly tho

might try the overpriced bucket

anything for peace!

holding · 04-06-2013 4:56pm

Oh Dublinlady really feel for you. You will get through it, of course you will

How Strange · 04-06-2013 7:44pm

At this stage, managing the older one and the baby is so tenuous that some thing like a cranky windy baby can send everything in to a tail spin.

That's when you need to keep saying 'it's only a phase.....'

dublinlady · 04-06-2013 8:44pm

She's been so good afternoon I feel bad for whining... But no doubt will again soon..! I was thinking about it this eve - I ate chocolate yesterday eve - it never mattered for A but I'm sure I read its bad fir causing tummy trouble. All the other stuff like onions broccoli used to affect A but never chocolate so my guard was down... Have tried to give her more awake time today also cos think was rushing her back to sleep yesterday so I could sort out her older sis! Fingers crossed for tonight anyway! Himself is giving an expressed bottle later so I can get some sleep cos he's working Tom so I need all my energy!

How Strange · 05-06-2013 8:04pm

I think we're going through the 6 week growth spurt :S

She's 5.5 weeks but 6 weeks corrected age as she was 4 days overdue. She fed a lot on Monday, was fine yesterday but fed every 1-1.5 hours last night and the same all day today. I'm empty and she's still hungry! She's calm enough so if this is as bad as it gets I won't complain. O screamed hysterically during his 6 week growth spurt.

dublinlady · 05-06-2013 10:40pm

How Strange wrote: »

I think we're going through the 6 week growth spurt :S

She's 5.5 weeks but 6 weeks corrected age as she was 4 days overdue. She fed a lot on Monday, was fine yesterday but fed every 1-1.5 hours last night and the same all day today. I'm empty and she's still hungry! She's calm enough so if this is as bad as it gets I won't complain. O screamed hysterically during his 6 week growth spurt.

God that's hard going! Hope ur getting some sleep? Do growth spurts go off corrected age? As in S is just 3 weeks yest, but was 12 days overdue so 5 weeks corrected - would she go thru the growth spurts early?
The PHN accused me of giving her formula today even tho its firstly not really her business if I did and secondly I had just told her she's exclusively breast fed! She put on 300g this week which is supposedly too much... Have u ever heard such horsesh&t?!?! Last week they said she hadn't gained enough! Where did they find her?! Poor baba is only half a pound over birth weight and not exactly rolling in fat!! Ejit!
I can't believe they way she said I must be formula feeding her... Can't do right for doing wrong! Next week she'll be telling me she's too light!

holding · 06-06-2013 1:01am

Good luck in this growth spurt How Strange. Just remember 'this too shall pass'! I can't imagine going through a growth spurt with a toddler that needs to be taken care of too.

Dublin Lady that's insane, your PHN sounds crazy. I have 2 in my health centre- one is lovely, the other is really old and old school and crabby, she comes out with the strangest things too!

Girls does anyone have any tips on feeding out and about. We have conquered feeding at home by using pillows for support, but obviously I don't have access to these while out and about, nor even an armrest sometimes. I try to sort of cradle hold him, with my hand under his head for support, but he's clearly uncomfortable, and comes off and on continuously for the whole feed. It's frustrating for us both, and I don't think he gets enough milk at these out and about feedings. Any tips would be great. He is 8 weeks, so still needs head supporting. My back kills me from bending over to accomodate him, or else my arm goes dead from holding him up to reach the breast!

How Strange · 06-06-2013 2:53am

Wow DL, maybe next week S will be just right if you follow the goldilocks theory. 1 week to small, next week too big, the following week just right

A has put on so much weight since she was born. I can't imagine what your phn would say about that. She'd probably accuse me of giving her meat and potatoes for dinner or something!

Yes, as far as I know, the growth spurts happen at the corrected age. I looked back to O's yesterday. He had his at 7 weeks but he was 5 days early so was still ) weeks. So brace yourself!

