Finishing a feed... falling asleep, being a human dummy, wind and regurgitating!

[sjcmum]

Hiya

Daughter nearly 6 weeks, and I have been trying to get advice on a couple of things... but the more I ask, the more confused I get, as I seem to get totally different advice from different people. Think I need to get back to basics, and if anyone has any tips - would really appreciate it!

Basically - when do you know that a feed is finished? People say wait until they come off of their own accord - swap sides and go again, but I often put her back on 4 or 5 times during a feed - as she cries if I don't - I tend to carry on until I get bored, or she really does show no interest (which isn't very often) - so when do I stop? At the moment, I normally go on for about an hour, with a nappy change and attempts to wind her each time she comes off? Is this too much - should I just stick to once each side? Does it actually matter? She definitely likes sucking - so I get the impression she uses me as a human dummy sometimes.

Also she seems to be bringing up quite a bit at some feeds, yet other times really struggles to bring up wind and cries loads. The hv suggested that I take her off when she looks like she is stopping swallowing and comfort sucking instead, as this may be giving her too much milk - and give her a dummy instead. Another hv then said though that you should always let them come off of their own accord. If I did this, I think I might be there all night - as she definitely likes to suck! Any suggestions?

She quite often will fall asleep when feeding - is it ok to try to put them down at this point, if you think they have had a load - or should you wind them first? Is it ok to let them sleep like this - some people have suggested that it just encourages them to use you as a prop for sleeping and stopping them learning how to sleep on their own. If we do try to put her down, sometimes she will wake up anyway as soon as you try - other times she will be fine, but can wake up a little while later crying, presumably with wind. What works well? Any winding/sleeping tips?

AAggghh... rather a lot of questions I'm afraid... Have just discovered these talk boards - and have already been really encouraged to read some other bits and pieces - good to know there are other people out there who sound confused too!

Thanks loads!

My ds is also 6 weeks. He never comes off the breast on his own unless he's actually asleep and it slips out of his mouth (even when he is asleep he seems to be able to hold it in an iron grip) and I'm sure he's using it for comfort, which is ok by me within reason... I'm a lot less patient at night! He also does hour-long feeds fairly often. In my very limited experience I've found if I fail to get a burp or two out of him just after a feed we both pay for it later... but maybe some babies don't need it. If I'm trying to wind him but not wake him up too much I tend to just sit him upright on my lap for a while rather than go mad with rubbing/patting.

bumping for you as I wouldn't mind a few answers to your questions myself

It's really cofusing isn't it?
My first would neer come off of own accord and I had to take her off,or I would have been there all day.
Second baby did come off though.

Six weeks is early days though.
Things will settle.

Remember,you're not a human 'dummy',rather a dummy is a poor approximation of a nipple.
How sad to be chomping on a piece of plastic,when what they want is a warm snuggly breast.

Dummies can also tire them out,I think,making them less able to suck on a breast.

If the baby is alert,putting on weight (even slowly) and producing wet/dirty nappies,then all should be fine.

Don't worry too much about the science of it,just marvel at the marvellous symbiosis 'twixt boob and baby.

I never bothered with that winding guff either.
(They don't do it all in France btw.)

my ds is 8 weeks and can get quite windy so i try to burp him when i can. However, he hardly ever burps during his night time feeds as he is so relaxed when drinking. Can't help you re duration as he feeds in under 10 mins flat but I don't think you need to swap sides in one feed ( think twins - one side only)