2 questions for BFing gurus, please:

[PacificDogwood]

1. How significant is the colour of EBF baby's poo??

DS4's stool have always been green since they changed from meconium. He is now 4 weeks old. Feeds a lot, v frequently, produces a poo after virtually every feed. He lost less than 5% of this birthweight, regained by 10 days, gained 9 oz in week 3, but only 4 oz last week.

1. Non-nutritive sucking: does this help to increase milk supply or not?

I was under the impression it was removal of milk that triggered more milk production, not just butterfly sucks at the nipple. He was v unsettled last night (this is the culmination of increasingly fraught few days) and demanded breast every 20-40min throughout the night, mostly to just help him go back to sleep - for the next half hour or so, gah!

Any advice gratefully received.

V tired PD x.

You want oat milk pd (the non organic one as the organic one doesn't have calcium added). Rice milk a bit high in arsenic and also not as good for cooking with. Soy does have possible sensitivity issues yes.

For butter substitute you want either Pure sunflower spread, vitalite or M&S dairy free spread.

For biscuits you want bourbons, hob nobs, fruit shortcake (but always check the packets as not all makes consistent).

For chocolate you want G&B or Divine dark choc or G&B maya gold (explanation on G&B website as to why it lists milk as being contained in it when it isn't ).

Don't bother with hard cheese substitutes. I'm afraid that they are universally vile.

Swedish glace is surprisingly decent dairy free ice cream (soya based).

And alpro make a freshish single cream substitute in a red pot in the chiller cabinet which is decent too.

Thanks for that, CSWS! Now that you say that, I had heard about the rice milk/arsenic thing... I am sure I've seen oat milk around.

Well, after my flap yesterday, DS4 had a v reasonable night and a V V Settled Day !

Maybe just moaning on MN has therapeutic value?! Fingers crossed...
Poos still green though, and lots of contradicting info in t'Interweb as to whether this can be normal variant or always means a problem - gah!

If he remains happy, I will await next weigh-in and then reassess things.

Thanks for asking. Well, MN has worked its magic and things are going well .

Settled nights with 2-3 feeds and settling quickly after feeds with lots of, but managable feeding during the day.

We made it to Ikea today (more fools, us!)...

Can I ask, did your DC experience blood in their stools before you went dairy-free?
I've been told by a paediatrician that some BF babies simply have green poos and might not mean much at all...

Glad to hear that things are improving.
No blood for us.

Thanks for that, Hoochie.

It must have been hard to figure out what to feed your DD with that many intolerances, my goodness!

Well, my DS4 is doing ok, I guess. Spends a lot of time on the breast, not necessarily feeding ... His stools remain green, but more the cottage cheese consistency that I have seen with previous babies, not pesto-like.

I think I am going to save a nappy for HV to see - lucky, lucky woman

Morning, no, not taking any supplements at the moment.

I am more convinced that I do have plenty of milk; he is maybe not the most efficient feeder and milk transfer is slow at times, I think.

Breast compressions, I am not sure they are making a big difference... He just goes all sleepy and floppy and lets milk run out of his mouth, the wee sod! So obviously not latched on at that point, just holding nipple in mouth. But if I dare to remove myself he is garuanteed to rouse and start franting rooting, gah!

He slept 5 hours in one stretch last night (first time in Amby ), but then was restless and latched on most of the time from 3.30 am til morning when I gave up.

Glad your DD is better. I am still hedging my bets re CMPI, but going dairy free is definetely the next thing I'd try.

Have a nice Sunday!

1. as long as it does not smell foul, any colour from mustard to greenish or brownish is ok

2. don*t know