She actually slept from 9.30 until now but she hasn't slept all day so she must be exhausted. I fell asleep feeding her and my husband woke me up. Hopefully it'll be over in a day or so.

How Strange · 06-06-2013 2:57am

Sorry holding I've no advice re the feeding out and about. A is now too heavy for the proper cradle hold so I half do it and she has to reach up a bit herself.

Nead21 · 06-06-2013 8:14am

DL your PHN sounds crazy. Once your babys chart is showing continuous growth there should be no issue. Obviously every baby is different and they can gain more weight one week than others.

E is 7weeks as of yesterday and is still having his 6week growth spurt. He was 5days early. Ive told him his time is up!!

Holding i just use cradle hold when out but hes kind half sitting half lying if that makes any sense. Im still trying to master the whole muslin cloth/blanket to cover any exposed bits although he has started to pull it down during the feed..Eek!

Neyite · 06-06-2013 8:23am

Holding I used a blanket folded in half and rolled up as a support for the baby which helped a bit.

I used to place the inside arm around my torso and kind of face him in slightly. His ear would be resting on the inside of my elbow and he seemed comfy enough.

If you sit cross legged like you would if you we're sitting on a yoga mat you can balance your elbow on your knee/ leg to help you hold his weight.

The local cuidu or la leche might be able to give you tips too.

holding · 06-06-2013 10:42pm

Thanks a million ladies. Neyite will try that out, your description is good and detailed

emer_b · 06-06-2013 11:03pm

Holding, for out and about feeding I used to roll up a jacket/coat and put it under my elbow for support. Then once baby was settled into feeding I would always wear some kind of light scarf that I would drape at the side of her head (not over it, I'm not a big fan of completely hiding myself and the baby!) just so I was comfortable that I wasn't flashing any flesh.

Neyite · 07-06-2013 9:42pm

emer_b wrote: »

Holding, for out and about feeding I used to roll up a jacket/coat and put it under my elbow for support. Then once baby was settled into feeding I would always wear some kind of light scarf that I would drape at the side of her head (not over it, I'm not a big fan of completely hiding myself and the baby!) just so I was comfortable that I wasn't flashing any flesh.

I used to just use a hidden support vest under a stretchy jersy top then a swingy cardigan over it. (didnt bother with nursing bras as I found them fiddly. The top would come up, the vest neckline come down and the cardi would cover the breast until I got baby positioned then I'd pull it aside.

He hated anything heavier than a muslin covering his head so I'd have wound the corner of a muslin around the vest strap a couple of times on the feeding side before I picked him up and just draped it over his head while feeding. Then you already had the muslin handy for the burping bit too.

dublinlady · 10-06-2013 9:02pm

How Strange wrote: »

Yes, as far as I know, the growth spurts happen at the corrected age. I looked back to O's yesterday. He had his at 7 weeks but he was 5 days early so was still ) weeks. So brace yourself!

.

Well I think ur right! She's 4 weeks tom, so almost 6 weeks corrected - yesterday was feeding like a lunatic!!
Weirdly she just looks bigger!! Could be my imagination tho!
4 weeks old.. Where is the time going!

holding · 11-06-2013 6:47pm

Hope everyone's bfeeding is going okay

I was reading the Jo Frost Supernanny baby book today and she says to not over-breastfeed the baby (?!!). She says that she has seen some women do this because they really want to lose weight, and it's not fair on the baby. What is she on?! I'm not sure I would trust the rest of her stuff after reading that.

In other news, I ordered a Medela Swing from Amazon after reading you all rave about them here, and I finally managed to express yesterday. Only a tiny bit, and had to get OH to help as I could only do it when babs was feeding on the other boob, but am delighted with myself, and looking forward to trying again. Was dreading it hurting (like bfeeding did at start) but it didn't really, just tingled, and was so glad.

