Can someone please talk me through breast compressions??

[hodgiebreeder]

Hi all!

DS is ebf, 6 weeks and not putting on much weight if at all. I have stepped up the feeds to every 2 hours (with some expressing in between if I can find a spare second/the inclination!) and latch I think is fine as I have no pain/sore nipples.

Someone suggested breast compression might be useful to encourage DS to empty the breast? He does tend to either fall asleep (but is this such a bad thing at bed time?) or suck very lightly after a few minutes which I'm presuming is just comfort sucking rather than actual effective feeding. I have googled breast compression but it doesn't seem to make much sense so I thought I'd turn to the knowledge of mumsnet! Can anyone talk me through or share their experiences? TIA xxx

Information from Dr Jack Newman Here and .

Are you offering both breasts at a feed? You can also switch between a third, fourth or fifth side which will ensure maximum milk intake.

Has anyone expressed concern about the slow weight gain and what kind of average gain are you getting?

Hi badger thanks for the links.

Yes I offer both breasts at a feed and sometimes a third or fourth if he still won't settle. Yes, the HV has expressed concern but is happy with me just upping the feeds for now. He wad 75th centile at birth and is now hovering around the 25th. Next weigh in is tomorrow and I'm really hoping for a decent gain. Am really just trying to knock this on the head before it becomes a serious problem and they start mentioning formula top ups and referrals to the paed.

When you say he's fallen through the centimes and not putting on much weight, what are we talking? If he was a 75th centile baby, but now happily tracking the 25th centile could it be 'catch down' growth (nct sheet here? Or is he dropping and dropping?

IME HV's can get fixated on babies remaining on their birth centile. Whilst falling can obviously be a cause for concern, on it's own it is not a full picture of anything.

Also, could you get to a breastfeeding group to get your latch double checked? A good mouth position doesn't necessarily mean effective milk transfer. Kellymom probably has some stuff on that?

hodgie, how did the weigh in go?