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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

OH FUCK...... JARM about to send DH out for formula..... stop me!

224 replies

DanJARMouse · 12/12/2007 20:08

I know I want to BF but why the hell is it so hard? We were doing really well up until today. My left nip is sore again, but latch is fine so fuck knows why it hurts. Daniel has been attatched to me all fecking day, bar 2hrs where we co-slept because thats the only way he will sleep.

im pissed off, tired and hormotional

OP posts:
Original poster
DanJARMouse · 18/12/2007 03:06

Thanks all.

Just done my night feed, and expressed 3oz - does the engorged feeling ever go? I cant imagine doing this for the next 6mnths if it does.... my boobs are SO sore when he hasnt fed for a while, but I dont want to disturb his lovely sleep! He slept 9.30pm - 2.30am so a 5hr stint and is asleep again now. Doubt he will wake again before 7am.

Off to bed again... will check back in tomorrow x

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BandofReindeerwaitingontheroof · 18/12/2007 08:01

The engorged feeling will go, and your boobs will get used to how much and when he feeds but it does take a few mths. I think it was around 5 mths in that I could stop using breast pads.
I used to have to wake dd2 for feeds, and sometimes I could jiggle her and tickle her feet for over half an hour and she would still be snoring. If you are huge andsore, just express a little off, but not too much as to not have enough for his next feed.

You are doing really well, it is a hard thing to do. But the feeling of pride I have now knowing I fed DD2 til she was 14 mths old, and she never took a bottle, is great.

Be prepared that just when he seems to settle into a routine he WILL then have a growth spurt and change it all on you Just to keep you on your toes and all.

I dont thin k DD2 would have taken a bottle anyway. I had to leave her a couple times with aone and she was not impressed at all. I also think you shouldwait to introduce thebottle, cos it is a totally dif way of feeding, for him, than your boobs, and if you introduce a bottle/dummy too early you can interupt his bfing. I would wait til about 2 mths or so until feeding is well established.

BandofReindeerwaitingontheroof · 18/12/2007 08:05

Oh and I found that if you look at it as something very temporary it helps.

People would say, but you can't go out or have a drink, and I would say, but it#s only for one year. If I can't spend one year doing this for her then it's pathetic (of course I am lucky I could, not knocking any mums who couldn't, or can't)

They grow up so fast. DD2 is now 16 m,ths old and it has flown by, but I can proudly say I did it

moondog · 18/12/2007 15:59

Treu Bandof, but you can go out and have a drink or pretty much anything else you fancy.

I lead a pretty normal life while breastfeeding. Good God,no way was i going without a few drinks for example.It would have killed me! In fact,it was more liberating when the baby was tiny as I could take her anywhere (JARM of course has two other children to think about but also has a lovely dh who is a chef. )

Original poster
DanJARMouse · 18/12/2007 17:02

Ok, reassure me that my boobs havent given up! After asking how long the engorged feeling will last, i feel like im empty! Daniel has done nothing but feed pretty much all afternoon today which in itself is unusual, but my boobs are so soft and squidgy - something i havent experienced since having him nearly 3 weeks ago.

They just feel so empty - havent bothered to try and express because it doesnt feel as if there is anything there. Is Daniel feeding all afternoon because he isnt getting enough? I have no idea how the boobs work!

Im sure its all perfectly normal, but being a "first timer" with all this BF malarky, i just need to be told!

Cheers girls!

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walkinginawinterBundleland · 18/12/2007 17:03

gosh it's ages since i bfed but sucking stimulates feeding so you should have fun tonight! be ready to express if he doesn't wake, x

FlossALump · 18/12/2007 17:18

I would get this and worry exactly the same as you, even second time around. Aren't they due a growth spurt at around 3 weeks? Am sure this is when I had the same. You may be in for an unsettled evening - hope not though.

FlossALump · 18/12/2007 17:19

yes, seems so according to this www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurt.html.

5goldrings4MONKEYBIRDs · 18/12/2007 17:58

think Floss probably right - sounds like a growth spurt/frequency day... will be over soon (probably/possible through the night but not necessarily...) Just go with the flow, go to bed if you can (I know it's difficult but you'll be more knackered than normal on these mad feedathons) and remember this is not a new awful and permanent situation, just a few hours of building up the supply...

...I have doubted my boys everytime they've done this and gone OHMIGOD NOOOOOOO, and then 24-48 hours later felt like a fool cos it#s all gone back to normal...

morningpaper · 18/12/2007 18:00

Aw poor you

Agree with previous posts

Make sure you are drinking lots and resting lots and of course EATING LOTS OK last bit probably not really necessary but that's no reason not to try...

Go to bed early if you can XXX

AwayInAMunker · 18/12/2007 18:02

Perfectly normal. Your body's adjusting to Daniel's needs. You are breastfeeding, JARM!

Original poster
DanJARMouse · 18/12/2007 18:13

I am indeed Hunker!