Hobbitfeet · 11-06-2013 6:54pm

What the f?? Crazy lady and how many children has she breastfed?
Keep going with the pumping I found it took awhile to get the hang of it. Also make sure you check to make sure the funnel bit is the correct size for you, when I purchased a smaller one I started to get much more milk

liliq · 11-06-2013 11:01pm

Feckin loon!
I haven't read any of her books, ill definitely avoid them of that's the waffle in them

holding · 13-06-2013 11:56am

Hi girls, back with another question! When should I express milk? Should I treat it like an extra feeding in terms of 'counting' it - and will there be much less milk available to baby in that boob if he feeds on it a while after expressing? At the moment, he eats at 9am, 12noon, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm, 11pm, and then goes down for the night (this isn't mega strict though & I feed him on demand when he wants it) (he's 10 weeks tomorrow). He feeds on one boob per feed for about 30 mins, and I alternate each feed. Thanks for any advice

Edit: yes, crazy about Supernanny! Apparently she also advised a woman on US TV to wean, and her books are full of bad bfeeding advice, like wean at 4 months onto solids etc. Good with toddlers apparently but not with babas

Nead21 · 13-06-2013 12:26pm

Im also trying figure this out. When i express i usually do it while or just after baby feeds. Like you i generally use one boob per feed...sometimes he's hungrier and needs a bit more. I find expressing in the morning is quicker. I did express once at night so my husband could do the feed later on.

What do others do when you go for a night out? We had our first night out on sat and half during the night i went out to the car to express.

holding · 13-06-2013 2:24pm

Right, I'm also wondering what to do when you do leave baby for 6 hours. At the three hour mark do you take out your pump and nip to the loo for 20 mins?

monflat · 13-06-2013 2:32pm

holding wrote: »

Hope everyone's bfeeding is going okay

I was reading the Jo Frost Supernanny baby book today and she says to not over-breastfeed the baby (?!!). She says that she has seen some women do this because they really want to lose weight, and it's not fair on the baby. What is she on?! I'm not sure I would trust the rest of her stuff after reading that.

Pure and utter crap !!! U CANNOT Overfeed a breast fed baby this woman has NO children of her own so I could presume she has never breastfed pure rubbish

The whole thing about b f s that its baby led .....
Ive fed both my children and two very different experiences but no way csn u overfeed as they are working hard to extract milk

How Strange · 13-06-2013 4:55pm

Nead21 your post reminded me that I had to start pumping as we've a night out on 23rd. So I sterilized all the pump bits and expressed this afternoon from my *ahem* bad breast (the one with the lower supply).

I got about 2.5ml so I'll do it again tomorrow and maybe Saturday morning. We're away all next week so not sure how storing will work. We've also to give her a bottle before 23rd to make sure she takes it.

I think pumping in the morning would probably be best for me as I'm usually quite full. I might try that tomorrow. I can't pump in the evening just yet as she feeds so often until we go to bed.

As for Jo Frost, do a google search of supernanny and you'll find some god awful reviews and criticism of her show. Over breastfeeding to lose weight is hilarious! If only it was that simple. I think I've eaten 10 biccies this afternoon and that's not including my big lunch. I've been starving for the last week because this little madam had her 6 week growth spurt.

On the positive we've survived 6 weeks \0/ \0/ . I never thought I'd get here in those first few days but am so glad to be here.

How Strange · 13-06-2013 5:04pm

Btw holding, I can only dream about a feeding pattern like that. My son was 5 months old before he stretched beyond 2 hours. This little lady is lots and often too

holding · 13-06-2013 11:21pm

It's a very loose pattern, trust me!!

iguana · 14-06-2013 12:07pm

How Strange wrote: »

\0/ \0/

I know these symbols are a picture of cheering but remembering my son's six week growth spurt all I can see are two very drained boobs.:pac:

Breastfeeding has entered a whole new era in my house. The tooth era! Last night he bit me as he was latching off and I roared, giving him a shock that made him clamp down and pull his head back at the same time. Ouch!

liliq · 14-06-2013 2:41pm

iguana wrote: »

I know these symbols are a picture of cheering but remembering my son's six week growth spurt all I can see are two very drained boobs.:pac:

Breastfeeding has entered a whole new era in my house. The tooth era! Last night he bit me as he was latching off and I roared, giving him a shock that made him clamp down and pull his head back at the same time. Ouch!

