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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Cluster feeding/sucking for comfort

18 replies

kbaby · 08/07/2004 23:03

Hi,
This is sort've related to my 'how can I tell if shes hungry' thread.
DD seems to mostly sucky during the day and if I feed her she will feed for approx 5 minutes(the most she ever feeds for is 15mins) Ive heard that some babies cluster feed in the evenings but do babies also cluster feed in the afternoons? Could this be what shes doing?
Also
If a baby was to suck for comfort, do they actually swallow any milk? ie if I was to lett DD suck on my breast for comfort would she then be sick for having eaten too much?
Sorry another question
If she does feed frequently how can I tell that she isnt just getting fore milk, someone has told me that their poos are green, is this correct?

OP posts:

poppyseed · 09/07/2004 01:12

Our DD 'cluster fed' afternoons and early evenings just before she slept for a good length of time in the night - almost like she was stocking up! Can't really help you about the sickness thoughts that you have - babies are always sick so just be prepared for the worst! I too read that poos can be green in colour if too much foremilk was given although I have no direct experience of this with either of our two BF babies, sorry. I am sure that if you are feeding on demand and presumably are still on one breast per feed (as I think DD is about 4 weeks from your other threads?) she will have had fore and hind milk together in one feed. You have done fabulously over the last few weeks try not to give yourself extra things to worry about! Be guided by her - she knows what she wants and needs as she adapts to her new environment. Keep going you're doing so well....

tiktok · 09/07/2004 14:32

kbaby, as before, your baby sounds totally normal with a totally normal feeding pattern. Let her suck for comfort if she wants....it is not harmful in any way. Poos can be green and it means nothing. It would only be an issue if the baby wasn't gaining weight and was miserable and in pain. She sounds fine

Original poster

kbaby · 10/07/2004 00:27

Thank you both for the encouragement. Because DD is a unsettled baby I have my MIL and a friend telling me that they think my milk is not satisfying her and that I should change to formula which would settle her more. Thank god my mother knows how much I wanted to BF and is on my side and thinks they're talking rubbish. It feels like the only think I can do for DD and it makes me really happy to know that im personally feeding her whats best. Also she sure is gaining weight. Since birth she has gained 2lb 5ozs and is now at 9lb 12 at 4 weeks.

OP posts:

poppyseed · 10/07/2004 00:33

Absolutely!! I really wanted to feed both of ours and never bought bottles - thinking back it was really a gamble!! They thankfully both fed really well and never had to have a bottle anyway as they both went onto a cup... you are obviously doing a good job as the weight gain shows. You know that you will both have health benefits from it in the long run, keep with it.. (gets my goat when people say that the milk isn't satisfying them....)

JulieF · 10/07/2004 01:03

Anyone who tries to tell a woman that her milk isn't satisfying a baby is talking rubbish. What can happen is that sometimes the baby doesn't feed effectivly due to a latching problem so doesn't take enough milk, sometimes a mum can swop breasts too quickly so the baby gets too much foremilk or sometimes when a formula top up is used it sends a message to the breasts that the baby is feeding less so make less milk.

You are doing brilliantly, The cluster/comfort feeding is your body's natural way of upping your milk supply during a growth spurt.

muminlondon · 10/07/2004 18:22

Sometimes in the early days my DD used to feed for 5-10 minutes then go to sleep, then feed again, etc. - I thought of it as 2-3 short feeds rolled into one. Don't worry too much about the foremilk/hindmilk thing - the composition of your milk varies at different times of day. Your baby must be getting what she needs with such a good weight gain. The only time my DD had green poo was during a cold (probably excess mucus to digest) but she was still gaining weight and it cleared up so even this isn't anything to worry about. It sounds like you're doing really well - sorry if your MIL/friend aren't giving you much support.

Clayhead · 10/07/2004 19:42

kbaby, to echo others, your m-i-l and friend are talking rubbish and I have no idea why they would want to undermine your confidence like that.

Love Clayhead (the mother of a very needy baby who is now a lovely 2 1/2 year old (being a baby did not suit her at all!), I know where you are and how hard it is but IT DOES FINISH!!!)

zebra · 10/07/2004 19:55

That sounds like a respectable weight gain in 1st 4 weeks, Kbaby. Proof in itself that your milk is plenty good enough?!

My 3rd baby has proven to be a greedy monkey who feeds A LOT (his weight gain is prodigious, too). If it wasn't my 3rd I'm sure I'd be worried too about having enough.

LIZS · 10/07/2004 20:02

kbaby,

Ignore MIL and "friend". If your dd is gaining well then of course she is getting enough. If she has any problems then introducing formula now could just aggravate her and you sound as if you derive comfort from b'feeding her despite her frustrating behaviour.

Do ask HV /dr about reflux as she is behaving in a similar way to dd in early days iirc, although her first 6 weeks were a bit hazy. However don't be fobbed off if it does become a possibility, as you can still breastfeed a baby with reflux, and little and often can help.

