Fast flow and short feeds. Do I need to worry about "hind" milk?

[badguider]

Hi

Ds is just over 4wks and has always only bf for ten mins each side, sometimes 15 at the absolute most, as little as 8mins at least.
I have a fast flow I know and am feeding in a laid back position and being rigorous about burping.

My worry is that he's getting too much watery milk and not enough fat. How would I know? I understand the mechanism (from reading kellymom) and it seems the fat mostly comes out after a period of feeding when the breast is emptier. What if my ds isn't reaching that point?

What would the indicators/symptoms be if this were the case?

His nappies are good and I am going to have him weighed again on Thursday. Unfortunately though he is windy in the night. And he only goes 2hrs between feeds day or night.

Does anybody know what I should be looking out for? I'm in danger of losing my bf confidence with the wind and feeding so often but LLL meetings here are only once a month (next one not till 11th).

Thanks.

badguider, you say "He's gained 150g in 9 days so a little bit below ideal. Almost down a centile line in the red book (from above 25th to just above 9th)."

This is not as bad as I think you think it is :)

"HV advised us to feed, burp, nappy change then try to get him onto the other side (i had given up offering) and we will go back next week. "

Sounds sensible.

This is why (as you will see in your red book) that once babies have reached birthweight, weighing more frequently than once a month is not advised (in babies who are healthy and thriving). Frequent weighing makes people worry, often unnecessarily. He's dropped a centile space - well within normal.

Having said that, making sure he has ample opportunity to feed from both breasts is fine - that's just good practice really.

Thanks ticktock - the issue is that I was told his feeds are too short but that it would be ok if he was gaining weight well so I went to get him weighed and they said his weight gain is not great. Not terrible. But not great.
That doesn't really reassure me that the short feeds are fine. I hope that the timing works out so that he takes a feed at the LLL meeting next week - then at least somebody who knows can see him feed.

I don't really believe that continuing to offer the second side will ever actually result in him taking it (though I will keep offering).

I do understand about weighing too frequently but I only went along due to the specific short/fast feed concern I had.
And the HV looked very sceptical when I said I couldn't keep him on the breast more than ten mins.

Anyway, it sounds like people on this thread are saying the ten minute feedings are ok if it's truly ds's choice and he's offered more so I will try my best to choose to believe you all at least until next weeks weigh-in (HV does want us back next week to keep an eye on).

Thank you. Truly, thank you.