Oh I feel that pain

hope he didn't do any damage!!
I had a few weeks of that occasionally happening and then it just stopped (thank f**k!!)

dublinlady · 14-06-2013 3:40pm

Can't still quite get over the shock - normally feed S at about 11.30 pm she wakes at around 2.30 and 5/6 fir next feed. Last night fed at 12.30am and she didn't wake til 6!!! She's 4 weeks?!?!
I'm really hoping its not a once off!!!!!
She was so colicky from 7-12.30 she literally screamed all evening so maybe she wore herself out!

Think I have a problem with over supply ... Since the start really but I thought it would settle down but now even tho during day she's feeding about every 3 hrs only I'm engorged every feed in the side she's due from and have to hand express a bit first so she can latch - otherwise she's fussing a huge amount and swallowing loads of air with clicking noises? I am pretty sure this is the prob . I can express about 3-4 oz off one side in less than 5 mins..... This sounds fab but actually has meant I've had to stop expressing to stop supply fir last 2 weeks cos my boobs would burst!!! Maybe it'll settle in a few more weeks?
As a result if not being able to express I've given her a bottle of formula once every couple if days - well my hubbie has as he likes to do one feed a day and I like the break! Wonder what causes over supply - cos it doesn't seem to be demand at the mo?

Nead21 · 14-06-2013 4:46pm

You might have an oversupply after the 3week growth spurt??

I definitely felt more full after that but it settled down again after about a week.

dublinlady · 14-06-2013 6:49pm

Nead21 wrote: »

You might have an oversupply after the 3week growth spurt??

I definitely felt more full after that but it settled down again after about a week.

Hope that's it - they are just too full to be comfy coming up to feed time - and I'm springing leaks all over the place! Thank god for breast pads!

Nead21 · 14-06-2013 8:26pm

Yeah I had very leaky boobs around that time, kept soaking my pjs!

Fairie · 14-06-2013 8:32pm

Hi all,
Has anyone breastfed while pregnant? Dd is almost 6 months and I'm 13 weeks pregnant boobs are already massive and fairly sore!! All part of pregnancy but I hope they aren't like this for the next 6 months!! Milk supply seems to have decreased as dd is feeding alot more the last couple of weeks. I would love to breastfeed dd as long as possible, has anyone breastfed both baby and newborn? Would love to hear how it went for others

emer_b · 15-06-2013 11:14am

Hi ladies, haven't been on here in a while but need a bit of advice.
I'm feeding my 8 month old girl twice a day, morning and night. Had no problem winding down the feeds as never had a massive supply. Have been on 2 breast feeds a day for the last month.
This morning felt a hard area in one of my breasts and a small whitish patch on my nipple. I used a hot face cloth on it, expressed a little and gave baby an extra feed. It's a little better but still sore.
As luck would have it I'm on my first away from her tonight so will be relying on pumping.
Any suggestions how I should handle this?

SaucySue · 15-06-2013 10:54pm

Never mind too long!

dublinlady · 19-06-2013 8:49am

Well from over supply to no supply! Must be growth spurt but I can't keep up with my 5 week old! I have been feeding her on & off since 3am and she won't sleep etc. last night when I went to feed her , even tho it had been 2&1/2 hrs since last feed by boobs were soft totally - she was none impressed

we give her a few ounces of formula at night so last night I left her latched fir an hr on each side before that in the hope it might stimulate supply! On the plus side she's started properly smiling!!! So worth it. But finding minding my toddler so difficult. She's so demanding if attention Etc!
Plus my section wound , well on the inside feels tender again.

