Breastfeeding taking 1.5 hours

[laelow]

Hi there,
I'm just after some advice about feeding my 3 week old baby. We had problems feeding from the start - she couldn't latch on as I have inverted nipples, so we had to give her formula for the first few days ( with any colostrom i could collect given in a syringe) until my milk came in. I then used nipple shields which seem to work, and I have been combining breastfeeding with expressing and bottle feeding, with the occasional formula thrown in when I'm knackered or don't have enough expressed milk, so a real mixed bag!

I don't produce much milk when I express (average 30-50 ml after 30 mins double pumping) so I do worry my supply is low. When I breastfeed it takes her ages to finish - she typically spends 20 -30 mins on one breast, then comes off sleepy, but won't settle when I put her down. I then give her the other breast, for 20-30 mins, after which she often needs yet more after as brief pause. I know milk is coming out as I can see it in the shield. Is it normal for feeding to take this long?! Is there anything I can do to speed things up a bit?

At the moment I'm trying to breastfeed during the day, and do a mixture of bottles, expressing and breastfeeding at night.

Thanks,
Laura

The more you feed the more you will produce. My advice is to take as much time as possible to breast feed, its normal to take a long time. Drink loads to keep hydrated. If it's not painful keep going as often and as long as your dd wants to feed.

Hi
Just keep going you are doing a great job. The first 6-8 weeks can be intense as they are having growth spurts, your supply is becoming established and your baby is learning how to feed. It does get easier!
Your body responds and becomes in tune with what your baby needs. Your baby will also become more efficient at feeding and feeds will be quicker. Your baby may be feeding for comfort also and want to be close to you, have you tried a sling/carrier? She may settle without feeding as long as she is close to you.
You are doing a fantastic job!

I would keep feeding as often as you can to build up your supply. I don't think the amount you can express shows how much your dd is getting as baby is much more effective at getting milk out. My DS2 would often feed throughout the day. He really was quite grumpy when he was away from the breast from newborn till about 3 months. It felt like he was permanently attached. I think it was for comfort as well as hunger, he just wanted to be near his Mommy.
Water, snacks, a good box set or book and feed, feed, feed. The first few months are intense but you are building up your supply and it is much easier as time goes on.
DS2 is 6 months now and will happily go 3 or 4 hours between feeds. At 3 weeks he wouldn't go 5 minutes. To be honest I miss it now as it meant I got to sit down and relax with him! It changes so quickly, try to enjoy the time. The constant feeding is also nature's way of making you rest. I read that when I was reading about the fourth trimester and it really made sense to me.

Bottles, expressing and bf at night sounds like a lot of work. I'm not 100% sure but think the night feeds are more important for building up supply so I would try to do as many as you can.

Hope this helps

Thanks for your words of wisdom everyone! I will try to bf as much as possible.