Any advice /thoughts? First timer having problems!

[wishfulthinking1]

Hi all-
Would be really grateful for any advice or ideas with my situation.

PFB is 16 days old- he's utterly divine! The first 13 days of feeding went brilliantly- he's putting on loads of weight- no routine, just feeding on demand, generally about every 2 hours.

Over the last few days he just wants to be at my breast all the time- he's not feeding, think he's just sucking for comfort. Often he'll just sit with his face at my nipple, or just almost kiss the very end of my nipple with no sucking at all- it'd like he just likes to know its there!!

I'm worried that he's not properly feeding- just grazing. He'll occasionally suck DH's finger, but not mine. We tried a dummy today but he screamed blue murder. He just likes to settle at my breast. I wouldn't mind but as he's not feeding he doesn't latch on properly, and it's beginning to affect his latch when he is feeding. I'm also getting really sore. Last night I fed him and then aimed not to let him go on the breast for atleast an hour - I rocked him in my arms and sang him songs- eventually he settled, but it was quite distressing for all concerned as he was so angry and upset- in the end I think he just exhausted himself.

Any advice? I can't keep letting him comfort suck - its getting too painful - but I don't want to give up bf at the first hurdle! Help!
X

[firstimeforeverything]

Ah yes, my first son did this... He fed beautifully, then suddenly wanted to be fed every 30 mins when he was a few weeks old.

Assuming that there is nothing medically wrong with him, my mum's advice was the best - just make him wait 2 hours between feeds, which is essentially what you are already doing. He won't starve, and it won't hurt him to cry a little bit. It seems like the hardest thing on earth to do, but unless he has a will of steel, it should only take a couple of days to resolve the problem. I was really surprised how quickly DS1 reverted back to the 2 hour schedule, I saw improvement within 36 hours.

It is also very important that he doesn't wreck your nipples - that can turn into quite a serious problem that can stop you breastfeeding altogether. It's also better for him to take full feeds rather than just grazing every 30 minutes since he may end up not getting enough of the rich hind milk.

Hope this is helpful!

[BuntyCollocks]

There's a growth spurt just now. In fact, in the first two months you're pretty much always hitting a growth spurt. Don't let him comfort suck as you're describing - he either latches properly or not at all.

Dummies are a learned skill - persevere. Try different types. I had to hold them in (very gently) for both DC until they realised wtf they were. I use the mam ortho ones.

With due respect, I completely disagree with pp advice. He's 16 days old. Don't let him cry. If he wants the breast for comfort, or more likely as he's in a growth spurt and is constantly stimulating your breasts to up his supply, let him. But don't suffer a bad latch. Break it and relatch.

He is tiny. For god sake, a tiny baby shouldn't be 'broken'. This growth spurt should be over in another few days at most.

This is cluster feeding. Excellent for building your supply. Foremilk/hindmilk is an outdated concept. There is no magical switch from one to the other. Indeed, by constantly being at the breast he is getting fattier milk as it is in higher concentration the emptier the breast is.

[firstimeforeverything]

Well I guess that goes to show that sometimes your children thrive despite your parenting, not because of it.... :)

Naturally all advice is offered in the very best faith. This technique helped me gain control when I felt similarly uncertain and my bf only son gained weight steadily from birth, without the usual dip just after birth. It was actually a paediatrician friend who suggested the hindmilk issue since DS started to have explosive green nappies - although was not otherwise ill - and she said this was too much foremilk. It stopped when I changed his his feeds, although that could be coincidental.

I guess the advice being given to mothers about bf is simply not consistent. I am not going to claim to be an authority, and it sounds like WBHV and BC have more experience so I defer to them.