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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

My 8 week old baby won't feed properly

15 replies

TinaFay · 29/02/2008 13:13

Hi, I'm really wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing. My 8 week old son seems to suffer badly with his stomach. He's quite sicky, and has all the signs of bad wind... burping a lot, panting, rolling his eyes etc. As a result, I think he feels full (of air) most of the time, and trying to get a decent feed down him is a nightmare. He sleeps in fits and starts - during the day it's rare that he'll sleep for more that 20 minutes at a time, and will wake hungry again. I'd love to start getting him into some sort of routine, but I just don't know how I can when he's feeding so poorly. He seems to be gaining weight, so I'm not worried that he's not getting enough, I'm just exhausted as all I seem to be doing is feeding him! He's breastfed, but has the odd formula top up. I initially thought that maybe I wasn't producing enough milk, but I've tried offering him the bottle instead of my breast, and he'll only take an ounce or two of that, too. I'd be really grateful for any advice anyone can offer me. Many thanks, Tina

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 29/02/2008 13:17

It sounds like colic. my ds had it from about 4 wks till 12 weeks - awful wind. there are various remedies from the pharmacist. Coleif worked for ds, but he was ff. My bf friend found it no good. There's infacol too and varoius powders you can try as well as spending lots of time winding him. My ds used to be quite comfy lying on his tummy over my lap. It is tough, though. Can you get a wee break for a few hours if he is ok with ebm?

nickytwotimes · 29/02/2008 13:18

ALso, just remembered, getting too much foremilk can make it worse apparently. Don't know how you fix that - maybe express a bit before he feeds?

Original poster
TinaFay · 29/02/2008 13:28

Thanks Nicky. That's really interesting, as I imagine he probably is getting mostly foremilk from he and he won't feed at my breast for any length of time. Might have to get the pump out again then.

OP posts:
luvaduck · 29/02/2008 13:30

does he come off the breast screaming??? arch his back?
if so may be reflux and worth a chat with GP

tiktok · 29/02/2008 14:22

Tina - you may be experiencing an over-generous milk supply. Your baby may be arching to deal with the 'fire hose' effect of a powerful let down. The wind symptoms can be part of this, too. What is his weight gain? If it's anything around 8 oz a week or more, then this would be another sign....

If it is this, it is easily dealt with - check one sided feeding or block nursing in the archives.

Always sensible to think of 'normal' reasons before thinking of 'conditions'

Original poster
TinaFay · 29/02/2008 14:49

Hi tiktok, I really hadn't considered that. His weight gain has been good, 9oz last week, 10oz the two previous weeks. When I pump, the milk does seem to spray out quite vigorously initially - do you know if that's normal? However, as I rarely manage to pump more than 4oz, I've always assumed was suffering from the opposite extreme and not making enough. With regards to pumping, I've heard conflicting views as to whether or not it's an accurate indication of milk supply - some midwives seem to suggest it is, whilst others have told me that a baby is far more efficient at extracting milk than a pump, so I'm really none the wiser!

OP posts:
KathyandIzzie · 29/02/2008 15:14

It takes 90 minutes for your milk supply to completely regenerate. So if your expressing close after last feed 4 fl oz is really good!

Also babies can definitely get 1 more fl oz from you than an expressor! Also with that weight gain your baby sounds like he is getting plenty to eat. Don't go down that road of top ups with formula as it will effect your milk supply.

tiktok · 29/02/2008 15:30

Expressing is not an indicator of anything, Tina - I have known women fully bf term twins who can't get more than a few drops, and others who can express loads but their sick/preterm/very new baby has not yet learnt to get much at all....it's untrue to say the baby can get more than the pump, as some babies can, and some can't, and some pumps/expressing techniques are more/less effective than others.

KathyandIzzie - where did you get the '90 mins to regenerate' from?? The 'speed' at which milk is replaced varies enormously - long gaps between feeds - slower production, short gaps = faster production.

Tina : your baby's weight and the spraying you experience make me think even more about over-generous milk supply and a powerful letdown.

Hope this helps!

KathyandIzzie · 29/02/2008 15:50

I got it from the "Baby Whisperer - How to calm connect and communicate with your baby" so you can blame Tracey Hogg.

Also got the part on baby getting more from you than an expressor from her book too.

I'm not a nodding donkey but I found her advice worked for me.

Sorry tiktok

tiktok · 29/02/2008 16:11

Aw, Kathy&Izzie, the Baby Whisperer vies with Gina Ford for the author who knows least about breastfeeding!

I should have recognised the dogmatic style of the BW....if you think about it, how on earth would anyone time the process to 90 minutes, and how on earth could anyone assume it was the same every time for every woman's body after feeding every baby?

Best thing to do with anything like that is to a lot!

Happy that worked for you, but I would venture to say you had a good bf experience despite reading the BW, and not because of it

Can you tell I think she's a bit rubbish ?

KathyandIzzie · 29/02/2008 16:19

Gosh I didn't mean to start a big discussion.

My breast feeding experience was very bad. My little one was a snacker and would only take a little bit each time, so I ended up constantly feeding her as well.

I muddled through it mostly through trial and error but I'm not sure my technique would work for other people so I didn't mention it

Anyway I'll leave it there and the posts can be just for Tinafay and what may help her. Yours have been great, I agree with what you've said everytime Maybe I won't write anymore

tiktok · 29/02/2008 16:22

No, don't apologise, K&I!

I love any chance to rubbish the BW

Sorry your bf was not a good experience for you - snacking is perfectly normal for some babies, and there's nothing wrong with it!

Original poster
TinaFay · 29/02/2008 16:24

Oh, but if only it were true! I pumped 4oz at 3pm and was all set to pump another 4oz at 4.30pm. I'd be able to stockpile it!

Thank you both so much for your help though. Feeling slightly more relaxed now as he's been a sleep for almost 2 hours - it's so lovely to get a little rest.

OP posts:
KathyandIzzie · 29/02/2008 16:27

My gorgeous girly has just woken up so time for me to dash.

I'd love to know what Tiktok does for a living, she sounds very knowledgable!

tiktok · 29/02/2008 16:38

Tina - no need to express, honestly....and doing so will make you make even more milk, which isn't what you want!

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