Breastfeeding - Confused!!
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Support
Forum Name: Infant/toddler feeding
Forum Description: From breast/bottle feeding and starting solids, to fussy toddlers, discuss it here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31802
Printed Date: 04 July 2025 at 6:29pm
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Topic: Breastfeeding - Confused!!
Posted By: rachndean
Subject: Breastfeeding - Confused!!
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 8:35pm
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Hey ladies,
So Lilah is almost 6 weeks old, she has been feeding 4 hourly since the day she was born (4 hourly from beginning of feed) and has been sleeping and growing well. In the last 3 weeks she is getting quite upset between feeds, and isnt very good at bringing up her wind. But generally she has been a really good feeder, and sleeps really well. In the last 2 weeks, I am guessing she is hungrier, and is having to have both sides in a feed. As soon as my milk stops flowing freely, she gets frustrated and pulls at my boob. Once that happens on both sides she gets angry and acts like she is still hungry, but she is really tired by then so i cant figure out if she is just wanting to suck cos she is tired, or if she is actually hungry. So pretty much every feed (except for 2am feed as my boobs are full, she only wakes once at night) she is finishing both sides and is still hungry (i think) but I cant for the life of me get her to suck actively enough for more letdown. I guess after all this rambling my question is how do I know if she is still drinking, or if she is just sucking. If anyone can make any sense from this gobbledygook and can offer any other advice that would be great! By the last feed of the day my boobs are in agony and we are giving her EBM from a bottle instead. I didnt manage to BF DS, and I was feeding DD1 6 years ago, so cant really remember details!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
DD Savannah 18.01.04 DS Austin 04.09.08 |
Replies:
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 9:41pm
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just a thought but do you think you might need to feed her more often (like 2-3 hourly) to get yous supply up more? Is she going through a growth spurt?
I only ask this (not to doubt your supply) but because my babies fed heaps more at this age and I think that is why my supply was good...I just wonder if her feeding so infrequently may have resulted in a smaller supply? Just a random thought 
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 10:35pm
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I agree, feed her a little more often during the day, every three hourly. There is a 6 week growth spurt as well. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 10:38pm
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dont forget too that wind sometimes makes them act hungry...but the more they feed the more windy they get. also your breasts dont store the milk the same way after a while. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 10:46pm
Was my first thought too. We generally fed (still do) on wake-up then when she starts getting grizzly she feeds to sleep. And before it's suggested by anyone, no it hasn't created any 'problems' or 'bad habits' 
Up until around 6mths, if she didn't demand a fed, I'd always offer it to her atleast every 2hrs during the day, or 3hours maximum. More feeding during the day can reduce feeding overnight too (not that that was always the case here  )
I'd give it a go for a while, see if it makes any difference in her behaviour. Remember the more you feed, the more your boobies will produce and it shouldn't take too long to see a change (if it isn't something else of course). 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 22 February 2010 at 8:45am
I was going to stick my hand up to agree....and I read somewhere (Elizabeth Pantley) I think...that its only a problem if YOU think it is. I'm starting to wonder if its getting that way now...but too lazy to do anything 
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Mamma2N wrote:Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 22 February 2010 at 9:16am
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I just wanted to add that I found the 6 week growth spurt hard hard work! My nipples hurt, I was so tired I could hardly see straight and she just kept sucking! Even when I knew my boobs were way beyond empty, she kept at it for days
The good news is that once it was over (it lasted about 5 days) things have been pretty easy. She's sleeping longer, which after nearly 2 months of no more than 3 hours sleep in a stretch, to get the occasional 5 hour sleep is bliss!! So do keep at it, it gets easier ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 22 February 2010 at 9:18am
This is my favourite way to get her to sleep too. But I'm hesitant to let it be the norm because she's got to go to daycare at 6 months and I don't want to make that any more stressful for her than it needs to be
Sorry for the threadjack! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: rachndean
Date Posted: 22 February 2010 at 10:01am
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thanks for the advice ladies. my mw told me to try and feed more frequently too, which i tried. but the problem is that she is up for an hour and a half, then asleep for two and a half hours. i tried waking her after an hour and a half but she wouldnt feed properly and just wanted to go back to sleep.
The empty boobs thing seems to be only happening in the late aftenoon/early evening. mw is coming tomorrow so will try talking to her a bit more about it. thanks ------------- http://lilypie.com">
DD Savannah 18.01.04 DS Austin 04.09.08 |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 22 February 2010 at 10:43am
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here is some great info about 'empty boobs". i got it from the kellymom site.
The feeling of fullness (sometimes even engorgement) that nursing mothers notice during the early weeks of breastfeeding is really not the norm at all, but means that mom's breasts haven't yet adjusted to the amount of milk that baby needs. At some point, typically around 6-12 weeks (if a mom has oversupply it may take longer), your milk supply will begin to regulate and your breasts will begin to feel less full, soft, or even empty. You may stop leaking, you may stop feeling let-down (or feel it less), and if you pump you may notice that you're not getting as much milk. This doesn't mean that milk supply has dropped, but that your body has figured out how much milk is being removed from the breast and is no longer making too much. This change may come about gradually or seem rather sudden. Many people are not aware that these breast changes are normal because so many mothers stop breastfeeding early on and never see this change (or mistakenly interpret this change as a sign that milk supply has dried up and wean because of this change). ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 21 March 2010 at 7:59pm
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What if you try expressing when she goes to sleep so it's kind of like you're feeding every 2 hours? Then you've got something to top up with too if she's still hungry.
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