The Breast Feeding Support Thread

catrionanic

Tips for biting? 12 month old is doing it at almost every feed the last few days. I take him off and scold him, but he does it right away again.

His feeds are also like super short - a few sucks and he’s twisting around looking around him - for the last few days. I’m wondering whether my supply might be down, or if he’s losing interest. I’ve never been able to feel my let-down so I’ve no idea whether he’s getting milk.

Neyite

I wanted to drop this link in, not sure if you mammies already know about it.

Someone I know has one of these and reckons it's the best thing since sliced bread for expressing - she found it very efficient and extracted an impressive amount of milk.

You can also buy a lid separately to keep the milk sterile. It's very portable, easy clean and it's suction base is pretty much genius. It's been a few years since I breastfed but I'd have loved one of these.

jlm29

catrionanic wrote: »

Tips for biting? 12 month old is doing it at almost every feed the last few days. I take him off and scold him, but he does it right away again.

His feeds are also like super short - a few sucks and he’s twisting around looking around him - for the last few days. I’m wondering whether my supply might be down, or if he’s losing interest. I’ve never been able to feel my let-down so I’ve no idea whether he’s getting milk.

I’ve no tips really- when my 14 month old started biting last year, it was because my supply was down though. The short feeds might be because of this, or because he’s super efficient.
For me, it was because I was pregnant...

catrionanic

jlm29 wrote: »

I’ve no tips really- when my 14 month old started biting last year, it was because my supply was down though. The short feeds might be because of this, or because he’s super efficient.
For me, it was because I was pregnant...

Oh wow! How soon into pregnancy did your supply dip?

jlm29

I was a good bit along.... about 18 weeks!!!

Toots

Guys just wondering how often should a breastfed baby be feeding? My little girl is 5 days old and is feeding every 3 to 3 and a half hours. She'll probably do about 20 minutes on one side and then about 10 on the other. She gets one formula feed during the night. I thought she was doing fine but the PHN said she should be feeding every 2 and a half hours during the day and every 3 at night.

bee06

Toots wrote: »

Guys just wondering how often should a breastfed baby be feeding? My little girl is 5 days old and is feeding every 3 to 3 and a half hours. She'll probably do about 20 minutes on one side and then about 10 on the other. She gets one formula feed during the night. I thought she was doing fine but the PHN said she should be feeding every 2 and a half hours during the day and every 3 at night.

I did a lot of research on this when my fella was born because he had jaundice and wasn’t waking to feed so I wanted to know how often to wake him.

Breastfeeding.ie which was a website recommended in my breastfeeding class says every 2 to 3 hours. Is she having lots of wet and dirty nappies?

https://www.breastfeeding.ie/First-few-weeks/Babys-routine/

Toots

Yes she's having wet and dirty nappies, we'd change her before every feed and they'd all be wet, then most would have some poo too.

I've tried putting her on the breast more often but she won't even attempt to latch on.

waterfaerie

Congratulations Toots! It sounds like you're doing great. In general, they say not to go more than about 3 hours but you should go by your baby, not by the clock. 3 and a half hours is not so far off 3 hours that I'd be worried about it, especially if her nappies are good. It sounds like she's feeding really well and knows when she does or doesn't want more.

I would say, though, that the more she is on the breast the more she will build your supply. If you're wanting to keep with the breastfeeding, the formula might not be a good idea, especially this early. It may interfere with supply and if she gets to prefer the bottle over time she may start refusing the breast. I know the night feeds are especially hard but it's really the best time for building your supply because the prolactin levels are higher. It won't last forever and it will pay off massively if breastfeeding is the way you want to go.

I would also say that I don't know how good your PHN is but they are very hit and miss, especially with breastfeeding advice, so I wouldn't rely on their advice unless you know for sure you have one of the few very good ones. If you can, you should try to get to a Cuidiú meeting or talk to one of their breastfeeding counsellors. It's a great way to meet other mums, too.

Just remember, you're doing a great job! You're her mum and you know best. Trust your baby and your instincts.

Toots

Thanks guys. I've got to get my hubby to do one night feed, I had very bad post natal depression with my first baby, and the psychiatrist in the hospital has given me medication to make me sleepy so the idea is I feed her, then take the meds and he does the next feed so I get a few hours of unbroken sleep. I'd prefer not to be giving formula but I've read it's not good to pump until after 6 weeks?

catrionanic

Toots wrote: »

Thanks guys. I've got to get my hubby to do one night feed, I had very bad post natal depression with my first baby, and the psychiatrist in the hospital has given me medication to make me sleepy so the idea is I feed her, then take the meds and he does the next feed so I get a few hours of unbroken sleep. I'd prefer not to be giving formula but I've read it's not good to pump until after 6 weeks?

