How do I time breastfeeds?

[BeanyIsPregnant]

How does the timings of bf work?
Is it from the start of the feed eg baby starts to feed at 8, so dhould start next feed at 9? Or is it 3 hours from when they finish?
Help, no idea what I'm doing
Ds 29 hours old with partial tongue tie

Congratulations on your new arrival!

Are you still in hospital or are you at home now? It's recommended that you feed on demand and your baby should be feeding at least 10 to 12 times in the course of 24 hours. Has someone advised you to feed every 3 hours?

With regard to the tongue tie, my DS had that. Have the midwives started a referral process for it to be revised/snipped?

I know you're probably not in the mood for reading but this link will take you to the Kellymom website which has good information on breastfeeding. This particular link is all about the first couple of weeks and what to expect.

kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing/

Don't worry too too much about the timings. I know it is overwhelming initially but you will soon get into a rhythm with your baby. When my little girl was first born I timed it from the start of feeding - and I remember setting my alarm clock in those early days. Sounds like a chat with a breastfeeding helpline or something in the morning may help - I did when utterly confused initially and it really helped.

Congratulations on your new arrival!

It's from the start of one feed to the start of the next...BUT many many people will tell you there's nothing to be gained from timing them and just relax/go with the flow. Your baby is so small he may well feed hor an hour (or more) without stoping, or have a feed then nod off for 20mins then feed again. Not going more than 3 hours between feeds is very common advice but not gospel, depends if your baby is gaining weight well (too early to tell). At this stage, if in doubt feed! Please don't fear that you have "no idea" it's a skill and a tew simple pointers could make the world of difference-Have you looked at kellymom website? Also ask your midwife for more breastfeeding support or contact nct/la leche league etc, there are lots of support groups and even volunteers who will willingly visit you to offer tips.

When you're getting established, rather than put yourself through the hell of making it 3 hours (from the start, btw) it's better to just go with the flow and feed when baby seems hungry. That might be just 10 minutes every 60-90 minutes, at times, particularly during growth spurts.

I'm sure you don't consistently go 3 hours from one drink to the next, anyhow.

Oh, goodbyeyellowbrickroad 's advice is much better than mine. Perhaps I am remembering a few weeks in!

Ok, we made it through the night. He cluster fed from until 2, then slept until 8 this morning and he's been latched for 7 mins I'm well chuffed! but he's looking yellow, as ae the whites if his eyes and his nappy that was put on at midnight was dry..

Are u still in hospital, I was advised when my lo was born if they haven't fed in the past 3 hours I should wake her to feed she cluster fed at night eventually after first day of not feeding well, if ur not in hospital keep an eye on the yellow and ring midwife as could be jaundice, if that's the case feed ur lo as often as possible and that will help with the yellow tho it may rake few weeks for it to go completely, congrats on ur newborn and enjoy/take all the help esp in first couple of weeks xx

Lots of skin to skin as well. You in no top or just your nursing bra. Baby in just nappy. Allow him easy access to boobs especially as jaundiced babies are often sleeping so need extra encouragement - easy access can really help with this.

Congratulations by the way. Sounds like you're doing a really good job. I hope you're proud of yourself and your little one? ! :)

And keep nagging about that tongue tie. Even partial ones can cause issues. Get them to get it sorted ASAP

Do you have a midwife visit today? If not then you should phone and ask for one to get him checked for jaundice and dehydration ( because of the dry nappy) . It's v common but he may need phototherapy ( session in an incubator under lights) to resolve it if it's marked. Natural light helps so if you can move Moses basket close to the window do so. the problem is it makes them sleepy and unwilling to feed, so it's a vicious cycle. if babies are small or jaundiced then you are normally advised not to let them go more than 3 hours from the start of one feed to the start of the next, though most newborns will cue ( restless, rooting, turning head to side, lip smacking) at a shorter interval.
My dd was early, tiny and jaundiced and though she's my 3rd baby we had problems establishing feeding as she was too weak to feed effectively and expending more energy feeding than she was getting from the colostrum. she did have a TT but we got it divided whilst we were still in hospital. she ended up being tube fed donor and then my expressed milk for the first few days, then for several weeks I had to wake her 3 hourly, feed, express and top up with EBM. we did get there, she is going great guns now!
Get some help with feeding asap today, and have confidence that these early problems can be sorted out.

Just feed on demand.

Feed on demand is very bad advice for a jaundiced, possibly dehydrated baby, please get a health professional to check him.

Agree with bakingtins that you need to see a midwife or other health care professional today. Do you have the telephone number for your midwives?

Agree with bakingtins too. It's not totally clear but did your baby go form 2 till 8-so 6 hours? If so that's too long for such a tiny baby. "Just feed on demand" isn't really enough for a jaundiced/possibly dehydrated baby as jaundiced babies can get very sleepy. Have you had plenty of dirty nappies? It might be nothing to worry about but I'd certainly give the mw a call.

Missed the post about jaundice.

I had my DD 5 weeks ago and she was a bit jaundiced. Not enough to need phototherapy but she needed reminding to feed. She would feed for long so midwife encouraged us to wake her every 60-90mins for a feed and let her go back to sleep. She wasn't great at bfing so I alternated it with expressed milk from a bottle so that I could be sure she was getting a certain amount, but we established breast too. She was monitored until week 3 when the jaundice went.

2 weeks on she's very awake and feeding like a demon- exclusively from the breast- so don't worry- with the right support from your midwife and partner/family you will get there.

That should read "wouldn't feed for long"

Ok, he has jaundice, confirmed by Bili check, however went to the breast feeding clinic this morning and he fed for an hour, and has had two wet nappies since!!!!
Feeling very very chuffed, we are getting there!

Trying lots of skin to skin, my nipples are so so sore I know I'm putting off trying to feed him for '5 more mins' which I know isn't helping!
Does anyone know what the sizes of the medula nipple shields actually relate to? How do I know I I need small medium or large?!

Lots of babies show a bit of jaundice by day 3, waking to feed is a good idea as baby will be sleepy and drinking helps flush out the toxins. 3 hours from start of one feed to start of next, ok. I left it longer at night if baby would sleep as I needed the rest. Once the jaundice gone you can just watch for early feeding cues and feed as soon as they start. Try and go with the flow.

If you plan to feed pretty much constantly for the next 2 months them any time you get not feeding is a bonus! Get the box sets lined up!

Do get TT sorted. ASAP. Don't let them tell you it's mild. If you have nipple trauma then it can get too painful to feed. Continuing to feed through the pain can make things worse.

The thing that prompted me to get ds2 TT snipped was a horrible bout of mastitis and resulting breast abscess. Also he'd dropped over 50 centiles from above 85th to below 25th. He's been doing so well since snip and at 6mo nearly regained the 85th centile for weight.

Have you got some lansinoh nipple cream? And definitely push for someone to do something with the tongue tie. If your nipple come out lipstick shaped, then he has it. (Or that's what I have been told). DD has a mild case of it but it hasn't affected feeding and so wasn't snipped. But it was confirmed by one of the consultants when she was in hospital for jaundice.

Mild as in I didn't get sore nipples. But if your in so much pain you needed nipple shield, then they shouldn't ignore it.

Well done beany sounds like you are doing brilliantly. Agree with the others about the TT, it can make getting a decent latch and good milk transfer impossible. Try the infant feeding coordinator at your hospital. If you can't get it snipped, there is a website called Milk Matters with a network of people around the country who will do it privately.