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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

9wk old dd2 b/feeding every two hours- is my milk not enough?? :(

20 replies

mumchez · 27/11/2006 15:53

ok i am confused.. i was always under the impression breastmilk meets all babys needs and your body will produce enough needed for your child... my dd2 is feeding every 2 hours and is 9 weeks, everyone keeps telling me she should be going longer (she goes 4 hrs at night but only 2 during the day!) and maybe my milk isn't enough?

is it possible my milk isn't enough for her and i should resort to 'topping up' feeds with formula?? not really what i want to do though...

any1 else had similar and stuck with the breastfeeding?? i feel really inadequate i cant meet all her needs as didn't have this for dd1

OP posts:
lemonaid · 27/11/2006 16:11

Pretty normal, really. Some bf babies do space out feeds earlier, but a lot (?most?) don't. At 8 weeks DS was bf every hour to hour and a half and I needed help from my mother just to space him out to every 2 hours... We're still bf now at 22 months (and no, not every 2 hours )

Feeds will space out over time, honestly. Your DD, and your milk supply, sound absolutely fine. You are perfectly adequate and doing a great (if exhausting) job. Well done!

Mumpbump · 27/11/2006 16:16

Mine did the same, except sometimes he only went 1.5 hour between feeds. If you think about it, the fact that she is going 4 hours between feeds at night at such an early age is probably an indication that she is getting most of the calories she needs during the day. You are definitely not inadequate if she is sleeping like this at night!! It's early days and I'm sure she'll start to go longer between feeds, but you can't predict when this will happen as no two babies are the same!

hotmama · 27/11/2006 16:17

Mumchez - I recommend having a look at the Kellymom.com website - really helpful bf information esp about when growth spurts are etc.

Quite normal to bf this frequently - it does get longer between feeds as they get older - honest. There may be times when your lo wants to feed non-stop - I'm sure at 9 weeks you have experience of this as well.

You are doing fine and there is no need to top up with formula - just give feeds when your lo wants them. HTH

moondog · 27/11/2006 16:25

It's normal.
They will space out.

Remember it is a supply and demand thing too so the baby suckles and suckles not just to get milk but also to ensure that there will be plenty there the next time she goes for a feed.

No need for formula,whatever anyone says.
Trust your body and marvel at the symbiosis that exists between the mother and the baby.

Oh,and sit back and have some chocolate or a glass of wine too.

hotmama · 27/11/2006 16:28

Oh yes - it is fine to drink wine when bf.

moondog · 27/11/2006 16:28

Essential in my book.

Original poster
mumchez · 27/11/2006 16:29

thanks all..
i had mummy dearest questioning how good my milk was yesterday and saying how she knows someone that tops up with formula because her milk isn't enough!! just what you need when your tired and stressed anyway!
my dd1 was similar except she rarely cried, dd2 is super sensitive and cries at more often than not so thought it might be she was always hungry..
i really want to persever with the b/f as fed dd1 until 10 months!!

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Original poster
mumchez · 27/11/2006 16:31

lol moondog.. is that true??!

feels so nice that there are people out there who are on my side for a change!!! as they say-mother knows best and all

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Tatties · 27/11/2006 16:32

My ds often fed as frequently as this. I think it's completely normal, but the things that reassured me were that he was putting on weight, he had plenty of dirty and wet nappies, and he was generally content.

People often give outdated advice about babies going longer between feeds - don't listen! As long as you feed on demand your body will produce what your baby needs - please don't feel inadequate, you are meeting her needs

Is there a baby cafe or bf support group nearby you could go to for a bit of reassurance/support?

moondog · 27/11/2006 16:35

Sorry,but it is so effing rude and demoralising when people spout this sort of crap.

I know your mum probably means well but it shows how firmly these bloody formula companies have sunk their teeth into women and divested them of any belief in the power of their own bodies (despite the fact that these bodies were smart enough to make and carry a baby.)

My (very dear) MIL was just the same.

I know so many women who talk of not having enough or not having good enough milk and it JUST ISN'T TRUE!!!

All they needed to do was let the baby have his/her fill and free access to the breast.

You come on here any time you need a bit of a boost Mumchez and there will always be someone to deliver.

Good for you,girl.

XXXXX

moondog · 27/11/2006 16:36

If you start 'topping up' then the baby is obviously suckling less which places less demand on the breasts to produce milk and before you know it.......the milk has run out altogether.

hotmama · 27/11/2006 16:37

Also ignore crap advice that you generally get from Mums and MILs. My understanding is that it is very rare for milk to be not good enough.

Just go with the flow and feed when your lo want.

My mum still looks at myself and my dsis with horror re bf - I was a child of the 60's and a formula baby - no way would my mum bf. She is always going on at me about when am I going to stop bf dd2 (dd2 is nearly 10 months) I just spurt all the WHO stuff and she shuts up!

Original poster
mumchez · 27/11/2006 16:46

tatties i dont think there is, i haven't looked to be honest!! im sure there is one near me, im north london and you can find most things here..

hotmama- thanks for the site, just checking it out, seems really good

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Original poster
mumchez · 27/11/2006 16:49

thanks for the support everyone, i really didn't see how my milk wouldn't be enough to be honest..

just sometimes when your tired, bit run down etc. makes you doubt yourself like others do..

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hana · 27/11/2006 16:52

i have a 10 week old dd and she feeds about every 2-3 hours, hardly ever longer. I'd say normal ( she's the 3rd) I'd like it to be longer but it won't be like this forever......!

Original poster
mumchez · 27/11/2006 16:55

i know they grow out of it eventually (dd1 did!) but of course, when your living the days and it feels like it's never gonna end, need a little reassurance!! so glad i found this place.. wish i had found it sooner!!

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sweetheart · 27/11/2006 16:59

my ds used to want feeding all the time - I found that some times it was for hunger and other times for comfort. I introduced a dummy for the times when he just wanted comfort so that I got a rest. It might help to try it.

Milliee · 27/11/2006 20:47

Message withdrawn

Tatties · 27/11/2006 20:51

Mumchez - don't know if any of these Baby Cafes are any good to you?

Original poster
mumchez · 27/11/2006 21:20

there a bit far out for me tatties, but they sound like fantastic idea!! just dont fancy a trip right into c.london with tantruming 2 yr old and colicky 9 wk old!!!

thanks though..

yeah i think quite a lot of people are stuck in a timewarp when it comes to babies!! my mum was horrified to hear that you didn't have to wean until 6 months!!

quite amusing to hear my mum tell me how she was given a bottle of tea and sugar at six months!!!

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