fore milk, hind milk - how much and how quick?

[Jasmer]

Hi,

I am b/f my 8 weeks old son and all of a sudden he changed from being a sleepy baby to be more awake and from me having to wake him every 3 hours to feed him, to him asking to be fed every 1.5 - 2 hrs, and only eating for 8 minutes.

I was told today that he might be topping up and being hungry as he would only be getting to the foremilk. This might be the case as he is also suffering a lot from colicy behaviour and gas/wind.

My question is; I thought about expressing the foremilk off until I get him back on routine (feeding every three hours) but am not sure how much to express and how quick fore milk returns in the breast (i.e. if I would feed at the last fed breast to finish the fmilk or if I wait three hours is the breast filled up with f/milk again?)

Hi Jasmer
Hind milk and fore milk are actually the same thing, they're not 2 different types of milk. The fore milk is simply the thinner part of the milk which is easy to get out, the hind milk the thicker creamier bit that needs more work to get out. I imagine it like a bottle of full fat milk where the cream floats to the top.

Have you tried encouraging him to feed for a bit longer at a time or does he fall asleep whilst feeding? If so, tickling him awake etc may make him feed for longer.

I'm sure someone else will come along with a brighter idea then me

Jasmer - sounds as though he is having a growth spurt. Babies need foremilk and hindmilk so it is not a good idea to express it off. However, if he is only feeding for short spells, try feeding from one side only for a few feeds. That means that he will get fore and hind milk. Make sure you do not fall into the trap of timimg feeds. Let him feed for as long as he wants. When he stops, wind him and offer him the same side again. Give the opposite breast at the next feed. Obviously if he is still looking for milk give him both sides. HTH.

Thanks for your responses up to now - He does come off after 8 minutes and up to today, I thought he had enough, so did not try to push him much further.
He chucks up a lot of milk though which would make me think that he is full..and other times indeed falls asleep, so I will try to wake him for more.
What is the general thought regarding feeding timings, every three hours, with how much time for a feed?

I don't mean to be rude but why are you sticking to a 3 hour feeding regime? Why not feed your ds when he needs it? Do you really know what he needs? Is he trying to tell you what he needs and you aren't listening as you think he should only be fed every 3 hours? Is he healthy? If so you are doing just fine and have nothing to worry about.

Yes - watch the baby, not the clock

Your body responds to the baby's needs, by making milk in direct response to the frequency and efficiency of the milk removal.

You can be sure your breasts haven't a clue what the hands on the clock say

But - if you feel that you do not want to be constantly feeding your baby it is fine to impose some sort of routine. Some people will probably take offence at this, but your needs are as important as your babies here, and if (but only if) you feel that having a baby constantly attached to you is too much, it is possible to establish good bf on a 3 hour (or even longer routine). I was a confirmed Fordie , but still gave small feeds when she didn't have one scheduled if I felt that was what dd really needed (eg for about 2 weeks she always needed an extra 5 minute feed before her 9am nap - I'm sure she was going through a growth spurt)

I can remember times like this, it sounds very much like a growth spurt. I always found that when it came to the point that I thought, I can't take any more of this, DS2 would return to a more bearable routine and I would have loads of milk. Your DS knows what he is doing, IMO leave him to it.

Hi Jasmer
I remember my little girl change quite dramatically from feeding for approximately 20 minutes per side to 5 minutes per side in the space od a couple of days. I also worried but think that she had just got really adept at it. She also needed more frequent feeds during growth spurts. She is now a huge 8 month old and still enjoys her quick bursts of breast feeding. Good Luck.

Hi Jasmer,
I let my 12 week son feed on one breast until it is empty (when I can't express a drop easily, normally about 15-20 mins if he's really hungry, longer if he's messing / snoozing) then offer him the other side. I let him feed whenever he wants during the day, and even though it feels like he's permanently attached some days he seems to have taken all the calories he needs by bedtime so that he sleeps for long stretches at night. I watch a lot of daytime TV.... Good luck!