How Strange · 19-06-2013 10:36am

Yikes!! The growth spurt is almost over so hopefully it'll settle down then. We've got to the 6 week mark which is the main thing!! Here's hoping it gets easier from now on.

A has got really fussy at times this week and screams when I try to feed her so I have to take her off and calm her down before I try again. I looked up kellymom and its something that can happen between 6-8 weeks after the growth spurt. We've also had a couple of nights of screaming for hours and I'm really hoping its just fussiness and not a sign of colic starting.

I find she can't get her wind up from 3-4am and the only way she can settle is to lie on her tummy on my tummy.

We're getting lots of smiles too and some ahoo's which is so cute. If we say ahoo she will smile and say it back to us.

She loves being around people so she's happy to sit in her bouncy chair and watch what's going on. Just as well because as the second child we just don't have the time for one on one attention that we had for O.

Nead21 · 19-06-2013 3:03pm

É was very fussy from around 6 weeks up until last week and then just something clicked and he really settled down. He seems really grown up or something. Those 2weeks were very hard though as we had similar problems like screaming, difficulty getting wind up etc.

On the plus side the bf is so much easier now. Couldnt imaging giving up any time soon :-) Boobs have also settled down so got measured and treated myself to and a lovely nursing bra for all my hard work!

dublinlady · 19-06-2013 7:25pm

Exactly the same wind issues! Also at 3/4 am and onwards! Tummy to tummy helps a bit here too but not enough for sleep!!

Bloody public health nurse has once again said my baby has gained too much weight in the last 2 weeks... Seriously I'm fit to slap her - she's only 9lbs 3oz! And is in no way fat! And if she was good for her at 5 weeks old! Grrrrrrrr!

cyning · 19-06-2013 7:30pm

dublinlady wrote: »

Exactly the same wind issues! Also at 3/4 am and onwards! Tummy to tummy helps a bit here too but not enough for sleep!!

Bloody public health nurse has once again said my baby has gained too much weight in the last 2 weeks... Seriously I'm fit to slap her - she's only 9lbs 3oz! And is in no way fat! And if she was good for her at 5 weeks old! Grrrrrrrr!

C gained 2 pounds in the first month and 4 in the second. So at two months she was 14 pounds. No such thing as over feeding a breastfed baby I thought? Ignore her!!!

How Strange · 19-06-2013 11:08pm

A is a monster!! I weighed her last week and she was 13lb 6 at 6.5 weeks. I'd say she's over 14lb now.

DL your phn is taking through her rear end as that's the beauty of breastfeeding; bf babies are the size they're supposed to be whether that's big, small or average.

Also with oversupply it's quite common that the baby gains a lot of weight in the first 3 months but that gain tapers off after so by 6 months they are back to average.

It's just such a shame that yet again phns don't understand breastfeeding and how it works.

yellow hen · 19-06-2013 11:20pm

How Strange wrote: »

It's just such a shame that yet again phns don't understand breastfeeding and how it works.

I would like to be respectful to phn's but there is ALOT that they get wrong! I was told when I stopped bfeeding that if just dry up.... No advice on engorgement whatsoever. They've also weighed O wrong on two occasions indicating he was losing weight when he was clearly thriving!! Then they had the cheek to turn up at my house one morning without confirming the day or time. So I not a fan of phn's!

MurdyWurdy · 22-06-2013 9:14am

I'm having trouble breastfeeding my 5 day old due to issues with my nipples and his suckling reflex and we've tried loads of different things (nipple shields, latch assist etc) but it's just not happening. I've been pumping every 3 hours instead (my supply is good) and my hubby and I are happy with how it's going and that he is getting breast milk (with one or two formula feeds) so we want to continue with it as long as possible.

Does anyone else have experience of doing this and have any advice? We're going to hire a double pump (I'm using a single electric Tommee Tippee one now which is grand) to save time. Does anyone have any recommendations of where to hire/which one? I'm looking at one from inhealth

The Breast Feeding Support Thread

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