Can my 5w old really be getting a proper feed in so little time ... advice please ..

[Millie1]

Hi ... this is my second time round b/feeding and I feel like I've gone from one extreme to another with types of feeders. DS1 used to take forever and a day to feed and gained weight very slowly.

DS2 who will be 5w tomorrow is a great feeder, usually finishing a feed within about 10 mins. When I last had him weighed, a week ago, he had gained 19oz in 12 days so doing pretty well there.

However, a few days ago he started to get really colicky. My milk flow seems to be really fast and at times he has difficulty keeping up, you can hear it hitting the back of his throat and his tummy. Am trying Infacol and it does seem to be helping with the wind element. When the colic started, he started to reduce the length of his feeds - for a day or two, most feeds lasted only 2/3 minutes. Now his feeds are up to about 5/6 minutes. He comes off, I burp him and offer him the breast again but he simply isn't interested. At this stage, the milk is still pouring from my breast and I just don't understand how he could be getting sufficient hindmilk (if any) in such a short space of time.

I've tried different positions - cross cradle which he used to feed no problem ... now when I try that, 8/10 times he fights the breast and cries; sitting up facing me which works quite well but it's hard to get a comfy position for both of us; or lying down which we do during the night and I've no idea how long those feeds last cos I usually fall asleep!! He feeds every 2/3 hours during the day. Night-times are probably the same, and usually settles and sleeps between feeds.

BTW, his tummy gurlges a lot when feeding - is this normal?

Nappies haven't changed much since his feeding pattern has - still plenty of wets although come to think of it maybe fewer dirties but we're starting to get those lovely 'blow-outs' as I call them. His dirty nappies are a good yellow colour and not green.

Should I be expressing some milk before he feeds so as he gets to the hindmilk a bit faster?

Please, please, does anyone have any advice - or reassurance that he's just become an even more efficient feeder and is getting enough nourishment.

I had a similar problem in that my milk let -down happened very quickly and was very fast. You could try expressing off some milk. I also alternated breasts during the day, but from 5pm on I put my ds on the same breast for 2 feeds. He seemed to feed more at night and really I think he was taking a feed in 2 instalments! When I started doing this, I found he slept a bit longer. Maybe it was just coincidence, but worth a try! I also felt better, because I knew he was getting hindmilk. My ds was a very quick feeder from about 6 weeks (and also colicky - related?) but he consistently gained weight and had more than doubled his birth weight by 6 months. I bfd him till he was 7 months and, latterly, he would feed for about 5 minutes maximum. We tried cranial osteopathy for the colic (and some other problems) and it definitely helped. This mothering stuff is so stressful sometimes!!

If he's gaining weight fast and being contented for two - three hours between feeds then he's getting enough nourishment full stop. Lucky you! the superflow should settle down quite soon - I was a bit like you at that stage - I mean I tended to gush, but ds was a much slower feeder than yours - and would stay on all day if I didn't take him off. There's no problem and I think you should relax.

BTW there is no fixed amount of foremilk and hindmilk, milk just gets creamier (not more nourishing) as the feed progreses. You son sounds likes he's getting plenty of calories and satisfaction so all is well IMO.

DD fed in 7 mins from birth and by a few weeks old it was 5 mins.... she was absolutely fine. AT teh end she fed in 2 mins!
Don't worry about hindmilk/foremilk balance at this stage your body WILL regulate ! If he isn't hungry after 5 mins... then he isn't hungry. get him weighted again if you are at all worried.

Millie, try sticking to one side for several hours at a time. You are probably a very generous producer. One sided feeding - so you only use one breast every six hours or even more - seems to help situations like this, and keeps babies happier. You will need to gently hand express (a little) for comfort on the unused side at first. If this works it will work in about 2-3 days if you stick at it. Let us know what happens!

DD (my 2nd baby) was another 5-minute feeder. Stayed on for a massive 20 minutes at bedtime. She grew fine. As soon as she discovered solids she was a right pig, though. We still struggle to get her to drink enough fluids.

Millie my dd2 was a 5 mins each side feeder for the whole 6 months she was breasfed. Gained a 1lb per week from birth for several weeks so was definitely getting enough. I thought it was great when compared with my friends from ante-natal class, some of whom had babies on the breast for hours at a time.

All mine fed for only 5/10 mins, and they were healthy and fine! DD is 9 weeks and will feed for 10 mins at (our) bedtime and sleep for the next 8 hours so they must be able to get enough in such a short time. My friend use to BF for an hour at a time and I could never understand how she still had nipples at the end of it

DD used to feed from one side only for 5-10 minutes, continued like this for 8 months. If I tried the other side she just refused to feed. I used to tie a ribbon on my bra strap to remember which side to feed from the next time!

Thanks so much everyone for the reassurance. I just felt so reassured to read your posts. Amazingly at the end of his bedtime feed last night he lingered on the breast for ages which is so unlike him and he's done that a few times today. In one way it's lovely but in another, with a toddler needing my attention, I can't afford to have super-long feeds so the 5-10 minute feeds are best. BTW, I tried the one sided feeding for a couple of feeds a day or two ago and maybe that has regulated my supply a bit cos I don't feel so engorged today - or maybe he's just taking bigger feeds today.

Either way, we're both much happier - thankyou!!