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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Breastfeeding - help needed

25 replies

AnnaEvan · 29/04/2010 20:22

Can anybody help? I've been breastfeeding my 10 week old baby exclusively. In the last week, he has been crying and coming off the breast and I think he's still hungry when he does this. It's making feeding times a real struggle as he used to be in such a good mood when he had fed now he takes himself off and he's still crying. Does anybody know why he might be doing this?

OP posts:
bingybong · 29/04/2010 23:02

have you tried feeding him before he starts to cry for a feed? Do you have plenty of milk - remember to look after yourself in order to look after your supply.

ShowOfHands · 29/04/2010 23:06

DD always behaved like this during a growth spurt. Would be fussy, cross, pull away, struggle but cry to go back on again. It was bizarre but only a few days at a time.

Everything okay otherwise? Gaining weight, weeing, pooing, alert etc?

Is it all feeds? Or is it when there's noise or lots happening?

No early teeth coming through? Any sign of a cold or similar?

ShowOfHands · 29/04/2010 23:06

Meant to say are you alright? No pain in nipples or breast?

illuminasam · 30/04/2010 21:21

Mine, also 10 weeks, does this when he has wind or is gearing up to do a poo.

Original poster
AnnaEvan · 05/05/2010 21:48

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. Realised with the Health Visitor that I am suddenly not making enough milk for him - I don't know why this has happened as I seemed to have plenty before. Any ideas on how to increase the production? I am going to one of the breastfeeding clinics tomorrow to see if they can help. In the meantime, I've been topping him up with formula as he was starving.

OP posts:
twolittlemonkeys · 05/05/2010 21:52

I'd be very surprised if you're suddenly not making enough milk. That's often one of those myths perpetuated by HVs who don't know that much about BFing. My DS1 did this when he had thrush in his mouth. A bit of Daktarin gel for his mouth and cream for me sorted it out.

Boost your supply with plenty of oats - porridge, flapjacks etc, lots of fluids. If you start introducing formula in place of some feeds your supply will decrease. It could well just be a growth spurt, in which case your supply will catch up as long as you keep feeding when he's hungry.

RubyBuckleberry · 05/05/2010 21:56

i'm not an expert but i'm sure it is unlikely (it might be the case but apparently it is actually quite rare) that you are not making enough milk for him - is he gaining weight ok with plenty of wet nappies?

www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html

good idea to go to bfing clinic - they are very helpful - good luck

Littlefish · 05/05/2010 22:02

The way to produce more milk is to feed more. The more you feed, the more milk your body will make. I really suggest ditching the formula and just feeding him more often.

Original poster
AnnaEvan · 05/05/2010 22:58

A few people have said it's unlikely that I would stop producing milk as much (espeically when I had so much to begin with)... Before I give him the formula, I'm bfing first and feeding every two hours or so to try to increase the production.

I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow with the bfing clinic.

Thanks for everyone's help

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 05/05/2010 23:00

How did your HV realise you weren't making enough milk?

Good luck at the clinic tomorrow.

Original poster
AnnaEvan · 05/05/2010 23:04

@ Hunkermunker - she watched me feed him and told me he was definitely still hungry - this is what caused the frustration on his part. Then she watched me try to express and there was nothing there (I used a handpump). She told me to give him formula and if he didn't take that, to take him to the doctors. He took 4 oz of formula straight after I had finished feeding him.

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 05/05/2010 23:10

Anna, she knows nowt about bf then.

Expressing is NOT an indication of how much milk you have.

And if he was still hungry, why not put him on the other side again? Giving formula will reduce your supply, not improve it.

I hope you get some support tomorrow - is it run by a bf counsellor?

Original poster
AnnaEvan · 05/05/2010 23:14

It's run by the bf nurses from the hospital where I was delivered. Apparently one of the ladies who runs it is a professor (or something similar) in breastfeeding so should know what she's talking about.

Maybe I should follow the advice on the kellymom website RubyBuckleberry kindly posted about taking him to bed for a couple of days and just feeding constantly to give myself some rest and increase the milk production.

BTW, when I offer him the other side again, he won't take it

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 05/05/2010 23:21

Oh, sweetheart - try not to get upset about it.

You're doing a great job, you know?

The thing is, if you give a baby formula after they've had a bf, they often DO take it, even if they're full - like you can always find room for pudding, is possibly the best way of putting it. It's a different taste/delivery method - it's a novelty.

