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Breastfeeding issues
Hi ladies
Bit of a pointless post really but just wanted to see if I'm alone! I'm exclusively breastfeeding Freddy and we have had a few issues with latching on, cluster feeding etc but on the whole I feel its going well but he just bobs on sooo much and its getting a bit annoying not to mention making me sore! He doesn't seem too bad in the afternoon from about 11-4ish he'll feed and sleep well and settle easily but in the mornings from about 7-11am he just feeds almost constantly. I'll latch him on, he'll feed for 10 minutes before falling asleep and letting go and then will sleep for about 15/20 minutes before he starts squriming around, grunting and snorting and sucking everything and anything that happens to brush past his face! He'll be grumpy until I feed him again and then we'll repeat the process until around 11ish when he falls into a deep sleep. He also does the same around 4pmish but I don't mind that too much, I expect him to cluster feed in the evenings and actually think its quite a good thing because it means he's starting to recognise night from day and he sleeps well at night, he feeds and settles quickly and goes between 3 and 4 hours. I don't really expect a solution to the on off feeding, it would just be comforting to know I'm not the only one!
On the plus side Freddy is gaining loads of weight, he'll be 3 weeks old on saturday and has gone from 6lb 11oz to 7lb 14oz!
xx
Bit of a pointless post really but just wanted to see if I'm alone! I'm exclusively breastfeeding Freddy and we have had a few issues with latching on, cluster feeding etc but on the whole I feel its going well but he just bobs on sooo much and its getting a bit annoying not to mention making me sore! He doesn't seem too bad in the afternoon from about 11-4ish he'll feed and sleep well and settle easily but in the mornings from about 7-11am he just feeds almost constantly. I'll latch him on, he'll feed for 10 minutes before falling asleep and letting go and then will sleep for about 15/20 minutes before he starts squriming around, grunting and snorting and sucking everything and anything that happens to brush past his face! He'll be grumpy until I feed him again and then we'll repeat the process until around 11ish when he falls into a deep sleep. He also does the same around 4pmish but I don't mind that too much, I expect him to cluster feed in the evenings and actually think its quite a good thing because it means he's starting to recognise night from day and he sleeps well at night, he feeds and settles quickly and goes between 3 and 4 hours. I don't really expect a solution to the on off feeding, it would just be comforting to know I'm not the only one!
On the plus side Freddy is gaining loads of weight, he'll be 3 weeks old on saturday and has gone from 6lb 11oz to 7lb 14oz!
xx
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Replies
Think I might have to give up on the bf idea, he lost loads of weight in the first few days because he wasn't getting milk from me; I've been expressing since then but supply was dwindling hence why trying to get him back on the boob and not seeming to have much success!! Daniel isn't at all patient and I can't keep it up when hubby works away all week. Sorry for hijacking your post... having a moan now!! lol. He's 3 weeks today and we're waiting for the hv to come - hoping she will weigh him so I know he's actually been gaining ok. xxx
Today, after the night feeds which were approx every 2.5 hours, he fed at 6.40, 9, 10, 11.40, 1.30. Like you I'm getting a bit fed up of being pinned to the sofa, especially when ive got Theo to think of, plus trying to get the house fit for a viewing this afternoon. And also I'm getting sore too. But I think that's partly my fault for allowing a few feeds with a poor latch
Have no idea what the solution is but since he's skinny and jaundiced I guess I'm going to keep feeding on demand. If we nail the latching I might give him a dummy in a few weeks.
Thomas feeds constantly from waking around 5am till about 11am, will then sleep a good 4 or 5 hours then begin cluster feeding from 7pm (I'm sat now feeding him & hubby also gave him 3ozs of a bottle) to about 11pm.
FYI if u r topping lo up with formula this WILL affect ur milk supply. If u feed ur lo on demand there is no need 2 top them up with formula. Ur body is amazing and will do what it needs 2 do but without the right triggers ie lo sucking at the boob once most of the milk has gone it doesn't know that more milk needs 2b made. Milk is made on a supply/demand basis if lo is given formula they're not "demanding" those ounces from the boob and so less milk is produced. If u hav time and lo is happy 2 stay latched on leave them there, this will help increase supply along with watching lo feed and putting their hand on the boob whilst feeding. Xxx
I haven't actually really had problems with cluster feeding thank goodness. Peter's done that on a couple of occasions but normally he's every 3-4 hours consistent. Our's is an odd latching issue. He's a really fussy baby when it comes to feeding and will often take 10 mins to latch on and will kick, thrash around, force his head back and push me away (he's already ridiculously strong!) for ages first. Once he decides to latch he does it perfectly and is piling on the weight so I know I'm lucky in that regard. I'm just worried about feeding in public because it is impossible to be discreet at the moment. I want to start being out of the house for longer but the idea of sitting in a cafe with my nipple out for 10 mins before the baby decides he's ready is a bit off-putting! Has anyone else had this? The BF counsellor I saw didn't really have any suggestions.
