You'd expect a baby to gain less weight with a cold, right?

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

DS2 is 7 wks. He's been very blocked and snuffly for over a week. I feed him every time he squeaks but I could tell he'd been taking less as I was getting a bit engorged at times. Had him weighed and his gain over the last two weeks is about half of what it had been previously. I presume that as soon as he clears his nose, he'll start taking more again, but how is this affecting my supply? Do I just sit tight and feed to his appetite and trust that the milk will be brought up to the level of his hunger, or should I be pumping a bit?

He's still snuffly now after a week and a half. HV and GP pretty dismissive - no point in trying steamy rooms etc, as it won't really work, and he's still putting on weight and is alert, so they're not worried.

Sorry, what I should have said is that he gained 10 oz over two weeks, during which he's has this cold, so not a paltry amount, but in previous weeks he was putting on anything between 8 and 11 oz a week! So basically half normal gain. I really am a bit concerned my milk has gone down during his illness.

Ah, poor thing! But you are right - trust your DS and your boobs!

Is he being a bit more sick than usual? Because they can't blow their noses they tend to swallow the snot and then sick it up. He'll take what he needs, when he needs it, and so long as he is feeding, don't worry - you can always gently push his nose away from your boob to open the airway when he's feeding, as my boobs used to smother DS!

As for you, your boobs will adjust, don't worry, and they will produce what he needs, I promise. Expressing will make them produce more, but if you are really uncomfy, just squeeze a few drops out when you have a shower/bath, just to ease that 'tight' feeling.

HTH!

x

you could try some saline drops or spray before a feed and see if that helps clear his nose and help him feed better

Reshape - weighing babies more often than monthly after they have reached their birthweight is poor practice, and one of the reasons is because it creates this needless anxiety!

Just feed him responsively and you will make sufficient milk for him. His cold might have affected his weight gain, but this does not matter.

Babies do not continue to gain 8-11 ounces a week - you expect a slowing down at some point (do the maths :) ) .

Oh I know about the weighing - I am going to stop going more than once every 3 or 4 weeks now, unless he gives me cause for concern. Good to know that I don't need to faff about with pumping - my instinct (and what's left of my common sense) told me not to mess with things.

Honestly, I do NOT know why I'm so paranoid with this baby. DS1 - we were fine. Had no real problems with breastfeeding and he never, ever refused a nipple, ever. DS2 is a lot more complex in his feeding needs and tastes - he isn't always up for boob, is not shy to say when he's had enough, and he also objects to initial let-down gushing in a way that DS1 did not. He feeds really fast too - I know he's getting enough because he's gaining, he's happy much of the time, wet nappies etc, but it's so different from the experience with DS1, who was a very, ahem, leisurely feeder!

Obviously they are different people with different preferences and personalities, but I'm quite shocked at how often I have to remind myself of that, and at how I just presumed life with DS2 would be just the same as with DS1.