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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

how can I get dd to take more?

3 replies

ElphabaThropp · 18/08/2010 22:31

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone know how to get a bf baby to take more milk at a feed? She used to feed for 30-40 mins but the last week just keeps stopping often just lying with my nipple in her mouth gazing about. At her 8 week Drs app today they said she had only gained 1oz in the last week. They're not worried as she is still in the 50th centile whatever that means, but I haven't stopped crying since I got back as we've had a rocky time with the bf'ing and any worries about her weight tend to knock me into a cocked hat. How can I get her to take more? Or am I maybe not producing enough? Any advice gratefully received!!!!

OP posts:
MollysChambers · 18/08/2010 22:37

Please don't allow the baby weight police to upset you. Neither of my two youngest gained weight quickly enough to remain on their birth centile. Both did gain weight - just more slowly. Both perfectly healthy, thriving, contented babies.

Don't stop breast feeding over this. Your baby will let you know if she's not getting enough.

MollysChambers · 18/08/2010 22:39

I'll rephrase - She'll let you know if she's hungry. Breastfeeding is supply and demand - you will produce enough to satisfy her. Keep your chin up. You're doing great.

Ballpoint · 18/08/2010 23:01

At about 8 weeks she's starting to become a little more aware of what's going on about her so she's having a look, it's a good thing, it's showing all that glorious breastmilk is doing what's supposed to; giving her superior brain function Smile

Babies go through stages where they will take lots and lots of milk and will put on ounces and ounces and other times they'll have periods where they take just what they need and will only put on so much. So long as she is content and seems satisfied with what she's taking and she is well hydrated then she is having enough and therefore you are producing enough. It's a very efficient system of supply and demand, you will make what she needs.

Don't worry about percentiles and whether she drops down one at one weighing session or goes up one at another, one weight measurement means nothing when taken on it's own.

In new red books, as of from (I think) June 2009, the percentile charts are made up of measurements of 100 healthy, exclusively breastfed, babies worldwide(in the old books they used to be made up from measurements of formula fed babies in Britain). All of the measurements are of babies who are a healthy weight, whether they're on the bottom or the top of the chart they are healthy weights.

Take cues from your baby as to what she needs, have lots of skin to skin cuddles to help stimulate the right hormones to get your milk flowing. Feed her often, offer the breast lots and let her feed for however long she wants and then offer the other breast too but if she doesn't want it don't force her, she will get upset and then so will you. It's a very natural process so be natural about it and give her what she wants when she wants it.

Do you have a support group, bfing cafe type of thing near you? You'd probably find it helpful to go along and meet other bfing mums to share experiences. Ask your 0-19 team or in your local childrens centre about one.

No need for tears, you sound like your doing fine Smile

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