20wo feeding less. Normal or cause for concern?

[hbmummy]

DD1 is exclusively breast-fed. Normally she would happily empty both breasts, sometimes one after the other, sometimes after a nappy change break

However this is not the case since the past few days. Been feeding her at the normal time, 4 times between 8am to 8pm, and once between 8pm and 8am.

On the second breasts, she will unlatch and starts to baby-talk, look around etc. I try to get her to latch again and again, but she just would not have it - she just pull away, not crying. Sometimes I give her a slightly longer nappy change, but doesnt work. I feed her at the same place everyday, so there is nothing new to distract her (I think) and it is just the two of us during day time, so no distraction She is not unhappy about not taking so much from the second breasts.

I thought as she grows she will take much more milk.

hbmummy - I have just posted a similar thread!! DS is 17 weeks and drinking a lot less than normal (although he is formula fed) - maybe someone will have some advice for us soon

Hello firststeps - so am not alone

Definitely not! It is really stressful isn't it when they stop feeding well, my lo is feeding exactly the same amount of times as yours in 24 hours so maybe this is typical behaviour at about 4 months?

As much as it can be 'tiring' sitting there breastfeeding, there is nothing much more I enjoy than seeing her gulping down milk, knowing that she has enough to feed to grow 'big, healthy and strong'.

Silly question, but if she has build up the supply required just from the first breast, am I supposed to notice change in the breast? Looks the same to me...

One thing to add, she was sniffly since last week, but now getting better. But the decrease in the feed did not start at the same time, but towards the end of the cold.

A connection there?

Thanks Starlight!

Guess I just go with the flow, and she will let me know when she needs more.

Thank you for the reassurance, Starlight!

Starlight - am not sure.

She wemt through yesterday night 8pm to 8am without a feed. Woke up about 2am I gave her a feed but very quickly she unlatched and just started chatting and looking around. i put her back into the cot and she went back to sleep soon after.

Will continue later...

Sorry took me so long to reply, been occupied the whole day and when wasnt was being lazy doing nothing.

In the morning, both breasts were engorged and hard. She took one breast, and unlatched before it was emptied. I changed her nappy, and wait a short while before offering the second breast. She wasnt interested at all. I tried again about 30mins later, and she took the second breast. Both breasts were so full that I had to express.

Today she has been about the same. Taking the second breasts after some time, and lots of attempt to get her to latch. Do not want to force if she is not hungry. She has wet nappies and did a major poo (very very runny) - maybe the lamb tagine I had yesterday? She is her usual self. Dont think the reduced appetite is a sign of teething - if there is such sign associated with teething.

The other reason why I am worrying so much is the engorged breasts. I had mastitis once when she was about 7 weeks, and had few block ducts. Am not sure whether to express the extra milk or just let it be. Am just wondering - if I express the extra milk that she is not emptying, the breasts will automatically keep producing the same amount or more, and not adjust to her new intake. I really need some advice on this, as I do not want another mastitis - that was horrible!

Also, we tried giving her the EBM in the lid of a bottle. She is not too keen and doesnt really know how to drink from the lid. She kept putting her tongue in, sort of lapping. Dont think she got any into her mouth.

A long posting. Help and advice or plain old reassurance is good.

Oh envy from here: sleeping from 8pm to 8am !!! And I just started a thread worrying if DS (19weeks) will get enough food if I refuse to feed him between midnight and 5am . DS does frequently unlatches and smiles while he feeds on the first side. He started this about 4 weeks or so. I take it as a sign that he is finished and stop feeding then. It wasnt a big problem since I was around all the time so far so he could come again when he was hungry. Have recently started to work again and am now more worried about him being not hungry. Have just started another thread on this. I personally wouldnt worry unless there are other signs.

Yesterday was the first time without a 'midnight' feed. However, she was busy sucking her thumb for nearly an hour, and that kept me awake. Will put up another post on the thumb sucking one day...

I try to keep DD1 to some sort of a routine because it gives me sanity and also it helps me to cope on my own as DH does long hours and travels a lot, and am left alone with DD1 for few days at a time. Do not have support network nearby so basically it is just DD1 and myself when DH travels.

Starlight - I have some other postings here about DD1 not taking the bottle since about 8 weeks. We have sort of stopped trying with the bottle.

Yesterday's first attempt was not for feeding but just wondering if she can drink out of something besides the breasts. She was very curious but did not get the hang of it. Reckon it will be few more attempts but we are not in a hurry as she will be weaned later on about 6 months and she will learn eventually.

All in all, think she is ok and the breasts is adjusting to the new requirement.

Thanks for your help! It is really good to have someone to talk through and just check that things are ok.