Sorry to hijack your thread Pickles!
Jojo I've been topping up with formula because I was exclusively expressing and my supply started failing, but have struggled to get him to latch, had no choice as there was no milk there and he was starving and loosing weight. Now he's eating off me better I'm starting to cut out the formula feeds and hoping to express a bottle for nighttime use. No idea why really other than its quicker - and saves my nipples - and I do the night feeds anyway! lol. xx
But really feeling rubbish about it in all honest.
1) I give a bottle usually once a day so I can sleep & be better prepared for night feeds, am I wrong - nope if it gives you a break & he wants more milk then go for it. No one but you will shoot you for it.
2) he gulps at me like a mad thing at night, is he not getting milk? Have I run out? - in the night/evening your milk is much fattier due to hormones. They have to suck harder & flutter feed to break it up. Your boob will still produce milk just not the same flow.
3) I've bf all day but he's just gulped 5ozs of formula, he must have been starving. - doubtful more likely he's recognising it's nighttime & filling himself up. This isn't a bad thing, means the bodyclock is switching on correctly.
4) I've tried expressing but can only get 1-2ozs, is this a sign that my supply is low? - no, pumps can't empty the breast like a baby sucking and anywhere from 1oz to 4oz per pumping session is the norm.
5) am I failing if I bottle feed at night - no, although if you can give breastmilk it's better. Exhaustion is the big cause of sore nipples as at night you're so desperate to feed & get back to bed. If need be give 20 mins on each boob & a formula top up you are then better prepared to face the day & get him on the breast better to keep your supply going.
6) I don't understand why I can't get this - bf is HARD!! all through history women have struggled hence the wet nurses. Even Egyptian mummies have been found with cracked sore nipples & there is plenty of historical documents depicting mums struggling.
The midwife was so nice, he really put me at ease & made me feel better for not shooting me for giving a bottle. If you're struggling call for support, the mw said I've seen just about every mw they have for my town & the town next to me but they're happy to still come out daily till I'm happy to let them go (might carry on till I've got every mw in buckinghamshire's signature in my notes ) he reckons lack of confidence, exhaustion & sore nipples is the usual cause for bf being given up & that's fine if that's what I decide.
I know that's a lot of waffle, just wanted you to know you're not alone & the irony that I'd just sat & asked him most of the questions you have! Dunno if that helps?
I feel a complete failure... My breasts are unbelievably sore & I know the next feed will be even harder to do on the breast now he's had 2 bottles. I got measured for a nursing bra yesterday & I need a J cup! I seem to stupidly have massive breasts & tiny nipples... Don't know whether to swap to expressing or what I can do to make this work?
Have you still got your mw visiting, can you talk to them & try to get help with the latch? I was told that if you're upset, anxious or tense when trying to feed it can actually stop your milk flowing. The mw yesterday said if I can't get the latch within the first 10 mins then put him down & walk away for a breather, make a cuppa or something. He said no newborn has ever died from crying & once you've calmed you can calm baby & try again.
Still all this advice & I was still in tears this morning. Nipples are sore & now I think I have blocked milk ducts on my most sore side which are agony!! From the advice I've read I need to feed more off this side to unblock them but easier said than done!
Well I persisted this morning and we have managed the feeds since 9am on the breast! Hubby has been really helpful with improving my latch too... So I will just keep persisting. Midwife was meant to come yesterday to check me over including stitches and she didn't show up so don't know if I misunderstood or what happened there. Think I will go to a bf support group next week if I make it til then!! xx
my nipples still get sore from time to time, she is lazy with latching and sometimes i hear her "clicking" (any advice jojo?)
for those with unbearable soreness.. NIPPLE SHIELDS! i was dreading sophie waking and having to feed her in the early days, these absolutely saved my life (and my nipples!) boots own ive found to be the best ones!!
keep at it girls, and well done to you all!!!!
Also so true that At night you're so tired you just don't care about the poor latch, as long as they're on and getting some milk and you can get back to sleep! It's a false economy though. I need to be less lazy at night because I'm sure that's why my nipples are damaged because during the day were getting a good latch most of the time I think.
Hope you're all doing ok though. I second LCs advice to keep calling out the mw / hv for help until you feel confident. They tend to have some quotient they're supposed to meet of breastfeeding mums so they don't mind spending the time! Plus most of them genuinely care. Struggling on when it's not going well without support and physical assistance is really hard and means you're more likely to give up. Xxx