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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

11wks, on the brink of giving up breastfeeding as this can't continue :(

41 replies

Ready · 09/10/2009 17:27

DD has dropped from 50th to 25th centile, and last fortnight only gained 2oz. HV has told me to offer both sides per feed, but now neither breast feels full, ever. Before when I was feeding from one at a time they would do.
DD now only lasts 6 minutes on one side before pulling away and crying, all I seem to do is switch back and forth each feed, it's stressful for both of us.
Also DD never cries for food, so had been going 4 hours between feeds, but the HV has said that she is too young to that long, so that is possibly why she hasn't been gaining lots. I don't know how I am supposed to know when DD is hungry is she never asks, and basically after 4 hours still wasn't asking for it, but I would make her have it as I thought she shouldn't go longer. Now I feel; as though I have been starving her and think that breastfeeding is not right for her - I am just selfishly clinging on to it because I think it is the best for dd, but perhaps she needs formula to thrive.

So confused and worried. Anyone got any advice, or should I give her formula so she can gain the weight she needs??

OP posts:
Original poster
Ready · 16/10/2009 10:21

Toomuch!! So lovely to hear from you. Had to laugh at not feeding for 6 hours, I reckon dd would let me leave her for that long without a peep. Bless her.
Well done on exclusively bfeeding for so long, I don't think I will last that long, but then you never know, things might get easier. Dd still fusses, she will have a really good day then a few bad days and it is really stressful. I am doing my best to stick with it. Hopefully once she is over 12 weeks (today) she will get more settled at feeding. We shall see.
Seeing you has really made me smile.

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ladylush · 16/10/2009 11:17

Hi Ready - congrats on your dd Think we were on a temping thread together once.
I've got a 13 week old dd (3 weeks corrected as prem)and she is also a fussy feeder sometimes. Pulls off the breast frequently whilst crying then seems to frantically try to latch on again. No idea why. She is gaining well though. Seems as if your dd is gaining well now too I think in dd's case it is a combination of reflux and wind but I've also noticed that she does it when really tired. Ds was even worse and was a nightmare to feed in public as he was such a fussy feeder but he is a gorgeous 5 yr old now who eats very well indeed. Hopefully it is something our dds will grow out of as they get a bit older. Hang in there as long as your sanity permits

herbaceous · 16/10/2009 12:33

I recognise some of these ladies! And this problem.

DS is now 14 weeks, and for the past few days has not really been putting much effort into feeding. Seems to be hungry every 90 mins (though not at night, thank god), but doesn't really suck with the power he used to. So either he wasn't really hungry, or my supply's dwindling, or, er, I don't know.

He has also slipped off his percentile line - only from 75th down towards 50th - so the HV said I need to feed him more. But how? Do I wait longer between feeds, to build up more milk in the boobs, or what?

He's been feeding every two hours or so for weeks now, so the conventional wisdom of 'feed lots and you'll make lots' doesn't seem to be working. I'm taking Mama More Milk herbal supplement, but doesn't seem to he having much effect, other than making me smell of curry.

herbaceous · 16/10/2009 12:34

Oh, incidentally, he had the second lot of big injections on Monday. Could that have an effect?

tiktok · 16/10/2009 13:06

herbacious - it's better to start a new thread. This is Ready's thread, and what applies to you may not apply to her....makes discussing things difficult when new problems are queried.

I'll try to help you, but please begin a new thread

herbaceous · 16/10/2009 13:21

I will! Thanks TT. I was partly just saying hello to Ready and Ladylush!

ladylush · 16/10/2009 13:30

Hi Herbie Try fennel tea.

Original poster
Ready · 17/10/2009 11:11

Mini reunion

Ladylush, lovely to see you, I would agree that dd is worse with fussy feeding when she is tired. Early evening just before bed when I really need to know she is getting a full tummy, she fusses the most. Must be getting plenty as she goes through to 1 or 2 am lately. Thanks for the words of comfort, really helps that everyone says I am coming up to easy street ? I hope it is true because I don?t want to give up feeding just yet.

Herbaceous, I am interested to hear what advice you get, because my HV said to feed more often, and it is just hard to know how to do that. There are not enough hours in the day I find and dd only ever cries for food in the middle of the night.
How are you doing?

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toomuchtimeonline · 17/10/2009 11:29

Ready - evening time was always the worst with my DS - I think the tiredness of the day just catches up with them by evening. I tried expressing a little bit after every feed during the day to build up a little bottle of milk and would offer him that after he had fed on the boob on an evening.. not sure it really helped but it made me feel like I was doing something. Sleeping through till 1am already though sounds like she's getting enough milk so well done! My DS would be fussy all evening only going down properly at about 11pm

I think young babies just can be a bit fussy and if they aren't hungry monkeys like ours aren't they just can't be bothered to feed that much. DS still isn't a hungry monkey but he's thriving and full of energy so I'd try not to worry!

p.s. glad to be back!

lovelymama · 17/10/2009 21:53

Sorry, a late joiner on the thread but pleased to see that DD has gained weight, but just wanted to add that I hate this whole pressure to gain weight thing. If your DD is fairly happy and seems satisfied after feeds and is having the nappies you describe, I wouldn't worry too much about the charts. Of course, it would be wonderful if all babies gained weight quickly and steadily but fact is, lots of them don't and we don't always know why.

You are doing a good job sticking with the breastfeeding. Keep going as long as you and DD are happy!

Original poster
Ready · 18/10/2009 09:46

Thank you lovelymama, my dd is a very happy girl, full of smiles. She does fuss during evening feeds, but it seems that is not all that rare. I am hanging on in here, and not going to get dd weighed every week - less stress for me that way. Like you say, so long as she is happy and doing her business then that's ok.

Toomuch, so glad you are back! You should come on to the grads thread in pregnancy, lots of lovely girls on there.

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LeonieBooCreepy · 18/10/2009 10:21

This reply has been deleted

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toomuchtimeonline · 19/10/2009 20:51

Ready I definitely agree on the not weighing thing - I only ever took DS once month and even then I thought that may be too much.. If she's smiley and happy she's fine - it's a womans perogative to be grumpy on an evening if she feels like it

which graduate threads.... ? ? can't find them

Original poster
Ready · 20/10/2009 12:42

Totally agree, we are going to start once a month, and maybe go to the self way in between for our own peace of mind.
The grads thread is here, it is an bunch of people that used to chart our temperatures, but very welcoming to all graduates of the conception boards.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ready · 20/10/2009 13:21

of course I mean self- weigh

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toomuchtimeonline · 23/10/2009 10:53

Don't worry Ready the baby brain never leaves you - I'm still not fully functional a year later

I will slink over and say hello then..

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