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Infant feeding

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

Don't think baby is staying on first breast long enough but can't fix it

3 replies

YouMaySayImADreamer · 05/04/2015 22:07

DS is 12 weeks old and ebf. I have always felt that he isn't staying on the breast long/actively drinking after I feel the initial let down and soon stops drinking and falls asleep. I asked about this but he was gaining weight well and latch was apparently fine so was told to trust my body and continue.

However when I got him weighed last week he had only gained 7 ounces in two weeks and dropped a centile. This wouldnt worry me on its own but it does along with the following symptoms:

His poos have always been frequent but completely watery and absorbed into his nappy fully. They have also been full of mucous often. He is also quite unsettled between feeds. He will initially either sleep briedly or seem quite happy but then start whinging soonish after and need feeding again. I have been waiting for this to settle but at 12 weeks it hasn't and there is still no obvious pattern or gaps between feeds, they seem frequent and snacky. He also sicks up quite a lot, and fusses and fights on and off the breast sometimes, sicking up but still not seeming satisfied. He also rarely has the milk drunk look.

I have been doing a bit of reading and it points to him not reaching the fatty milk effectively. It suggests he is getting a foremilk overload which means lactose overload which could be causing the fussiness, gas and bowel symptoms and could be causing slowed weight gain.

The problem is I cannot get him to stay on the first breast longer. He stops feeding and falls sleep every single time soon after the first let down. I have tried stripping him off, blowing on him, tickling, nappy changing, but he just falls back to sleep again. He also doesn't take the hint of breast compressions. What can I do?

OP posts:
YayaMama · 06/04/2015 21:45

Hi!

Perhaps you could try to pump befor your little one starts to feed, it worked well for me as my little girl got really gassy from my fore milk. I really had to play around with feeding positions as well to find one that suited baba. We used a boppy feeding cushion and it was invaluable to me.

Hope it helps, keep your chin up, it does get easier!

Lara

TheVeryHungryScreamerpillar · 07/04/2015 17:15

Babies tend to have a favourite breast. Perhaps you can trick him into feeding longer by switching him from a cradle hold to a rugby ball hold? If my LO starts falling asleep I rub his feet or stroke his feet to encourage him to keep drinking.
Alternatively, try changing his nappy mid-feed to wake him .

KeturahLee · 07/04/2015 21:38

Have you tried swapping sides when he falls asleep?

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