Can you try a different position? Some biological nurturing, perhaps? Or, when you switch sides, perhaps try feeding him rugby-ball style so that he's lying on the same side, whichever breast he's feeding from (if that makes sense!)?

tiktok · 05/05/2010 23:38

Your HV is making an extraordinary assumption, and if she is guaging your milk supply on the observation of a single feed, your expressing, and your baby's acceptance of formula then she is in serious need of some supportive training - none of these signs, either singly or together, is in any way indicative of anything to do with supply.

Of course we weren't there, and can't see your baby or be aware of everything, but on the basis of what you say here, your HV's suggestions are tending to undermine you and your breastfeeding, and that can't be a good thing. The thing that's a bit concerning is that she may have seen something puzzling - hence the 'take him to the doctor's' comment. So I would not think anyone here can say 'ignore what she says'.

It's excellent you are going to see people qualified in supporting breastfeeding - do tell them what the HV told you, and if there is a problem with what she said, something might be done re. training.

Hope you'll be able to discuss the options for making bf better for you - they may well include the 'babymoon' thing. They'll be able to assess everything, with a history or what's been going on before as well.

tiktok · 05/05/2010 23:40

Not that anyone is saying 'ignore her', of course....sensible comments on the whole, I think on this thread

Though diasgree with bingy who suggests looking after yourself = looking after supply. Fortunately, not necessary, though 'tis good to look after yourself anyway

hunkermunker · 05/05/2010 23:42

I looked back to see whether I had said to ignore her, Tik!

Original poster
AnnaEvan · 05/05/2010 23:45

OK, have read through the biological nurturing articles and that looks like a good thing to try with baby.

Tomorrow I didn't want to give him any formula so I can show the bf clinic people exactly what the problem is.

@ Tiktok - thanks for the support. I think the HV was worried that if he didn't take the formula then there was a medical issue that he didn't want to feed. It did worry me especially as it was towards the end of the day on the Friday before the Bank Holiday weekend so her actual comment was take him to the out of hours doctor.

I really enjoyed bf before I encountered this problem and want to carry on until he is at least 6 months old.

Apart from this, everything else is fine. No issues with my health and baby looks healthy and producing wet and soiled nappies (although I've noticed a big difference since he has been having formula in terms of the soiled ones)

OP posts:
AbricotsSecs · 05/05/2010 23:49

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Rugbylovingmum · 06/05/2010 09:45

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is helpful but when my dd was about 12 weeks she started fussing when she was feeding (not at the end but throughout a feed) but also sucking on her hand and crying and rejecting her dummy. I'm sure it was a growth spurt but her mouth seemed sore too. I thought it was too early for teething but my hv said they can get sore gums at that age and it may be the teeth moving a bit even if they don't come through. When I mentioned it to a friend she said her LO had the same and wouldn't feed as it seemed to hurt - she suggested Ashton and Parsons powders. I tried giving a half dose every 3-6 hours and it really helped - she was still a wee bit frustrated until my supply increased but she settled and took a long feed first. Not sure if 10 weeks is too early for this or if there are any other signs of sore teeth?

Original poster
AnnaEvan · 06/05/2010 17:21

I went to the clinic today and the lady running it wasn't sure what the problem was - she said babies can do this sometimes and to keep perservering with bf. She suggested nettle or fennel tea and fenugreek tablets to help with milk production. She also said to spend a weekend just feeding DS with lots of skin to skin contact. Has anyone had any success with any of these solutions?

Thanks!

OP posts:
RubyBuckleberry · 06/05/2010 18:46

fennel tea made the let down really strong
nettle/chamomile/raspberry leaf seemed to make lots of milk - did drink it quite strong three times a day. it happened within a few days.

never tried fenugreek

glad to hear all ok - advice sounds about right - babies can be funny . a weekend just feeding him and skin to skin will probably work wonders. if he is gaining well, healthy, thriving, wet, pooey (even though sometimes i'm sure it is normal to have sporadic pooing after a while - the baby just uses all the milk ), then there is probably no need for the formula - just carry on bfing and enjoy your baby. that was what my nice HV said to me - i thought that was great advice

Bimble · 06/05/2010 19:01

I'm having a few issues with my 14 week old dd. She seems hungry all the time the little porker!!! My mother in law suggested that if you're very active ie doing too much it may have an impact on supply. Also dehydration although some think this is a myth too. I often get fussy feeding in the evening between 6-8pm don't know why. I suspect teething too as gums seem white and hard and lots of dribble and stuffing fists into mouth. I get really good support from my bf group when it all gets too much.

Zara75 · 06/05/2010 23:49

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RubyBuckleberry · 07/05/2010 08:17

bimble as i understand it 14 weeks classic time for growth spurt - she's upping your supply. apparently 'doing too much' will not impact on supply. your body will prioritise the baby - it might impact on you though.

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