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Original poster

Breastfeeders- help please?

31 replies

Kanfuzed123 · 18/01/2022 11:32

Can milk supply drastically reduce over the space of 3/4 days?

Little boy has been really poorly had not feeding well, feeding ok enough to have good output but still leaving some fullness behind. I was expressing the extra off 2/3 times a day.
Yesterday all he wanted was to feed feed feed and he was getting quite cross at the boob. Really settled at night though.

But weight wise he was gaining well, but didn’t gain a lot last week. And that means he’s fallen a centile.

Given how he wasn’t feeding well and his behaviour at the boob could my supply have fallen?

His weight is concerning me too on top of this behaviour

Anyone any clues, he’s 6 weeks?

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olderandwiserx · 18/01/2022 11:41

No you should be fine. They have a growth spurt/ cluster feeding spate around 6 weeks. It's unfortunate he's been poorly too but he's naturally upping your supply by being on breasts lots. He's also making up for not feeding so well when poorly. I'm sure it's fine but if you are worried give the HV a quick ring. X

Poppy709 · 18/01/2022 12:10

6 weeks is classic growth spurt territory where they feed constantly to up your supply, I remember spending hours on the sofa with my DS whacking my boobs, it’s hard but it will pass and your supply will catch up. Obviously keep an eye on wet dirty nappies but sounds like classic 6 week old behaviour. It does get easier, I ended up feeding for 16 months in the end but I found this phase really hard!

Original poster
Kanfuzed123 · 18/01/2022 12:16

HV said sounds like he doesn’t like breastfeeding. I’m broken today he’s literally screaming and hysterical. He can’t be getting anything

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Wnikat · 18/01/2022 12:23

Your health visitor sounds bonkers.

Your supply may well have dropped a bit over the last few days, and he might be trying to catch up so getting a bit hungry. It will bounce back by tomorrow. Just let him feed as much as he likes. Sorry today it tough, you could top him up with some expressed milk from a bottle?

BadgeronaMoped · 18/01/2022 12:27

Have to agree that your HV sounds a bit... odd. I would recommend feeding on demand and also, the Kellymom website was a godsend for me when bf-ing my dc, you may find some useful advice on there about supply. I remember all three of mine having growth spurts and being very fussy at points. Hope it improves soon for you!

Bumble1993 · 18/01/2022 12:36

I’m currently feeding my second - I’ve been there.
If you are able - I have found the best approach when they’re fussy around feeding is to get right back to basics.

Strip both you and baby off and get into bed. Cuddle, skin to skin, eye contact, then when he seems calmer and interested offer the breast slowly and without being too ‘pushy’. He’ll come back to you. Sometimes they just need a reduction of stimuli to refocus them.
This can be an hour or all afternoon
Take care!

Purplepjs · 18/01/2022 12:37

I’d second the advice you’ve had. Kellymom is a very useful, evidence based website. I don’t agree with your HV!
Sounds like he’s catching up after being poorly/entering a growth spurt. It might feel like he’s getting not much, but he’ll be working to up your supply for his extra needs. If his nappies are wet/dirty frequently then you can presume he’s getting enough milk. Get yourself plenty of fluids and snacks, a box set and feed on demand for as long as he wants (my eldest used to feed for hours and hours sometimes! Youngest was much quicker and shorter feeds; they’re all different). If in doubt, try calling the national breastfeeding helpline who can be a great source of reliable information, or look for local breastfeeding support groups.
Well done for the first six weeks feeding… I always found it began to get a bit easier from here on in. Xx

Original poster
Kanfuzed123 · 18/01/2022 12:49

I’ve tried topping him up with a bottle but it’s like he can’t take them at times, we’ve tried nuk, nuby and dr browns teats you know the long ones and he gags. Mam seems a bit better but his bottom lip doesn’t fish out and he dribbled milk and then every so often just chilled with it in his mouth. He doesn’t do those things on le boob

OP posts:
RavenclawsRoar · 18/01/2022 12:56

Please ignore the HV. Lots of great advice here! I also found rocking / swaying and rhythmic bum pats helped me through fussy times. Something reassuring I once read- babies cluster feed just BEFORE a growth spurt, so while they are "putting their order in", they aren't actually hungry at that exact point in time and by the time they are the milk is there. Remember to eat and drink plenty yourself. Good luck!

rosie561 · 18/01/2022 13:02

You can do this Thanks breastfeeding is so hard to begin with, until suddenly it gets easy. Ignore your HV, she sounds odd. My DD went through something similar to this for weeks on end and I was so upset and frustrated. It turned out she had an undiagnosed posterior tongue tie. I had been told by the hospital, doctor and HV she didn't have one but I saw a proper tongue tie consultant and she diagnosed and snipped it for her. It's one that can only be felt, not seen, which is why it had been missed. It might not be this but it's something to consider. My DD also struggled to suck a bottle, clicked with her latch and got fussy to the point of being inconsolable on the boob. Once the tie was cut we had a rocky week whilst she relearnt her latch, and then it was fine.

