Hind milk, fore milk, wind and green poo!

[Cydonia]

Sorry if this has been done before but just got back from baby clinic and a bit confused! DS is 4 weeks, breast fed and gaining weight well. Yesterday and today he's had green poo. I mentioned it to HV who asked if he also suffers with wind or colic ( he does ). She said to make sure he finishes feeding on one side before switching to the other, so he gets the hind milk as too much foremilk can make wind worse.

Usually DS will feed for about 15 mins then fall asleep or take himself off. I would class that as him being finished with that side. Sometimes about 10 mins later he might show hunger signs again so I offer the other breast which he might only feed off for 5 mins.

My confusion lies in when to swap sides - HV said if he's fed on one side but only for about 15 mins offer the same side next time. I remember one of the MW in hospital saying a similar thing, if it's less than an hour since last feed offer the same side. But... what if it's more than an hour? He will usually feed then not need more for another couple of hours.

Have read up a little on fore and hind milk but nowhere tells you how long on one side is long enough and when to swap to the other side. I thought I was doing it right, but anything I can to do reduce the wind and the colic episodes I will! Anyone had any similar problems and have any advice?

I had this as i had a terrible over supply so produced too much foremilk. I found block feeding worked for me so you could give that a go. Block feeding is when you feed from one breast for more then one feed. I used one for feeds for a few hours and then swapped to the other for a few hours, i think some people do longer.

I really don't think that there is a set time as everyone's supply is differant.

Cydonia I'm not trained so could be talking out of my ever increasing arse but I thought that the hind/foremilk balance thing was a bit of a myth. As it was a HV who advised you, and sadly not all HCP are well informed in bfing issues, it might be worth speaking to a BFC and check this advice out. Have you got the helpline numbers?

I too would think that if he's come off after 15 mins and fallen asleep he's finished that side, but like Roar says, you might want to pop him back on that side for his next feed.

There is some good information on Kellymom on green poo and on colic here.

Thanks, have had a look at the kellymom website, doesn't sound like over supply going off the symptoms on there. I also read that the fore/hind milk thing was a myth, it's hard enough knowing what to do without conflicting advice from different HCP! We have a local bf helpline so might give them a ring too. In the meantime I think I'll just go with my instincts!

Good for you (going with your instincts).

It would indeed be luvverly if HCP's all sang from the same hymn sheet, but alas that's not the case. The fore/hindmilk thing causes no end of angst for nursing mothers and is mostly a pile of old bobbins! There's no magic switch point where fore changes to hind. Green poos are ok, in the grand scheme of things, they can be caused by colds, teething, tummy upsets, and they can just be green poos for no particular reason!

Frequent feeding from both breasts is the surest way to get all the best fats etc from your milk. The longer the milk stays in the breast, the more the fat clings to the ducts, (gawd I'm blinding myself with science here, bear with me) so switching does help in that regard. However, if your baby is happy, alert, doing plenty of wet & dirty nappies (whatever colour they may be!) then yes, go with your gut.

If you feel strongly enough about it, it might be worth a note to your local NHS trust about the HV peddling dodgy info, by the way. I've made a real nuisance of myself about similar things!

It's definitely a myth! And it sounds to me as if your HV has been unhelpfully confusing.

I'm not an expert but have fed two DC until they were over 1 so here's what I think:

(1) There are a myriad of possible causes for green poo. Don't spend time worrying about it if your DC is well and happy.

(2) It isn't an exact science but I always worked on the 1 feed equals 1 boob equation. Unless of course it was one of those massive all day-ers (they certainly felt like that) when I'd just switch round at will!

I made a decision about which boob to use based on which felt and looked fullest. If it was about to blow, that was the one! Usually worked out as alternate feeds.

Probably totally unscientific but there you go. To me it sounds like you're doing fine and the HV has rocked that a bit. Just do what you were doing, sounds great and well done you!