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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

6wo, short feeds - is this a problem?

15 replies

BabCNesbitt · 12/12/2011 17:36

DD has always fed for very short times - usually 5 minutes max, with the occasional mammoth 10 minute feed. Sometimes she'll just fall asleep and won't wake up again, but more often than not she'll either pull away with a grunt after lots of wriggling and refuse to go back on, or start 'nibbling' (then her latch will go wonky and it starts to nip!) She's put on a couple of pounds since she was born, so it doesn't seem to be affecting her so far, but she does wind up wanting to feed every hour or half hour during the day. At night she'll fall asleep after two or three minutes and seem to be done, then as soon as she's put down, she'll start rooting again and the whole thing will start again. I'm sitting up for an hour at a time, waiting for her to wake back up, and I'm bloody knackered! And every time I go to get her weighed, I'm convinced that she'll have fallen right down the scale. Is this type of feeding a problem? Does it suggest that my latch is buggered?

(Also, if anyone has any suggestions as to how to move on from the cradle hold and holding the boob with one hand, I'd be very grateful - at the moment I'm basically pinned to the sofa with no hands free for half the day!)

OP posts:

YougreatChristmaspudding · 12/12/2011 17:39

My DD1 never fed for more than 5 minutes at a time and was occasionally putting on a lb a week Her latch was fine and we had lots of wet and dirty nappies. My MW said it wasn't a problem as this was how she has always fed.

lilham · 12/12/2011 19:09

Is she gaining weight ok? Have lots of wet nappies. Take her to the HV more often for weighing if it worries you?
My DD has always been fast. I remember pulling all tricks to keep her sucking till 10 min! She was a very sleepy thing in the early days. Just have a quick feed then sleep then a quick feed. I was very worried because everyone else are doing 40min mammouth ones! I stopped worrying eventually ofc.

lilham · 12/12/2011 19:12

Oh and try a sling to help her sleep longer. Newborns really doesn't like to be put down. And you will learn to do it one handed eventually. I do cradle hold one handed. And I can even walk around holding DD one handed. It helps ofc she's 8mo and can hold her own head.

smilingcl · 12/12/2011 19:41

If her poo is yellow it's probably all right! Apparently too much fore milk results in green poo, check out her nappies!

Are there any breastfeeding groups you can go to, I've been attending any I can get too, I like them for moral support and hints and tricks, at the last one, the lady showed me how to support the baby one handed and free up a cup of tea/remote control hand. Basically in the cradle, support the bottom of their head and upper body with your arm/hand, use a pillow to support their lower body. Their head can be quite free to move, I was focussing too much on keeping his head still so he didn't pull on my nipple but didn't realise that holding his shoulders close to me did the same thing.

smilingcl · 12/12/2011 19:42

If her poo is yellow it's probably all right! Apparently too much fore milk results in green poo, check out her nappies!

smilingcl · 12/12/2011 19:42

oops.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 12/12/2011 19:44

no problem if she's gaining weight with lots of wet and dirty nappies
i have had 2 giant babies who only ever fed for 5-10mins. they gained weight like there was no tomorrow. I was sooo worried about this with dd1, but with dd2 i just figured my babies are super-efficient feeders.

ReadingTeaLeaves · 12/12/2011 22:59

Both my DCs have only ever fed for 10 minutes at a time. Took longer to sleep through than friend's DCs (but nothing ludicrous - 7 mo for DC1, DC2 is only 2mo so not nearly there yet!) but otherwise no signs that it had any negative effects (and of course the two things may not be related at all). I was constantly paranoid with DC1 that he wasn't getting enough because the books all say they should be feeding for 40-60 mins but weigh-ins suggested others. With DC2 I'm less paranoid although I do still find myself constantly shoving boob in her face trying to convince her to have a bit more (and she looks at me in a similar way to how my toddler does when I try to get him to have one more bite of broccoli....in fact thinking about it that may be where he gets it from too!!). Some babies just feed quicker than others. And from talking to friends, babies that seem to take an hour to feed are often dozing off for a good chunk of that time, relaxing and then waking up a bit more for an extra suck. Your DC is probably just much more efficient.

BroomBuBuBum · 12/12/2011 23:05

My DD fed like this and tbh it panicked me so much I ended up giving up bf at 10 weeks (after hv said I should) but she does exactly the same thing with a bottle. She is just not a very big eater. But she seems happy and healthy and I've finally decided to stop worrying about it now that she is 5 months old.

Try not to worry too much. Trust our instincts too, wish I'd of sooner.

Debs75 · 12/12/2011 23:12

Are you letting her finish a full feed before taking her off?
It could be your latch, most problems are due to latch. Can you see a breastfeeding counsellor for more advice.

As for the cradle hold. I did this with all my dc's and yes it does get a bit mnotomous(sp) I spent 4 hours on christmas day last year with dc4 as she was feeding then sleeping and would not be put down. Have you tried feeding lying down?

Original poster

BabCNesbitt · 13/12/2011 12:32

Thanks for all the reassurance that short feeding isn't necessarily bad! TBH I'm not sure I'd know what a full feed looked like - she either pulls off all at once, or she nibbles and I have to stop her before she destroys my tit. (I do offer the breast again if I do that, but she usually isn't interested.) I suspect it probably is a latch issue - she had a tongue tie cut at three weeks, and a week after that I had the most horrendous blistered nipples again. Better now, but you're right, I should probably get to a bf clinic (though getting to one before Xmas will be a challenge!)

(I try to feed lying down at night - sometimes it works, sometimes she just gets very frustrated and screams - but the pain it causes to my neck and shoulder puts me off trying too often!)

OP posts:

loopydoo · 13/12/2011 12:43

Try making sure she goes back to the same breast if she's only feeding for 5 mins max; that way, she'll be getting fattier milk (there is still some fattier milk in the thirst quenching milk too but not as much)and will hopefully sleep for a bit longer between feeds - although feeding a newborn on demand, means just that! .

I really do suggest going to a BfN or La leche group or calling a telephone supporter to get good help.

lilham · 13/12/2011 18:35

I think it's wise to get observed again, given there was a problem with TT and cracked nipples. Babies who are Fast feeders are also very efficient at removing milk. You would to make sure yours is one if she's feeding short.

I wouldnt use the 5min rule because mine genuinely deflated a full breast in that time. Does your breast feel soft after a feed? Does your baby come off looking satisfied ever? Mine used to have that drunken milk coma look. Very very sweet looking (I miss it because she doesn't fall asleep on breast anymore).

loopydoo · 14/12/2011 10:07

Thing about the 5 min rule though lilham is that because the baby had been tongue ties, it's possible that there is still a problem with tie and that the baby is coming off all the time as she's finding it hard to remain latched on.

The fact that the baby keeps pulling off rather than settling for a full 5 mins, it that there is a problem with either attachment or she's in pain/uncomfortable.

Because you had blistered nipples after her tt was snipped, I'd suggest she's not correctly attaching still; see if you can get to a BfN or La Leche group and ask if a peer supporter can watch you feed.

It may be that she needs a second snip to re-correct it if it wasn't properly detached after the first go.

MigGril · 14/12/2011 10:28

I'd also suggest you get her tounge checked again, if you have had problems after the snip it could just be latch or TT can regrow so it's worth having it double checked.

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