Practical things you could try now - go somewhere quiet and dark to try and calm him down to latch. Or try rocking him standing up as you feed. The national breastfeeding helpline were also extremely kind and helpful so do give them a call if you feel it might help. Good luck x

Mummyof287 · 18/01/2022 13:08

@Kanfuzed123

HV said sounds like he doesn’t like breastfeeding. I’m broken today he’s literally screaming and hysterical. He can’t be getting anything
What a ignorant and stupid thing to say! Clearly she shouldn't be in the role she's in. I very much doubt any baby would 'dislike' breastfeeding, as its what they are naturally programmed to do to meet both their emotional and nutritional needs.And great way to make you feel even worse about it all.Silly woman 🤦‍♀️
Harrysmummy246 · 18/01/2022 13:14

@Kanfuzed123

HV said sounds like he doesn’t like breastfeeding. I’m broken today he’s literally screaming and hysterical. He can’t be getting anything
What a load of absolutely unhelpful BS....
Original poster
Kanfuzed123 · 18/01/2022 13:16

Tongue tie wise he had a midline tongue tie that was released at day 2 and has had some mild reattachement according to the practitioner but my kids heal really well tongue tie wise so it always so I was hesitant about getting it re m done when he was gaining ok and feeding was fine as if it reattached again nothing can be done. He’s got good movement he can follow your finger and lift his tongue and stick it out.

But how you said your daughter was @rosie561 was exactly the same as mine, it was horrid

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Fallagain · 18/01/2022 13:20

Sounds like a tongue tie and he is making up for not being well. In would consider a pirate lactation consultant but in the mean time settle on the sofa and with lots drinks and snacks and feed all day. If he is screaming for an hour then you need to see a GP to rule out a medical issue like developing a bacterial infection or even if you are worried ring your GP.

linerforlife · 18/01/2022 13:25

HV sounds nuts. Keep feeding, keep doing skin to skin and make sure you are eating and drinking plenty. Take a couple of paracetamol for good measure - recovery from birth is still a thing at 6 weeks!! Go to bed with your baby this afternoon, with snacks and water and a cuppa, and pop the TV on. Snuggle down and feed feed feed!

BumbleNova · 18/01/2022 13:26

Omg that health visitor 😱😱😱. For God sake ignore her "advice".

It's classic behavior to be constantly on the boob and fussy when having a growth spurt.

How are LO's nappies? Plenty of wet ones? Breasts are more like a river than a say a bucket. If baby triggers a let down the milk will keep coming. Speaking as the mother of a child that used to do marathon 3 hour feeds...

BumbleNova · 18/01/2022 13:27

Just chill, feed baby when it wants feeding and eat all the snacks. You need energy!

KatieKat88 · 18/01/2022 13:30

OP please ignore the HV and listen to the much wiser advice here! 6 weeks is classic growth spurt time, baby is upping your supply by being fussy. Absolutely normal and no bottles needed. Keep on going as you are, just feed on demand Smile (if you feel up to it I'd report that advice as well, it could easily stop someone who wants to breastfeed from continuing when they're doing perfectly well!)

StopStartStop · 18/01/2022 13:35

Allow him constant access to the nipple and stay calm. Check throat for thrush, that can cause the response you describe. Just feeling miserable can make babies kick off against the only thing they know - the breast. You're on it with tongue-tie already. Doesn't like breastfeeding? What nonsense! He loves it but he's been feeling poorly and things aren't going his way. There's fabulous advice on the thread - skin to skin etc.

Original poster
Kanfuzed123 · 18/01/2022 13:39

The practitioner who divided it is an IBLBC and she said it wasn’t a tie as such now but mild restriction, as he still had good movement? I don’t get compressed nipples, blanching or pain so I don’t know?

But she also said that babies are independent feeders and there aren’t any other positions really that you can do to get a deep latch, which is in direct contrast to what I’ve been told by other iblbcs. I’ve had his latched looked at and I’ve been told it’s all good.

No throat thrush or thrush in general. No milk staining on the tongue either (dd had that another clear sign of her ties)

He settled well in the night after a feed, sleeps 3 + hrs. Daughter didn’t sleep a wink

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NotVictorianHonestly · 18/01/2022 15:00

Your HV sounds bonkers. I'd heartily recommend contacting either the National Breastfeeding Helpline or La Leche League. Both are free and fabulous.

And this is a great resource for information on supply issues. The website is written by an IBCLC.

If you can afford it a private session with an IBCLC is invaluable.

Original poster
Kanfuzed123 · 18/01/2022 15:09

One of the only local IBLBCs we hired for my daughter, she helped insofar as highlighted she was still tongue tied but she consistently made me feel like shit, my daughter was small so we had a huge amount of pressure from HV and paed to wean early and my daughter was breast refusing at this point. It seemed like the IBLBC resented follow up, we paid for 2 sessions and she’d reply to messages that we’d ask with passive aggressive ellipses, when she was at our house she was visibly exasperated and sighing when I couldn’t get the rugby ball position down and rolling her eyes. She even replied to one message saying ‘I don’t know, ok!!!!’ (With numerous exclamation marks)

I might contact the infant feeding team and see if they can support

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NotVictorianHonestly · 18/01/2022 16:34

Gosh she sounds awful! Could a local parent Facebook or WhatsApp group recommend someone a bit more helpful?

KatieKat88 · 18/01/2022 17:10

My local infant feeding team were amazing so they're definitely worth a try, if just for reassurance. From what you've said I'd keep an eye on things but I honestly wouldn't be too concerned if nappies remain consistent - if he's been ill it makes sense that weight gain stalled a little last week. If nappies are fine and he's feeding lots now they're good signs that he's heading in the right direction.

Purplepjs · 22/01/2022 21:35

How is feeding now OP? Did you manage to get any support? Hope things are ok.

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