When is breast feeding classed as established?

[dribbleface]

Hi,

Background - DS2 (7 weeks) feeds not as frequently as a little on should, i have offered him the breast everytime i see hungry signs but he just gets very cross and upset if i try to feed him more than every 3 - 3 1/2 hours. He also goes a long time at night and i know this is really detrimental to supply. He has been like this from a few weeks, but apart from a slight blip has gained 6-8oz a week and is very content (unless i dare to offer the breast when he doesn't want it!).

So when can you say its established? Will the gaps still effect supply at this point to that extent?

Also if i wanted to give an expressed bottle (have done this but always expressed at that feed), say when i was out and didn't express at that feed, would that be a no no at this point? I struggle to feed when out as he gets very upset if i move/talk etc (fussy feeder or what!)

Thanks.

Hi As a mother of twins who I breastfed until they were one, I think you are doing a sterling job. Your baby is obviously flourishing and is gaining well each week so give yourself a pat on the back. There is no set rhythm to breastfeeding and there will be times when he wants to feed more and less. If he is hungry he willl latch on quickly. If not just leave it. When my mum had me the babies were forced into a four hourly feed pattern which conveniently meant that all young mothers were co-ordinated with offspring and could meet up for daily chats. Babies who cried in between were left in coach prams outside to sleep! Best advice I can give you is: Do what feels natural because no-one understands your baby better than you. All the best!

Mootee thanks, i think your right i need to trust myself a bit more. He'll latch on if i offer but it seems like he's trying to comfort suck and then get's upset that milk comes out! Will keep on going and see where we end up, not much i can do if he won't feed more often. Will take one day at a time. Thanks again.

I would you're headed into established territory now. My babies both drastically reduced the length of each feed (though not the number if feeds) at about 6/7 weeks, so it may be that your baby just doesnt need as many feeds now. I would follow his lead, offering every time you think he looks hungry/upset/sleepy/like he might accept a feed, but don't worry if he doesn't want it for a few hours.

I would also think it would be fine to leave an expressed bottle if you'd like to go to sleep out for a few hours. You'll probably be full to popping by the time you get back, but you could then feed/express and I think you'll soon get back into rhythm with your baby. I'm not sure I'd replace a regular feed every day unless you're happy to stick with that arrangement.

If you think he wants to comfort suck but is frustrated by the milk, would you consider a dummy? Don't use it to avoid feeding, but sometime it can calm them down enough to feed properly.

As you said, just take it one feed at a time. Things are going really well if he's gaining weight, so it's just a case if the two of you and maybe MN finding a way through these early weeks

Good luck and well done!

happyasasandboy He does have a dummy, and you right sometimes i pop that in and then swap to the breast when he's settled, occasionally works. mn has been a godsend there last few week, wouldn't have got this far without it! wish I'd found it last time. thanks for the help.