Can someone talk to me about block feeding?

[Jellybellyrbest]

Not sure I'm doing it right. I feed from the same side for approx 2hrs, then swap. Started as DD windy & was soaking through nappies +++. She seems a bit happier though colicky & windy every evening. Difficult to feed in evenings, v squirmy & in lots of pain it seems. Just wondering if She's getting enough hindmilk as her nappies (pooey) not as substantial. Her last feed was 15 mins on R at 12.39. Her next feed started at 14.49 & she's feed for a further 10mins on the R. I always let her detatch herself & she does this after 7/8 mins, has a burp & sometimes a break. Back on usually for a total of 17/18 mins, though it may be a while before she does this. I usually use the same side for a total of up to 25 mins unless she seems frustrated & I then switch/or if 2/2.5 hours have passed & she's still on that side I'll switch. Her feeds generally last an hour/hour and a half but drinking only for that 17/18 up to 20ish mins of that. The rest is winding/crying/dozing/nappies. I offer her the boob frequently but she doesn't comfort suck. She only wants on to drink & if she has wind, will not contemplate sucking. My query is this: mow that it's been since 08.30 that she's fed from my L (& have just popped her on that side) does she not have loads of foremilk now to get through behore she reaches hindmilk? And also; if her feeds last up to 1.5 hours & she has essentially 2 feeds from that side, does the foremilk not build up there again while she's still using it? Sorry if confusing & many thanks for any answers

It is really confusing! Yes you are right that loads of foremilk will build up in the side that you are not using initially, however because you are not using that side for a period of time, your body should get the message to slow down the production a bit. Also because you are staying on one side for longer, you are allowing your baby to more fully empty the breast thus getting more hindmilk. If you keep swapping, your baby does not get chance to empty the breast so well (although they are never truly empty) so they only take the first bit off which is lower fat milk and never reach the really high fat stuff. They need more volume of low fat milk to get the calories they need, the higher the fat content the higher the calories. Consuming such a large quantity gives your boobs the message to produce more quantity thus making it even harder for baby to get the hindmilk. Also because baby has to consume a larger quantity, they end up receiving more lactose, this can irritate the gut and also cause it to empty quicker. The combination of a very full tummy plus an overload of lactose, can leave you with a very uncomfortable, gassy baby with runny sometimes green poo. The boob you are using, will fill up between feeds but shouldn't fill up as much as you are feeding on it closer together(ie 2 feeds in a row, or whatever combination you're doing) therefore baby should be able to reach the richer milk. You need to work out the time block that works for you depending on your supply and your babies appetite, baby needs to be given chance to reach the fattier milk. You will know when you have got it right as babies symptoms will improve. The boob that you are not using will fill up more and signal your body to slow down, so with time,there should be less volume of milk hence less foremilk and your supply should regulate to your babies exact needs! When this happens, you should be able to go back to a more regular nursing pattern. Hope I explained it ok!

Thanks Hunter, that was great!! :-)
Have done so much reading I'm confusing myself & after reading your reply, I feel better. Think it is helping & I'm doing it right. Sleep deprivation now kicking in big time & brain function decreasing steadily & am easily confused!!

this site is really good for all bf questions

I think the whole foremilk/hindmilk thing is a bit of a red herring - its not as big a deal as it was thought to be a few years ago. Saying that though, if you have oversupply (I did when bf both my dds), the first bit is definitely more watery. I could see it changing when expressing.

Basically let them feed on one side, until they come off (unless its just for a quick burp, then back on again). Then wind and switch to the next, at which point they will either go 'mmm there's more, lets go', or refuse it and (theoretically!) go to sleep. Then start on the less full one next time. It can be very confusing in the early days when they are practically never off the boob though.

So if they refuse the second side, you would offer the one last fed on at next feed as that would obviously be emptier? What if they refused the second side again? The other side would be really filling up by now, so the one that you had been feeding on would always be emptier. When would you give a good feed on the other side? I don't follow the usual advice because I have severe oversupply but I am interested in your approach RationalBrain as Am, by instinct not advice,doing something similar, but the fuller one never ends up emptier, so after 12 hrs, I switch and offer her the fuller side to start off on that side. So it is like a 12 hr block on one side but letting her top up on the other one if she wants. I normally only offer the other side when she starts fussing on the emptier one. I am interested in what you have said as I have never heard feeding advised as you have explained but it almost makes sense to me. My babe will not feed on the fuller side unless she has been on the emptier one first even if only for a few sucks!

Doh, I didn't mean the 'less full one', I meant the 'fuller' one. Sorry for any confusion, was trying to type whilst at work.

If you have oversupply, and you wanted to reduce supply, you could try block feeding, which is the approach you mention. But only if you need to reduce supply. Again, kellymom is great for info and tips on this.