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Infant feeding

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

I know they say you can't overfeed a breastfed baby, but...

21 replies

cyteen · 09/01/2009 08:44

I wonder if somehow I am managing it. DS is 4 months, growing well, cheery and chubby, lots of wet and dirty nappies etc. but lately I think I've been offering him the breast when he's not especially hungry. I wonder if I'm so in the habit of offering frequently that I'm actually not reading his cues right anymore - he was a very frequent feeder during the early ravenous days, but now he's at the stage where he's more interested in looking around and playing with stuff so it's harder to tell when he's actually hungry (unless he's had a long sleep, ha ha, or similar).

The thing that's mainly bothering me is that he's quite a sicky baby. He always has been so, bringing up a few mouthfuls of milk after every feed, but these days he'll posset 2 or 3 times over the course of about half an hour. He doesn't seem that bothered by it, although will have a little whinge if it's a particularly thick and cheesy puke, but it makes me think perhaps he's just eating to be polite whenever I offer the breast! I admit that sometimes these days I'll offer when I'm at a loose end during a long day alone with him or as a shortcut to settling

Opinions much appreciated

OP posts:
BouncingTurtle · 09/01/2009 08:53

I think the sicky phase is something most baby go through.
And breast isn't just about food, it's also comforting
Sounds to me like he is doing fine! My ds was very similar to yours. Oh and don't forget 4months is a typical growth spurt age so he may want to feed more any way, especially as it is a development point when suddenly booby isn't always the most fascinating thing in the world - you may find he'll start to get easily distracted by things around him, again completely normal!

BouncingTurtle · 09/01/2009 08:53

I think the sicky phase is something most baby go through.
And breast isn't just about food, it's also comforting
Sounds to me like he is doing fine! My ds was very similar to yours. Oh and don't forget 4months is a typical growth spurt age so he may want to feed more any way, especially as it is a development point when suddenly booby isn't always the most fascinating thing in the world - you may find he'll start to get easily distracted by things around him, again completely normal!

cmotdibbler · 09/01/2009 08:56

My DS was always a posseter - my (actually very nice and knowledgable) HV said that some really enthusiastic feeders will gulp down loads of milk, and then their body sorts itself out as to how much milk they actually want in their tummy.

It stopped when he was about 7 months old

sasamaxx · 09/01/2009 09:01

I agree with bouncingturtle.
So he loves warm snuggly feeds for whatever reason - that's fine. Don't worry about the possetting - sounds fine to me.
I think you're doing great

theowlwhowasafraidofthedark · 09/01/2009 09:01

My 4 month dd is ff, but over the past week she has definitely I have left longer gaps between feeds as she's suddenly become capable of taking in more and going longer between feeds (she was low birthweight and fed every 2 hours when she was born).
She's also a v sicky baby (although it doesn't bother her), have concluded that there's not much I can do about it.

cyteen · 09/01/2009 09:06

Thanks all It's good to be reminded about the comfort aspect of bf as well as just the food. I certainly enjoy feeding times so why shouldn't he?

dibbler - that's good to know. DS is definitely a guzzler (clearly his mother's son) so maybe that's it. He's always been quite windy for much the same reason.

OP posts:
sasamaxx · 09/01/2009 09:11

Lots of laundry eh owl?
I have a sicky baby too - you just resign yourself to it don't you?

MarlaSinger · 09/01/2009 09:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cyteen · 09/01/2009 09:19

lol Marla. Luckily for our cheap Ikea furnishings priceless heirlooms, DS has mastered the art of puking all over me His latest development is to turn his head away from the strategically placed muslin so that the vom showers across my chest or occasionally just goes straight into my crotch. I'm so proud.

OP posts:
Rhian82 · 09/01/2009 11:44

Lol cyteen, my DS does that as well, very specifically avoids the muslin and goes straight for the nice top I was foolish enough to try wearing.

ChairmumMiaow · 09/01/2009 11:48

cyteen - my DS possetted quite a lot for the first few months, and fed very very frequently. I remember changing my top every time there was a little bit of sick at first... that didn't last long!

And just wait till they start solids. Milk sick is so much nicer than lovely stinky baked bean vomit (DS likes to stuff his face at tea, then drink milk at bedtime till bursting point, so we have a bit of 'overflow' every so often [ick])

ChristmasTreeTrunkThighs · 09/01/2009 13:49

"but it makes me think perhaps he's just eating to be polite"

That really made me chuckle!

sasamaxx · 09/01/2009 15:47

It's so true though isn't it?
I sometimes think that too lol

bohemianbint · 09/01/2009 15:56

I was wondering the same thing this morning so glad to see this! DS2 is 20wks and always at it, every 2 hours or so. He's huge. Actually it's starting to kill me a bit cos it's all night too, and we're co-sleeping, so when he isn't feeding he's thrashing and am getting no sleep. Was even toying with the idea of a dummy to see if it meant I got a bit more kip, but I really don't want to. Sorry, have hijacked and meandered, haven't I...

spicemonster · 09/01/2009 15:58

I wondered round with a huge gobbett of sick down me for the entire time I was bfing. And my DS was huge when he was 4 months - have you ever seen a photo?

My mother was convinced I was overfeeding him as he was such a porker but he's slimmed right down now. And your DS is a tall boy!

Don't worry - there is such joy in feeding. Enjoy it while you can

sasamaxx · 09/01/2009 16:57

Bohemianbint - that thrashing around all night is the pits isn't it?
I did find a dummy helped but really I don't think there's a solution - just improves with time I think. DD is now nearly 7mths and settles a bit better with more periods of 'restful' sleep but from 4 - 6mths it was horrendous.

MarlaSinger · 10/01/2009 10:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bohemianbint · 10/01/2009 13:33

wow - what bis this 4-6 month thing?A much as I sort of like it, I have been questioning whether it was a huge mistake, as DS1 was sleeping 7-7 as per Gina at this stage...

MarlaSinger · 10/01/2009 13:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rempy · 10/01/2009 13:52

Is it just DS that never refuse boob? My DD would turn head away sometimes. DS has never once, in 21 weeks, said no. I wish he would occasionally. It would make me more imaginative in how I settled him.

sasamaxx · 12/01/2009 15:48

Maybe it is just DSs.
My DS never ever refused but DD does!

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