Chuffed · 10/07/2004 23:53

kbaby my dd is now 14 wks old and still seems to cluster feed building up from the afternoon to the evening. Most other times she only feeds for maybe 10mins tops on one breast.
I think it was probably me that said about the green poo. DD has had it a couple of times but I solved it by trying to go back onto the same breast if it was 2 hours since last feed to try to get her to have the hind milk. Not something to worry about, to me it just showed what was going on.
I gave up trying to 'schedule' so much as I found it next to impossible (and still do) to delay a feed if dd is hungry she is hungry.
Just do what feels right, she is gaining weight and if she is happy, you are happy.

Original poster

kbaby · 12/07/2004 15:33

thanks everyone my mil was here again this morning saying the same thing. That the baby wouldnt cry for nothing and because she was sucking her finger it showed she was hungry. She said that maybe my milk is weak and its not filling her up no matter how often she feeds and to offer formula.
As a first time mum im confused as to what to do.

OP posts:

LIZS · 12/07/2004 15:54

MIL is talking nonsense, could your dh have a quiet word as to how undermining her "advice" is. Make sure you keep putting dd back on the same side if the intervals are quite short so that she does get hind milk but if she is pooing well, not dehydrated and gaining weight, feeding itself is unlikely to be the problem.

Could you contact a Breastfeeding Counsellor (HV could recommend one, or local branch of NCT or La Leche League) to get some more reassurance, there may even be a local post natal group who have sessions run by a breastfeeding expert.Did you manage to visit HV or dr to discuss your worries over dd's behaviour ? It sounds really hard going for you at the moment but it won't always be like this.

Pidge · 12/07/2004 15:54

kbaby - sorry but your mil is talking rot - all babies will suck on a finger, they just love sucking. And lots of babies are unsettled - it doesn't mean they're hungry. Imagine the shock of being in nice cosy womb for 9 months and then being out in the world - it's enough to make anyone cry.

If the baby is healthy and you're happy there's no reason to stop. Plus there are so many reasons to continue feeding. Is your mil aware of the health benefits you are giving her granddaughter by breastfeeding her?

Lots of babies need feeding really regularly in the early weeks - my dd was almost permanently on the boob, particularly in the evenings as it was the only way to stop her yelling. But after 2-3 of months she did get into more of a routine and the feeds spaced themselves out a bit more.

You're doing brilliantly - just keep it up.

poppyseed · 12/07/2004 17:34

Ignore MIL!!! Well meaning.... but wrong, sorry. What you are doing sounds just fine. Weight gain is good and and she is sleeping a little longer between feeds from what I can gather from your other threads. You will get people saying loads of rubbish to you quite frankly but if you want to do it stay strong. Have a look at the other thread that's currently running about undermining comments so you know what to expect from interfering people!!!

Chuffed · 12/07/2004 18:06

kbaby my baby is really sucky too. Our HV said it could also be wind when she is sucky. We ended up using a dummy when she was grissly and I was sure she wasn't hungry as I had just finished feeding her and she didn't want any more.
She spat it out if it wasn't just sucking she wanted. She has now taken to sucking her fingers and it doesn't always mean she is hungry but then again when she tries to fit her whole fist in...it is a sign for my dd. As your dd gets older you'll learn to read the signals and the different cries. Don't doubt yourself as a first time mum you do but just trust your instincts.

Original poster

kbaby · 14/07/2004 19:55

thanks.
lizs i did see the hv but she didnt really offer much advice only said that dd doesnt have colic and is just one of those unsettled babies. i also asked about why i cant get her to go down to sleep and the answer was, lots of babies like being next to their mum. i wouldnt normally mind but i am knackered from sudden frequent night time feedings/ wakings and having to console a crying baby during the day. i do go to a breastfeeding group each week which is good but tbh i dont like to bother them with trivial questions and all they say is that if shes gaining weight then everything is fine.

OP posts:

catkin · 15/07/2004 01:17

Kbaby, when you go to your b-feeding group do ask them your questions, it will reassure you and the calmer you are, the calmer your baby will be.

I haven't read any of the other threads, but as a first timer, I know that asking questions and getting an answer (whatever it is!) calms me down.

My 17 wk dd is a really sucky baby too and if she isn't feeding, sucking her dummy or got her fist in her mouth then she has a toy in it! She is a really quick feeder too, and is generally done in 5 minutes. I was really worried that she wasn't getting enough, but after five minutes on one side she just stops sucking and I can't get her going again, however if I offer the other side she does manic sucking for another five minutes and then that is her for three / four hours.

Whatever your MIL says, I would speak to your group and then have something to hold onto mentally when you explain to your MIL how she is wrong (ha what planet am I on !? ).

Sorry I don't have any answers for you, but you are not alone and things will improve!

LIZS · 15/07/2004 11:16

kbaby,

fwiw I wouldn't consider the problems you are experiencing trivial if I were among your bf group. You are finding things tough as a result of her feeding habits. If you don't want to bother them, could you speak to the person in charge afterwards. If it reassures you and enables you to back MIL off it is worth it.

Good luck

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