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Infant feeding

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

Reassurance/advice needed please

6 replies

MrsP81 · 04/11/2011 18:07

As with all areas of my life I am suffering from some serious self doubt and lack of confidence over breastfeeding so thought I?d post to get it off my chest and ask for reassurance or advice if you think I?m doing something wrong.

DD is 2 and a half weeks old and feeding got off to a bad start after she spent her first night clearing mucus from her system so didn?t fancy eating and couldn?t keep it down when she did. This led to a 9% weight loss by the time she was 3 days old. The MW advised a strict 3 hourly feeding schedule to get back on track, which did the trick (and we went back to demand feeding very quickly) and by day 13 she weighed 4oz more than birth weight. There are also plenty of wet and dirty nappies to contend with!

In the past few days DD?s feeding pattern has changed and we are having far more frequent and short feeds, sometimes only 5 minutes. This is where the doubt has crept in as the MW said that I should avoid feeds of less than 10 minutes as she won?t get any hind milk. Is this true? I?m worried in case I?m starving her, although presumably she wouldn?t settle after a feed if she was still hungry?

Sorry if that?s a bit long. Blush I?d be grateful for your thoughts.

OP posts:
FetchezLaVache · 04/11/2011 18:10

Ignore the MW- what's happened is that DD has got more efficient and can empty your breast in no time at all! I remember feeling really worried when DS started doing the same at about 4 weeks old, but if there are plenty of wet/poopy nappies, she's settling after a feed and gaining weight, that's all fine.

Good work, Mrs!

smileitssunny · 04/11/2011 18:13

Can you keep her on the breast for longer? It could just be a growth spurt...

tiktok · 04/11/2011 18:16

Sorry to hear of that early difficulty, MrsP81.

Once a healthy term baby has reached birthweight within a reasonable time and shows no signs of being ill, there's normally no need to worry about the length of time feeding takes.

Your midwife is quite wrong to say she cannot get the hindmilk - she clearly does not understand that hindmilk availability is not dependent on the clock at all :( You can read more about it at www.kellymom.com.

Short, frequent feeds are absolutely on the normal spectrum - your baby's pattern is fine.

zimm · 04/11/2011 19:42

DD was the same at that age. Used to drive myself timing her and praying she;d get to the magic ten mins....wish I'd ignored that! She went from 50th to 91st centile on her 'short' feeds!

Sossiges · 04/11/2011 19:50

Feeding patterns are always changing, as long as you and DD are happy then you're doing fine.

MrsP81 · 05/11/2011 15:26

Thanks everyone. A bit of reassurance makes all the difference and I am a much more relaxed mummy today. Smile

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