7 wo very short feedings

[Suchanamateur]

My DD has never been a slow feeder but in the last few days, she seems to latch on for only a few minutes at a time before coming off and then although she opens her mouth as if to latch on, she won't actually do - and then starts fussing. Tried winding (she is v difficult to wind) but that doesn't seem to do it.

She's also a bit congested (perils of a toddler brother) a could that be the cause?

She feeds fairly frequently (and very frequently at night) but these short feeds can't be filling her up, can they? It's fairly dispiriting especially since she spits up a lot too. I really wanted bfing to be smoother this time round :(

Hello, just thought I'd respond to this as it sounds so similar to what I went through with DS at about the same age. I completely understand the feeling of frustration/worry. I don't have much advice, especially as I only have DS, and you already have a toddler, so probably know much more than me. I find that back rubbing can work to encourage more feeding, and sometimes I find I need to lie down on my bed to feed, even if there's no intention of a nap. As DS has got older, I find that refusal to feed for more than a minute or so is usually about tiredness. I often find that if I pop his dummy in his mouth, let him have a suck for a bit and then hold him to my breast, he is then interested in feeding again. DS has always been a very "efficient feeder" (in the words of a very lovely HV), and the key thing to focus on is weight gain.
I have also found that as DS has got older and more interested in playing / doing other things, I've been leaving it longer between feeds so that he is hungrier when it gets to feeding time. Sorry to not have anything much more constructive to offer, just wanted to express sympathy.

Thanks mammahippo - may be second time around but still don't have a clue. Will focus on weight and hope this is just a phase. Could well be tiredness too given how poorly she sleeps at night. Has reduced me to years today but suspect that's also due to her night sleep- and mine! Unfortunately she wit take a dummy.

such I an experiencing exactly the same thing! My dd is 6 weeks old, and I also have a toddler.

Dd is feeding every couple of hours and seems quite content afterwards and is putting on weight nicely. The feeds are short too, but the flow is quite fast, so I'm wondering if she takes quite a lot of milk in a relatively short time?? I also wonder if the fast flow (especially at the start) is causing her to fuss and spit up, sometimes projectile.

Really sorry, no advice but you have my sympathy. Watching with interest!

Hi notjust! I've wondered about fast flow too as I can hear her gulping madly when I get a let down. We don't get projectile thankfully buy I'm fairly sure her spitting up is partly what caused such frequent night wakes

Hi notjust! I've wondered about fast flow too as I can hear her gulping madly when I get a let down. We don't get projectile thankfully buy I'm fairly sure her spitting up is partly what causes such frequent night wakes

I read a tip on Kellymom which suggested catching the initial flow in a muslin and then letting baby latch on, so they don't get the full force at the start! Poor dd, it can't be nice getting squirted in the eye every time you're peckish!

Hopefully someone else will be along who can advise us both ... :)