Got the tongue tie sorted, but some questions about breastfeeding now...

[Sparkeleigh]

Hi,
If anyone can answer any or all of these questions, I'd be very grateful!

How do you manage to bf a baby who keeps putting their hands in their mouth while you're trying to feed them? Do you just grab their hands and hold them or is there a trick I'm missing with the positioning?

How frequently and for how long should a 6 week old baby feed for? Since the tongue tie was sorted I've been breastfeeding and then topping up with expressed milk, but on average DS is only feeding for about 7/8 minute although occasionally he does 20 minutes in two 10 minute bursts. If I don't top up, then for example, he fed for 7 mins an hour ago and is now awake and looking fed again.

The midwives in the hospital told me I should tickle him and blow on him to keep him awake to bf more, is this true?

Got to go feed him, thanks for any replies!

If he's putting his hand in his mouth, could you hold his hand? Lots of things can help with fiddly fingers but most are aimed at older babies like giving them something to hold or wearing a bfing necklace.

If he doesn't seem to be taking enough in a feed could you try breast compressions? I'm no expert though and it does sound like a BFC might be able to help with the post-snip bfing. Have you got a local bfing support group you could get to or have you got the helpline numbers?

I've got a speedy feeder - ten mins is his average, and so far, he's put on weight consistently. If his weight gain and health is good, then speedy feeding may just be his thing. You can keep him awake longer by doing things like tickling his ear, but in my experience, it's not worth beating yourself up over if he's feeding ok overall.

The hand thing will get better, but when I'm feeding in a cradle hold, I have one arm along my side -like he's hugging me, and his head is resting on it. His other hand seems to attach itself to whatever I'm wearing. I second the idea to see a breastfeeding counsellor of you can. Those people can be heroic in helping you to try something different, or just better understand what's going on.