How many sucks per swallow when bf?

[radiatorlady]

Hi everyone,

How many sucks per swallow do your babies normally take when bf?

Mine starts at 2,3,4 or 5 sucks per swallow but quickly moves to 7 upwards, sometimes 14 or15 per swallow after 2 or 3 mins.

I ask because when the number gets higher it's hurting, quite a lot, and DS seems frustrated, pulls at nipple, unlatches then re latches in seeming frustration at not getting enough.

Plus you can always hear the swallow right? HV tried telling me he's taking more I can't hear, but that seems unlikely as the ones I can hear are SO audible, I see his throat move, and fewer audible sucks seems to correspond so much with pain, frustration etc.

I should say he IS gaining weight well, I just feel it's very hard work for both of us. Feeds can take ages.

He's 3 weeks old.

I have tried pre bf massage, and compression during, both improve situation a little but only a little.

Everything I read says it should be 1 or 2 ish sucks per swallow, which would feel great to me, but I know theory often not the same as in practise(!) and I just want to know if I should be accepting of my situation or fight to improve. So far MVs, HV etc are all telling me good latch working well, not really listening to me, should I keep on seeking help or accept how it is? What is the range of normal? Has anyone been in this situation and resolved?

thanks

Hello
That's an odd thing to worry about but I've been here so I'll try and help.
Sucking is good. Sucking is great even, it's the "I need more food" signal from your baby to your body, which adapts within 24-48hrs.
Also, 3 weeks is a growth spurt so just follow his lead, he knows what to do.
A feed can take a looooong time at this age, he's tiny and he'll get much better.
DS still sucks 5+ time at the beginning, middle and end of a feed to kick start a let down.
Hang in there

I worried about this too as wasn't at all sure DS was swallowing much. He is 5.5wks and only this last week started 1 - 2 per swallow and that's not all the time. Usually first thing in the morning and usually left breast which seems to get more full.

Previously i either couldn't tell he ws swallowing or he was doing a lot of sucks and a small swallow. I think its pretty normal unless you have a big supply to start with.

Use lansinoh every feed - it doesn't feel like its doing much but really helped me in the fist 2-3 wks

What happens if you unlatch him? is milk flowing?

If he's starting with 2 sucks per swallow, he's obviously getting plenty liquid. They naturally slow down once fore milk is gone and they work harder for hind milk. I wouldn't worry about it too much tbh. If he's happy between sessions and gaining weight then relax and stop counting...it'll drive you mad! Congratulations on your LO. Well done on bf too, it gets easier so stick with it.

I couldn't always tell when ds was swallowing. I just let him suck until he was content and yes it does take ages and ages in the early days but as pp said it boosts your supply therefore making feeds easier/more fulfilling. Ds would feed for 30-45mins in the early days then a gap of an hour or two then back on.... It's tough but it's what they need.

Good luck OP.

But the OP is in pain and the baby is frustrated.....she is not simply counting sucks for the hell of it.

OP I have another question, which is to ask how long this has been the case for. This is absolutely growth spurt time and long feeds / cluster feeding themselves are normal. But the unlatching and frustration isn't, and your supply should respond to his sucking in a day or two.

Yes, that's exactly it, ButIBelieve! I'm not worried about the ratio for the sake of it, it coincided with real problems.
To answer your questions, it's been happening since the start :( and no I haven't had milk flowing out when I unlatch him, ever.

There might be some light though. . I managed to get in touch with a HV who is training as a lactation specialist and she agreed with me! Yes that ratio was too high and the problem is my latch! So refreshing after weeks of MVs and other HVs telling me my latch is good and everything fine! (Made even more difficult by the fact that my OH thinks everyone connected to health care is a god and re-iterating to me that 'everyone has told you it's fine . . !)

Problem was I wasn't hooking him round the nipple enough. Didn't get him on at all till day 2 so getting him on at all had felt like a victory, and even though I knew about nose to nipple etc I hadn't fully understood the mechanics of getting him latched well. So . . I'm having to relearn latching him but it does seem to be improving, and I'll have more support from her next week to see how I'm getting on.

I'm glad I kept pushing, unfortunately I've had to fight to get knowledgeable breast feeding support, support in the health service seems to in the main be given by non specialists which is probably fine if everything is going well for you but can actually cause more harm than good if not. I'm not blaming the MVs I know how stretched everyone is, just a shame though, knowing how many give up on bf because of possibly surmountable problems.

Thanks to everyone for your replies, here's hoping I have turned a corner :)

Really glad you're getting support. And good work trusting yourself!

I wasn't suggesting that she was counting just for the hell of it. I'm sorry if my post came across as anything other than trying to be supportive. I'm glad you found some help OP. My point still stands - now you are on your way correctly, it should get easier for you both.