comfort sucking

[MadameJ]

Dd (20 weeks) spends about 1.5 hours before bed on the breast. I am assuming most of this is comfort sucking (which I have no issue with). I wondered apart from the lovely snuggles are there any other benefits as dh feels I should try to take her off so she can sleep properly in her cot. Thanks

Watching with interest as dd does this too at 9 weeks!

My only issue is my poor arm goes dead (something to do with her being a 19lb porker :-)!!)

It's personal choice - my dd always cluster fed in the evenings - sometimes on and off for three hours! I actually really like it. I make sure I eat beforehand and have my ipad with me. I had comments from family members from very early on that I should put her down awake etc but it never made sense to me as that meant unpleasant bedtimes. Now at 9 months she doesn't seem fussed any more about feeding to sleep and I'm a bit she even asks for dada to put her to bed!
So, basically, carry on if you enjoy it and it suits you, if not then change it

Oh also, maybe try a bf pillow if it's uncomfortable - I never had one, my dd is about 16 lb now at 9 months, but I do have wrist troubles so maybe if should have had one from earlier on.

I should have

Interested in responses, my DS (6 weeks) does this too. I have found it really stressful as would last 3 hours, 5/6-8/9ish, but now we spend the whole time lying down on my bed and I've learnt to just go with it.

However I do get the impression that half the time is comfort sucking and wondered whether I should worry that he is using me as a dummy...

Babies cluster feed in the evenings. 'Comfort sucking' is a way of keeping supply up (night feeding in general stimulates supply more than feeding during the day). Your LO won't always need to go to sleep on you (although 12mo DS does most of the time; he drops off v quickly these days, though) :)

She cluster fed for the first 10 weeks but that was very active feeds and they were short and frequent, I was then repayed with a good 6/7 hour stretch of sleep which was great!! (Not anymore)

With the comfort sucking do they actually take much milk?

kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/fussy-evening/

Have you looked at this?

Thanks for the link, I remember trawling through that in the early days. Thankfully the fussing has stopped and she is very content on the breast in the evenings. My main question really (well dh's question) is comfort nursing necessary and does she have milk after the initial active feeding time?

I think after the initial feed only a small trickle of milk will come out when comfort sucking, but isn't it important especially in the evenings as it stimulates your milk supply? I might be wrong though

That makes good sense I think :-)

This is natural and normal. For supply, relaxation, comfort yes - babies need lots of comfort.

Does baby feed to sleep?

If so and that's what you want, you could try unlatching once baby is only 'flutter sucking' if you want to put her down, and see if she sleeps then and how long into the feed that is. Might cut the length of time down a bit.

I always wait until dd is out for the count but I like a peaceful bedtime and dd has always screamed if I try to hurry her - it is really your choice.

As far as coping strategies go - I eat my dinner before we start the evening feed, or if I want to eat later I cook dinner for me and dh mid afternoon, so I can reheat when I have finished feeding ( I'm too tired to ever cook when I come downstairs). If I do that I make sure I have a decent snack before I start the evening feed.

If you have friends over in the evenings brief then beforehand and invite more than one so they can talk amongst themselves!

If dh is missing you in the evenings can you feed on the sofa together? As baby gets older this might become more difficult, as they get more distract able, so you could make the most of it now if that helps.

Yes she feeds to sleep and like you I prefer this as it means a very easy bedtime. At the moment I do it downstairs and then transfer her upstairs. I think I will just carry on as we are and hopefully as she gets older the time may decrease. Thanks for all the info/ advice x

ds did this. Luckily I had been told it was perfectly normal. Look up laid back breastfeeding or biological nursing position. I loved our cosy evening under a blanket

Yes - now at 9 months dd is all flailing limbs and fidgeting and scratching - I miss the old days when I could get hours of MNetting in each evening and got through the entire six series of sex and the city