Don’t feel bad, Toots. You’re doing a stellar job of breastfeeding your baba and should be very proud! Obviously in an ideal world, you’d be feeding her at night too because the night feeds are so important for establishing your supply, but if you have a good reason that this won’t work for your family then you have to go with that. Happy mammy means happy baby, after all.

I’m having terrible Mammy guilt today and yesterday. I absolutely love nursing my son, and want to continue until he is at least two as per all the recommendations... but I’ve just found out I’m pregnant and my supply has definitely dropped, so I doubt I’m going to be able to keep it up for much longer. He loves nursing so so much - he is literally at his absolute happiest when feeding - and I wanted him to have all the benefits of breastmilk for as long as possible. I feel really guilty that he’s going to lose out on this now. I could cry just thinking about it.

Neyite

Toots wrote: »

I'd prefer not to be giving formula but I've read it's not good to pump until after 6 weeks?

Ideally, but needs must. I had to pump more or less from the start, just a few ounces because the baby was colicky and I needed to add the meds to an ounce of milk first. But I still managed to breastfeed almost exclusively after that. If all other feeds are directly on breast, then you probably will be fine.

I knew someone who used to do the cluster feeds until 9pm, then go to bed. Dad would do the 11/12 pm expressed feed and the next feed then would be about 2/3 am on the breast so mum got a good stretch of sleep in first. Would that work for you?

waterfaerie

Toots wrote: »

Thanks guys. I've got to get my hubby to do one night feed, I had very bad post natal depression with my first baby, and the psychiatrist in the hospital has given me medication to make me sleepy so the idea is I feed her, then take the meds and he does the next feed so I get a few hours of unbroken sleep. I'd prefer not to be giving formula but I've read it's not good to pump until after 6 weeks?

You're doing the right thing looking after yourself. As Catriona said, a happy mammy means a happy baby so don't feel bad about that.

I wouldn't worry too much about pumping. Either the formula or the pumping this early can interfere with your supply. Pumping may cause over supply, which you can always deal with. Formula may cause under supply, which may be harder to fix long term. It's totally up to you which way you want to go.

Have you heard of the haakaa pump? You attach it to one side while the baby feeds on the other. It works by suction only, so no actual pumping. It collects the milk triggered by the let down and it doesn't stimulate extra milk production like a normal pump. I found it fantastic and so easy. I used it at a couple of feeds every day and built up a whole freezer stash using just the haakaa so you'd easily get enough for one feed a day. Just another option for you.

I hope you're feeling good this time around and the PND stays away. Keep looking after yourself and reminding yourself that you're doing great. I'd really recommend getting to a Cuidiú group if you can. Apart from getting excellent breastfeeding advice, the support, reassurance and socialising would be great for helping you emotionally and that may help to keep depression at bay.

rainbow kirby

Would agree that needs must regarding pumping - my milk has come in like I'm feeding my toddler again and I have a stupidly large oversupply, even pumping just enough to take the edge off the engorgement is covering his bottle top-ups and then some. We're still in hospital though so possibly a little different.

PhoenixParker

The risk with early pumping is that supply grows to meet demand and you end up with oversupply.

If you're pumping to feed immediately and not to build a freezer stash you should be fine, with the caveat that if you start to experience problems or hints of problems stop.

mojesius

Looks like another growth spurt is happening. She has been cluster feeding around the clock since sat evening, 3.5 weeks old. I'm more prepared as to what to expect but getting cabin fever up in the bed ( sitting room was just painted and has fumes). I also have mastitis but the feeding frenzy seems to be helping it clear up, plus the antibiotics. Husband has been off the last few days, which is a godsend. I can see her growing fast. Her newborn clothes are starting to fill out and we have the 0-3 month bon standby. She does not want to be put down at all!

fits

Neyite wrote: »

I knew someone who used to do the cluster feeds until 9pm, then go to bed. Dad would do the 11/12 pm expressed feed and the next feed then would be about 2/3 am on the breast so mum got a good stretch of sleep in first. Would that work for you?

This is what I did in the early weeks also.

jaja321

fits wrote: »

This is what I did in the early weeks also.

I did something very similar too. Really worked for us!

catrionanic

Experienced BF mammies - when did you know it was time to wean?