Thanks all, was just a little concerned! He has been asleep for the last hour now so have managed to chill a bit and boobs starting to fill up a little more! I know im a worrier, but I just panic that im doing it all wrong!

Am going to get him weighed this week to make usre im still on course, just need to find out when/where the clinics are!

The joys of just whipping out the boob though - how easy! I guess I can say that now Ive got through the pain bit, Ive been pain free for ooooooh 5 days now! (Big thanks to the pump for the first thing in the morning or middle of the night agony!)

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ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 18/12/2007 18:20

When you are doubting yourself, just remember that when your boobs feel empty, they are not. They might not be gushing with milk, and your ds may have to work a bit harder to access the milk, but they are not empty.

You're doing a fab job.

moondog · 18/12/2007 22:33

You are most certainly not doing anything all wrong m/dear, you are doing it ALL RIGHT and as nature intended.

Bear in mind that the over medicalisation of feeding infants (the weighing,the timing,the routines) is what has managed to fuck
up ruin many hundered of thousands of womens chances of breastfeeding successfully.

One of the best things about breastfeeding is being able to dispense with al lthat faff.I have no idea how much or how often my kids fed and what they took.I just knew that they took what they needed and grew.

Brill that you are pain free too.

BandofReindeerwaitingontheroof · 19/12/2007 08:38

Moondog, I had the odd drinkie while bfing, and carried on as normal too, with 2 1/2 yo in tow.
Jarm is doing an excellent job. I bf dd2 absolutley everywhere.

BTW jarm, dd2 used to empty mine too. I used to try to express about half hour after a feed, or so, but they were empty. She literally used to empty them. he could be coming up for a growth spurt. Think they do at about 3 weeks dont they. [foggy memory]

moondog · 19/12/2007 08:39

I went to..France,Russia,Turkey,Iran,Dubai,Sri Lanka,Thailand and Malaysia while breastfeeding.
(It would have been harder with all the faff of bottles)

BandofReindeerwaitingontheroof · 19/12/2007 08:46

GOOD GRIEF

Original poster
DanJARMouse · 19/12/2007 09:22

think it is deffo a growth spurt... we were up every 2hrs last night for feeds so am feeling very zombie like this morning! not used to this, he usually only wakes once!

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5goldrings4MONKEYBIRDs · 19/12/2007 10:39

Yeah, the feedathons to build up the supply can last up to 48 hours so get your head down while you can, drink lots and a few extra calories if you're feeling weak and feeble!

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 19/12/2007 10:42

sleep while you can JARM.

remember breasts are never completly empty, and i always found a breast pump couldn't get as much off as what dd3 needed. i think i gave up expressing when she was 4months old.

i hated growth spurts, but tit wil lall settle back down soon

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 19/12/2007 10:52

When lo's are having a feedathon, your mantra has to be 'this will not last forever, this will not last forever'.

Original poster
DanJARMouse · 19/12/2007 11:37

i dont mind so much during the night really, as feed him lying down, its the daytime when i feel as if there is so much i need to get done!

Have managed an hour in town this morning and he lay in the pushchair half awake, but will no doubt be back to feedathon in time for Jessica to go to nursery and Rebecca's nap - so bang goes my chance! LOL

I just keep telling myself this is the best thing for him, and therefore who am i to moan about it. In some ways Im more determined because I gave up so easily with the girls.... knowledge really is power!

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BandofReindeerwaitingontheroof · 20/12/2007 08:02

IT WONT BE FOREVER
IT WONT BE FOREVER
IT WONT BE FOREVER

and when you get past the first few months and no longer have to trail around with breast pads, and leaky milk spots on your clothes it will be a really nice thing to do , rather than a chore. Also, the older they get the quicker they tend to feed, so he wont be camping there for hours for very long either

IT WONT LAST FOREVER

Original poster
DanJARMouse · 20/12/2007 17:18

Evening all!

Feeling quite rough today tbh, got wisdom tooth pain and its doing my bloody head in! Got DH to give Daniel a bottle of EBM this afternoon so I could sleep but still feel rough!

Anyone know roughly how much a 3 week old should take in ounces of EBM? Have just been giving 3oz at a time, and its hit or miss whether he takes it all, last night for example he drained all 3oz and still had more direct from me, yet this afternoon he's only had 1.5oz!

Only letting him have 1 EBM feed max a day as dont want to affect my supply, also only expressing once a day.... is that ok? Im also concerned about nipple confusion as he has just started taking a dummy... only for afternoon sleeps but is it likely to make him more fussy at the breast?

So many questions, sorry!!!

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moondog · 20/12/2007 20:12

Ooh you want that tooth sorted before Christmas JARM. Ouch!

I wouldn't express more than once a day at this stage. What he has sounds about right.I would give mine a 120 ml bottle a day ( I had to as I was moving house-alone! Dh was abroad.) and sometimes he drank it all, sometimes he didn't.

I'd also make sure you get someone to give the EBM at dfferent times of the day so yuor body doesn't adjust to a long 'dry' patch.

How old is he now? Three weeks?