Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

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

Doubting myself

8 replies

Louise0410 · 08/04/2023 18:06

I posted a few weeks ago about my DS (now almost 4 weeks) not liking to comfort nurse (e.g. if I try to offer the breast when he is tired - usually an hour after he has woken and had a feed - he can get quite furious with me and latches/unlatches when my let down happens. After this he will usually settle to sleep with a cuddle and likes to suck on my (clean) little finger. He clearly likes to feed when hungry but isn't one to feed himself to sleep/be comforted by feeding during the day

After reading around a little I think a large part of a lack of comfort feeding is a strong letdown and possible oversupply. He typically will feed for about 5 mins and then seems satisfied (I offer him both sides but usually he is done at one).

When awake he is mostly content (aside from a bit of usual newborn fussiness which I think is mostly due to tiredness/my 4 year old overstimulating him etc). I'm just constantly doubting myself that he is getting enough. He has plenty of wet and dirty nappies. He sleeps and wakes for feeds across the 24 hours (typically feeds every 3 hours). My breasts feel emptier after feeding. His weight gain has been good since birth (he was last weighed at 2 weeks when his feeding was similar). It just feels like these feeds are so brief in comparison to stories I read about people spending hours trapped under a feeding baby. I occasionally pump some milk just to have a freezer supply in case needed and with a pump I can easily get 150ml in 5 mins and I know babies are more efficient which makes me feel like he is getting quite a lot in the short feeds but I just find myself constantly doubting myself.

My first born was similar with his feeding habits (he was a furious baby though and had CMPA and reflux which meant eventually he developed a feeding aversion so that's a whole different story but definitely where all my self doubt is coming from).

With DS2 I don't want to get into an obsessive cycle of weighing him because I did with DS1 and it was not helpful so I suppose I'm just looking for some vague reassurance. (To add - HV didn't seem concerned when I explained)

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 08/04/2023 18:50

My DD only ever fed for 5 minutes and was fine. She was my second baby as well.

She was absolutely fine. Her weight gain slowed a bit around 4 months but she was just easily distracted so I did a stint of offering every 2 hours in the day and she want bank up to her curve again.

Honestly, don't worry. It sounds as though you have a great supply and yes doing a great job of feeding when he needs to.

If you need some evidence based reassurance have a read of Is my baby getting enough milk? on Kellymom or give one of the BFing Helplines a call.

Congratulations on your new LO too Flowers

Louise0410 · 08/04/2023 19:21

Thanks @PritiPatelsMaker it's reassuring to know that you had a similar experience!

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 08/04/2023 19:35

God sorry about all of the typos. Hope you've managed to make some sense out of all of that and that the links were useful Flowers

Twizbe · 08/04/2023 19:36

Sounds like he's doing really well. Some babies just really take to breastfeeding. My second was like that too. She just fed when needed and did it quickly.

Purplepjs · 08/04/2023 23:44

My first took ages to feed. My second fed in a very short amount of time.

All the other signs you describe sound good… nappies, weight gain, sleep, time between feeds etc. sounds like little one is an efficient feeder.

As suggested above, Kellymom.com is a reliable source of information or check in with breastfeeding support group.

Smonag01 · 09/04/2023 17:47

sorry I don’t have any advice (FTM and bottle feeding) but wanted to ask you about your first child’s feeding aversion. For the same reasons my son has developed one and I’m really struggling. He’s 3.5 months and every day is such a struggle. How did your sons resolve?

Hazelgill · 09/04/2023 17:51

Smonag01 · 09/04/2023 17:47

sorry I don’t have any advice (FTM and bottle feeding) but wanted to ask you about your first child’s feeding aversion. For the same reasons my son has developed one and I’m really struggling. He’s 3.5 months and every day is such a struggle. How did your sons resolve?

The most basic advice is to follow your babies cues. Don’t override if they don’t want to be fed.

I would really recommend this book though

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Your-Babys-Bottle-feeding-Aversion-Solutions/dp/1976164419

Louise0410 · 10/04/2023 08:53

Hi @Smonag01 . Sorry to hear about the feeding troubles. I know at 3/4 months babies can be tricky to feed as they are distracted by the world around them. Could it be that? Otherwise I'd get them checked by the GP. My son's oesophagus was really sore and painful from all his silent reflux and it was just too uncomfortable for him to eat. Once that had been fixed (with some medication and time) he finally started to want to feed. Weaning also helped but appreciate that is some time away.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page