I wanted to go until my wee man was at least two, as things were going so well and we both loved feeding so much. He’s 12 months now and I’m pregnant again and the last 3-4 weeks has been tough... lots of biting and I’m so exhausted all the time. He’s really clingy to me and very hard to settle to sleep or when he wakes in the night - just wants to be on the boob - but settles for his Daddy no bother. I’m wondering if stopping BFing might help with this also.

But even thinking about stopping makes me feel soooo guilty! I also am barely sleeping at the moment so I keep saying to myself that I shouldn’t quit on a bad day... it’s just that every day is a bad day right now!

the_sonandmoon

You sound like you've done really well. Feeding to 1 is a great accomplishment. Absolutely no need for the guilts.

How far along are you?
Have you tried pumping at all, just to see if there's much coming out. It could be that your not producing very much if you're pregnant.

It might be a blessing in disguise. Early pregnancy is so bloody exhausting, especially with a 1 year old, that a nights sleep and being able to pass bedtime duties over to daddy, could be exactly what you need.

jlm29

I weaned my last at 14 months. I was 5 months pregnant. He was biting a lot, because my supply was after dropping so much. I started giving him a bottle of cows milk going to bed at night (probably shouldn’t have introduced a bottle at that age, but I felt he needed the comfort). He dropped the bottle himself a few months later.
It was the right decision for us. Tandem feeding wouldn’t have been for me, and he’d forgotten about being fed by the time baby was born, so it was one less thing to be jealous of!

rainbow kirby

We stopped at 15.5 months - I was 10 weeks pregnant and my milk had completely dried up. I replaced his 3 main feeds (morning, after nursery, bedtime) with a 200ml bottle of cows milk. Worked surprisingly well for us.

Neyite

My lad more or less self-weaned at 11 months. I was willing to keep going but he just had no interest.

Feeding for the first year is brilliant. That's double the average in this country. So if you want to wean off the breast, you should't feel a shred of guilt, especially if the baby is losing interest. While many women can and do breastfeed during a pregnancy, for some the milk just dries up. I often think it's mother natures way of weaning you so you reset back to the milk you produce for a newborn.

rainbow kirby

Oddly enough, I have a significant oversupply since my milk came in with #2. If I don't pump at least once a day I'm really quite uncomfortable. It almost feels like my boobs think they have to feed my toddler as well!

bee06

My little boy is 7 weeks today and it hit me this morning when I was feeding him how big he’s gotten! I’m in awe of the fact that our bodies can grow a baby for 9 months plus and then continue to give them everything they need to thrive after that. It’s pretty amazing!

Lainey_b01

bee06 wrote: »

My little boy is 7 weeks today and it hit me this morning when I was feeding him how big he’s gotten! I’m in awe of the fact that our bodies can grow a baby for 9 months plus and then continue to give them everything they need to thrive after that. It’s pretty amazing!

My wee man is a week behind you and totally agree it's so mad, mother nature rocks. Delighted I went with BF and it's working out. Go us!

Toots

My little girl slept for 6 hours last night, my boobs were fit to explode when she woke. They were so engorged she wouldn't latch on, so the OH had to comfort her while I pumped one side, then he fed her that while I pumped the other.

jlm29

Toots wrote: »

My little girl slept for 6 hours last night, my boobs were fit to explode when she woke. They were so engorged she wouldn't latch on, so the OH had to comfort her while I pumped one side, then he fed her that while I pumped the other.

Six hours! My eyes are positively green here!!! My nearly 8 month old hasn’t done a stretch like that in months!!
If that happens again, you could hand express off a small bit on each side to soften them out so she’ll be able to latch on!

the_sonandmoon

jlm29 wrote:

Six hours! My eyes are positively green here!!! My nearly 8 month old hasn’t done a stretch like that in months!! If that happens again, you could hand express off a small bit on each side to soften them out so she’ll be able to latch on!

Yes, it's handy to have a muslin or something to let off a little bit into, to allow them to match on.

Toots

jlm29 wrote: »

Six hours! My eyes are positively green here!!! My nearly 8 month old hasn’t done a stretch like that in months!!
If that happens again, you could hand express off a small bit on each side to soften them out so she’ll be able to latch on!

I nearly had a heart attack cos I thought something was wrong with her! My alarm went off at 6am to feed her and she was still sound asleep so I woke the hubby to ask what time she fed during the night. When he said she hasn't woken for one I was straight on the phone to the Laya nurse line:o apparently at this age it's grand for them to go 5-6 hours but any more than that they'd recommend lifting and feeding them.