14 week old constantly feeding, what to do...

[mloo]

Friend is breastfeeding her 14 wk old. This is her 3rd baby but first one she has brfed successfully. The baby is plump happy boy, but during the day he feeds 1 hour, off for 45 minutes, wants back on. The mother is finding this very demanding, it's hard to have a life, she says. He has slowly built up to this pattern, his feeds have become more frequent and longer as he gets older. My friend is very tempted to give him solids. I would like to give her advice that would help her continue breastfeeding and hold off on solids until at least 5 months.

I am going to suggest to her that maybe she could try to distract her DS more, get him to feed 45 mins, 1 hour off, 45 min feed, etc. Is there something better she can do?

[Hattie05]

How long has this been going on for? It may just be the famous 'growth spurt' and only last a few days.

But a few things i would do - check he's fully awake - when he first cries before feeding him - change nappy, and give him some attention or a walk around to see if he can be soothed another way - if she holds him facing away from her so that he doesn't immediately start to root. Once satisfied he's definitely hungry - go ahead and feed. Is she sure he's actually taking in milk the whole time? Watch for any changes to his sucking which may mean half way through he's stopped actually drinking.

[lact8]

I'm thinking its a growth spurt too. Does she offer both breasts? I agree with the distraction first as well.

Is she looking after herself as well? Getting plenty to drink?

Is she getting stressed before the feed, anticipating that it's going to be a long one? If she's tensing up she could be stopping the let downs during the feed?

[Moondog]

Well,re solids,point out that weight for weight,lots more calories in b/milk than baby rice or other stuff like that,so it really doesn't make sense.
She is over the hardest bit-the constant sucking now is a supply&demand thing.He sucks to get her body to make more milk.
Urge her to go with it.Things will ease up soon.
[smie]

[mloo]

Thanks for the replies. The way I understand it the baby has slowly been buiilding up to this, it isn't like a sudden growth spurt, it's more relentless than that! I think she's ok with it (not tensing up or having problems with letdown), just finding it a bit too demanding on her time (she has other children to look after).

I'm not sure the fact that breastmilk has more calories will really matter as much as the likelihood that solids (or even formula) might satisfy him for longer, iyswim.

Any other thoughts?

[pupuce]

mloo - what about not feeding him every 45 mins. What if she carries him around and make him wait (distract him)?
Solids are 14 weeks is not a great solution , it's hard on the digestive tract to digest!
As a doula I often find that if I carry the baby when mom thinks he needs a feed again, he won't ask and that's how we build larger gaps. 1hour feed is also incredibly long... imagine sucking for 60 minutes ? That's like a marathon.
At 14 weeks I would actually time the feed (which is NOT something I would suggest for a young baby) and stop him after 20 mins on 1 side... see what he does.... give him other side if he is hungry but again 20 mins max.

[maltesers]

Could she not give the baby some formula as well as the breast just to top him up and keep him going a bit longer ? otherwise sounds like it must be so hard to get out and cope with the other kids. At 14 weeks should the baby be going longer without a feed. That must be relentless !

[Hattie05]

its not really about the hunger, its for comfort, so formula would not help.

[mojomummy]

I was a bit like this with my DD. I would suggest, as he is a plump boy, that he's just doing it for comfort, rather than hunger. if she is having him weighed weekly & he is gaining well, I agree with the distraction you have suggested. I would also try a dummy, sometimes they just want to suck & that will help (suggest a latex nuk dummy a quite nipple like)

I feel for your friend, as it's really hard work.

I went on to 3 hourly, then a within a couple of days, 4hourly feeds at around 16 weeks. My life really did feel transformed & dd, who was always quite light, gained a little extra as she was geting the hind milk rather than the fore milk from constant snacking. We went onto solids at 24 weeks then. She did wake up in the nights though, had a feed & then straight back to sleep.

Good luck.

[suzi2]

Assuming the baby is well, I would say that he may just like suckling! If the swallowing slows down a lot and he's flutter sucking I would suggest using a dummy or distraction as he is doing it for comfort rather than food.

[browniegirl]

If he is a plump and gaing weight I would also say is comfort feeding however has she checked his attatchment, he may only be getting formilk which isn't as filling as the hind milk which is full of protein. Not a nice subject but has he got yellow poo this is a good indication that he is getting the hind milk. Try and seek some advice from your health visitor or ask her about the local la leche group they can offer valuable advice. tell her to try and not to give up I know it's hard. I myself am doing a breast feeding peer counsellor course voluntarily so if I can be of furthur help let me know. I breast fed my first for 2 years and my son is ten months and feeds well, so I do have alittle experience.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Agree he could be comfort sucking. But, in the scheme of things, its not so terrible. (i can say that - ive been there lol) It wont last. You can try distraction to stretch out the feeds.

I would also say that the Dept of health and the WHO recommend not starting solids before 6 months. There is also less calories in solids than in milk so it wouldnt really fix it.

I would suggest your friend try and get someone to give her a break for a couple of hours in the day to comfort her LO but just feed as and when. It WILL settle.