Baby's feeding reduced, looking for reassurance please?!!!

[CollieandPup]

Hi. As I said I'm looking for reassurace /advice please. My ds is 3 weeks 2 days old and I've been ebf. We had a few hiccups in the begining with a poor latch and cracked nipple on one side but by 2 weeks we were doing well and he'd got back up to his birth weight after less than 2 weeks.

However, ds has got a lot of mucus stuck in his airways- docs are certain it's not a cold and is just mucus-, but it's effecting his breathing considerably and as a result his sleeping and feeding. He also has thrush of the mouth which we are both treating with creams. I've noticed a significant change in his feeding over the past week. He was feeding for roughly 3-3 1/2hours a day for approx 15-20 min feeds, but he's now only feeding for 2 - 2 1/2 hours a day with feeds typically lasting a measly 7-8 mins each. If I'm lucky I get a 15 min feed. I've tried all sorts to encourage him to re-latch. Winding him, changing his nappy and changing sides. With varying success.

The number of nappies he goes through has also dropped the past few days. we normaIly go though 12-15 in a day with 2/3 pooy ones. But yesterday for example (tues) we only had 8 with 5 being pooy.

So, my question is should I be worried about this drop? And by the fact his feeds are do short? - inparticular the very short 7/8 min ones (and he's just finished one!) Do you think think his drop it time on the breast is natural and a coincidence or a direct result of him not being well?

I should probably add that I went to a local bf group yesterday where they didn't seem overly concerned and I had him weighed and he's gone from 8lb 11 to 10lb 2 in 11 days, so technically I know I shouldn't be worrying, but I just can't help it.

Hi there, I'm certainly no expert but my Lo did this too and I was told it was normal as he was just getting more efficient at feeding.... x

The number of nappies you're getting is well within normal expectations, and the drop in feeds is likely to be normal settling down into a good feeding pattern as well. As his growth is good all sounds perfect.

However, as you've got thrush the only proviso I'd say to keep on eye on whether it's making his mouth sore. What creams are you using?

Thanks both. carrotcake he's got daktarin gel and I've got cream. We've been using it for a week but it's no better and my beast is actually getting more painful after and during feeds. How do I tell if ds is in pain?

Feeds yesterday were fewer but slightly longer at 10-15 mins long, but only a couple of ones under 10 mins. But the amount of time on th breast in the day overall is still the same, just fewer feeds.