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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Breastmilk not "substantial" enough???

34 replies

digsydel · 16/01/2014 22:19

I've been having some sleep issues with my baby (which I posted about here and I contacted a private nanny/sleep trainer. She suggested that part of the problem is my DD is hungry and that breastmilk, while plentiful, no longer has enough substance to keep my baby satisfied or to sustain her. My milk supply is fine but the nanny says it's about quality over quantity and I could have milk coming out my ears and it still wouldn't be enough and that I need to start finishing feeds with formula.
Has anyone else heard of this before? Is she just an early weaner? I would have thought if she were hungry that she would be losing weight?

Couple of things to note - DD is 18 weeks, eats every 3-4 hours, coming off on her own accord and happily so, and is tracking on the 75th percentile for weight, which she's been doing since 2 weeks old.

OP posts:

pomdereplay · 16/01/2014 23:11

My baby did this. For a long, long time. She is now approaching two and is still not a perfect sleeper by any means she still hasn't done the magic 'sleeping through the night' really but she is much better.

I remember the battles to get her to sleep and I remember the waking at the slightest sound all too well. I just think this is how some babies are; my daughter was and is wonderful in many other ways and more or less that makes up for the difficulties we have had with naptimes and bedtime. Everything I have heard about so-called sleep experts boils down to 'fill 'em up and be prepared to let them cry'. My approach is more to wait it out. 4 months is still incredibly tiny.

Everyone else has covered the breastmilk nutritional angle. I hope your little one starts to settle better and realise the joys of a good nap soon!

ExBrightonBell · 16/01/2014 23:13

Just thought I would add that I let my ds fall asleep on me, whilst feeding, for nearly all his naps for at least 9 months. He never fell asleep on his own. I would feed to sleep and then put him in his cot at bedtime, then did the same for night wakings.

He now at 18mo sleeps like a dream - all naps/sleep in his cot, just put him down and leave him to it. No night wakings since about 12 months. I think it's because he got to that point in his own time when he was ready for it. There are no "bad habits" or rods for my back as a result.

I was actually too embarrassed to mention to my mum friends that he still slept on me, as there is a huge expectation that babies should be able to sleep independently.

Original poster

digsydel · 16/01/2014 23:17

ummingandahhing - if I knew how to stop the distress I would, but we're yet to find a way - any way - to avoid it getting to that point or stopping it when it does. And I'm not expecting her to sleep through the night or even for 5 hours, I'm concerned that she's not getting enough sleep for her sake, not mine.

But yes, I will throw out books!

In general I think I need to take a step back, sod what I "should" be doing and just relax about how/when/where she's getting her sleep.

No more about that though - this is a BF thread, not sleep. Thanks anyway

OP posts:

Original poster

digsydel · 16/01/2014 23:21

That last post sounded really dismissive of all the people offering advice on sleep!! Sorry, wasn't meant to, I'm just new here and didn't want to be hijacking the BF thread with a post on sleep!

Thank you thank you all for your helpful comments on both topics! Definitely time to readjust my expectations and relax a little!

OP posts:

tiktok · 16/01/2014 23:27

Sounds like very ill-informed ideas from the sleep trainer. Breastmilk quality is pretty consistent across all mothers everywhere. It's astonishing she thinks this 'problem' would be rectified by formula....why?

Your baby's growth and health and sleeping and behaviour are all normal.

I think the sleep trainer is ripping you off, from what you say here.

Paintyfingers · 17/01/2014 00:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tiktok · 17/01/2014 09:04

And she's charging money for it.....

OP - if you want to, you can PM the name of this person. I think she should be checked out.

Midori1999 · 17/01/2014 09:09

As has been said, she is talking rot.

Off to reply to your sleep thread now...

Womnaleplus · 17/01/2014 10:00

Have you tried feeding to sleep lying together on the bed, and then rolling away when she's dropped off? That's what I do with mine.

And do you have a copy of The Wonder Weeks, or the app? That will tell you when your baby's sleep is about to go to pot, and when it's going to improve again.

Last thing - four months is an absolutely classic time for poor sleep. It sucks, but so many babies go through it. Hugs.

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