Breastfeeding - Mothers Diets

[LuckySalem]

Hi,

After being told off by my HV today and then researching the internet about it. I've now decided to agree that I'm drinking too much Coke and that it's probably that that's making DD (20 days old) cluster feed and not settle all day.

I've also heard something about eating too many grapes.

Is there anything else I should be avoiding?

Thanks

Also,

I'm going to start expressing from Friday is there anything I should be doing? Can I freeze it? Does it travel ok or should I be keeping it cold whilst i'm out and about. Also does it need to be re-heated like formula does? Can it go off? If so, how long does it last?

Sorry for all the questions

Hi!

Good info here:

www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html

Cheers Caz

luckysalem too much coke isn't good of course, but your dd might need to cluster feed, it certainly isn't a thing to avoid at 20 days old.

Hi there, I would agree with the caffeine thing, I have to time my coffee intake carefully or it riles up teh DD's, but apart form that I don't think there is anythign you shoudl be avoiding.
If you are expressing then you shoudl treat it as 'nomral' milk, ie. keep it chilled while out (one of those things for keeping formula bottles cool along with a small icepack will work, I got one from tesco in the baby milk section for about 6 or 7 quid) and put it in teh fridge asap. It keeps in teh fredige for a couple of days.
Better to freeze it where it keeps for 3ish months (i think!)
It does need to be reheated but NEVER in teh microwave, only in a jug of warm/hot water.
If you can get some proper breastmilk storage bags, lansinoh do some, and boots do an own brand one as well, but just treat them carefully when it is frozen as you don't want them to split after all your hard work!

HTH

ls i know absolutely nothing about expressing but dimly recall others suggesting that this is a little early. maybe you could have a proper look round kellymom and see what is recommended.

By all means cut down on caffeine and look at making your diet as healthy as possible.

I dont think this will stop your baby cluster feeding. It's a very common thing, and it's just what they do.

Will do thanks to you both!!

I would also watch out for citrus fruit, too much can give tummy ache, i had a thing for orange juice and had to stop!! Anything that is bad for you is prob not good for baby..ie coke, coffee, alcohol, but all in moderation of course, no one says you have to give up altogether just cut back. Lots and lots of water is good and i found i was very thirsty whenever i was bf

VVQV - Do you think that the fact i'm drinking coke isn't what's making her feed for so long then? Is it just a normal thing? The HV gave me the idea that if I stopped drinking coke she's go back to only feeding for 20-30 mins every 2/3 hours. Could she still want to feed for nearly 2 hours straight? Is that what cluster feeding is?

I'd pretty much guarantee that she'd cluster feed all the same.

There is certainly evidence that some substances can cross over into breastmilk, but how much, and how much effect it has is not always clear.

HV's sometimes dont have the most up-to-date information (and some of them are downright old fashioned!). I've had HV's try and tell me that my eating cauliflower would give my baby wind (the wind from such things in us, comes from the process of the food breaking down in our gut, so it wont have that effect in milk - it's already broken down).

It's very common for b/fed babies to cluster feed. It's very normal and helps to build up your supply of milk. Babies have regular growth spurts too where they will feed more often and for longer. Again, this increased feeding builds up your milk supply. Nature is a very clever thing, isnt it?

I think that maybe the caffeine could be keeping your baby awake, and therefore feeding more often..and i only say could be!! But it could be that she just needs more milk and is hungary, they do feed a lot don't they. But it certainly won't do you any harm to cut back on coke a little.

I never knew about that, thanks

i think 2hrs is just normal feeding tbh!

here is one definition of cluster feeding:

Cluster feeding, also called bunch feeding, is when babies space feeding closer together at certain times of the day and go longer between feedings at other times. This is very common, and often occurs in the evenings. It's often -but not always- followed by a longer sleep period than usual: baby may be "tanking up" before a long sleep. For example, your baby may nurse every hour (or even constantly) between 6 and 10 PM, then have a longish stretch of sleep at night - baby may even sleep all night.

oh ok, she doesnt do that. just fed for 2hrs straight. maybe this is just hows shes gonna feed now?

Sorry, I should have made clear, I agree with teh others, cluster feeding is a sad, tiring fact of life I'm afraid, but caffeine did seem to rile the DD's up.
With regards to expressing, I had to express from 2 weeks as I had to leave DD1 at 5 weeks during teh daytime to go on a course but I had problems with engorgment for weeks so wouldn't recommend it unless it is really necessary. With DD2 I didn't express until she was 10 weeks and have found no engorgement problem.

Sorry, am tired so hope that makes sense!

ps...6-10pm...i WISH! We are doing 5pm-midnight at the moment...

LS, if any HCP tells you that 'doing x,y,z will make your newborn baby go longer between feeds' then that is a clear indication that their bf knowledge is very poor and you should immediately discount any thing they say .

Have a look at Kellymom, recommended further down the thread and also at Hunkers blog here for decent information about bfing and what to expect. This page is fantastic, the best bit of bf advice I've ever read.

Cheers for that Olihan.

I've got a BFC coming on Friday so may have a discussion with her about it all.

Am having SERIOUS withdrawal symptoms today after not drinking any coke. It's horrid.