BF question - How do you know?
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Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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Topic: BF question - How do you know?
Posted By: KiwiL
Subject: BF question - How do you know?
Date Posted: 12 December 2008 at 9:09pm
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You'd think I would know by now, but I am still confused!
How do you know when bubs has drained a breast? Jackson and I have had a ton of feeding issues, and I keep persevering. He's now on a reflux med and feedings are now a lot more focused and calm, which I am pleased about. He's always been a fairly efficient feeder and I have a fast let down. But over the last few days he has been feeding 4 - 5 mins on one side and then wanting the other side. I squeeze the side he is on and no milk comes out. Surely he can't be draining the breast that quickly? Often a few mins later I can squeeze a squirt, but could that be new milk being produced? I am small breasted, so have never really been able to tell just by feeling my boobs (unless they're really full, like overnight). They don't really feel different after J has fed for 5 mins than they do at the beginning. But surely he should be able to get more out of them? Is he being lazy and should I persist with that side? After he's had 5 min on both sides, he is done, so is it ok not to force the issue re draining? I am asking because I am also a bit worried about my supply. I just don't seem to have much milk at the moment, and tonight it took forever to get a letdown, and this was a good couple of hours after our last feed. |
Replies:
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 12 December 2008 at 9:11pm
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God, just reread that - sorry for so many rambling questions!!!!
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Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 12 December 2008 at 10:11pm
The short answer is, you don't know  I'm small breasted too and by the time the evening rolls around I need to switch feed - that is, give him one side, switch to the other, switch back etc. If he's having an especially hungry day I'll sometimes jump in the shower with him so I can feed him from one side and keep the water running over the other side, which helps simulate the milk production.
They should feel different after he's fed though - I can only tell by coming in from the side IYGWIM. I had a bit of a panic when JJ was about 12 weeks old, because I had really fast letdown and it had taken a while for us both to work around that, but my supply naturally settled down around then so my letdown slowed. JJ got all frustrated with me then cos he didn't think it was fast enough any more. Your poor boobs, they just can't win! Anyway because I was stressing out about not having enough milk I was all tense when I was trying to feed and sometimes it would take AGES for my letdown to happen because of that. I looked up good old kellymom and did a bit of visualisation and cueing etc and that helped. Now I'm a lot more relaxed I don't seem to have that problem any more (and if it's taking longer than usual I just go shhhhhh and out it comes!). Here's the article I found so helpful: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppbreastfeed/?msg=10852.2 - link and the referring article at kellymom is http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/letdown.html - here ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 12 December 2008 at 10:17pm
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Thanks Weegee. I was just panicked as it had never happened before and I was sure they were empty but couldn't understand how they could be empty!!!
I think what happened to you is what is happening to me. My letdown seems slower and Jackson is gulping less, therefore I worry he is getting less milk. Thanks so much for the links! |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 12 December 2008 at 10:19pm
| Interesting about the letdown "stimulus". When it happened I was trying to feed on the bed upstairs and I wondered if I should go down to the couch and my pillow to see if that would help! |
Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 13 December 2008 at 2:06am
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It may also be that your little man is becoming a more efficient feeder.
After the first few months of marathon feeding sessions with Samantha, she could drain a side in 4-5 minutes no problems at all. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 13 December 2008 at 9:59am
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Your milk will be more nutrients and fat, and less watery stuff than when he was born, so I think 5 mins a side is fine. Go ahead and offer him the second side. But then when you do the next feed, start on the 2nd side and then offer the 1st side again. Hopefully that makes sense... it will help keep your milk production even. -------------  |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 13 December 2008 at 10:21am
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Thanks guys.
Anyone else find their babies only feeding a few mins a side at this age? I am trying to normalise the behaviour. I wouldn't worry, but his weight gain is still slow so I keep trying to get him to eat more. I'd love to know if the battles are unnecessary! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 13 December 2008 at 11:43am
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Lil miss only ever feeds for 5 mins a side. I feed her off one side per feed so she has 5 mins, then a change/play etc. then I put her back on the same side. Sometimes at her 7pm feed after she's been cluster feeding I have to put her on the other side to top her up before she goes down for the night. I can usually tell if the milk has stopped coz she keeps sucking strongly but not swallowing. If she does that I stick her on the other side and she usually feeds there for a couple of minutes.
It's hard tho coz a lot of times when she does that I can squeeze my nipple and milk squirts out and it looks like there is heaps there yet she is fussing like there isn't any and happily takes the other side. I think she just gets lazy, when the flow slows down she doesn't want to work harder to get it. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 13 December 2008 at 11:50am
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Emma, I think that is exactly like Jackson. I am pretty sure there is more there but he can't be bothered working for it. I keep putting him on that side, cos I am worried that if I don't I'll start to have supply issues. But it has just been making him mad and affecting the happiness of our feeding.
Think I might experiment this week with just letting him switch when he wants to and see what happens. |
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 13 December 2008 at 1:03pm
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Yup< Joel feeds really quickly now, its seems he can't possibly have enough but he is happy and gaining weight (not that i've weighed him for a while, just going on the fact he is in 6-9month body suits now!!) -------------  
 
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