Not satisfied with BF

MrsJT · Apr 13th, 2012, 07:18 AM

Hi all,

My little girl was born at 34 weeks and so I was unable to breastfeed, she was a week old before anyone said anything about expressing for her.

I started expressing every 3 hours when she was a week old and neonatal were tube feeding her ebm and topping up with formula when I didn't have enough milk.

She is now 5 almost 6 weeks old and has been home since she was 12 days. She has only recently learnt how to latch on so has been having combimation feeds but my milk supply isn't brilliant I express between 30-70ml at a time.

I'm trying to exclusively breastfeed but she nurses for an hour and a half and falls to sleep if I put her down she'll start rooting and screaming , I've changed nappy made sure warm enough and tried a dummy to make sure shes not just sucking for comfort but she still seems to want to feed.

I really want her to BF but dont know how I'm going to manage an hour and a half every half hour

Any suggestions? Please help desperately trying not to give up and FF

nickyXjayno · Apr 13th, 2012, 07:31 AM

that's what its like in the beginning. the feed near constant & you'd swear they were eating nothing. loads of theories on why. but it's totally normal & they do grow out of it. the more time on breasts the better their suck & the more milk they get. just hang in there xx

MrsJT · Apr 13th, 2012, 07:44 AM

I just feel like i'm starving her, since 10:30 am she was on my breast for an hour and a half slept for 10 mins and back on the breast she has done this on and off since 10:30 its now 13:40 and she hasn't been off the breat for longer than 5 mins since without crying and showing signs she still hungry. With only 5 mins before she starts crtyng again I haven't time to eat myself as she constantly wants to nurse she hasnt had a nap at all since she woke at 7:30am

oblada18 · Apr 13th, 2012, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJT

Hi all,

My little girl was born at 34 weeks and so I was unable to breastfeed, she was a week old before anyone said anything about expressing for her.

I started expressing every 3 hours when she was a week old and neonatal were tube feeding her ebm and topping up with formula when I didn't have enough milk.

She is now 5 almost 6 weeks old and has been home since she was 12 days. She has only recently learnt how to latch on so has been having combimation feeds but my milk supply isn't brilliant I express between 30-70ml at a time.

I'm trying to exclusively breastfeed but she nurses for an hour and a half and falls to sleep if I put her down she'll start rooting and screaming , I've changed nappy made sure warm enough and tried a dummy to make sure shes not just sucking for comfort but she still seems to want to feed.

I really want her to BF but dont know how I'm going to manage an hour and a half every half hour

Any suggestions? Please help desperately trying not to give up and FF

Unfortunately thats what it is like in the early days, your LO is still very young.
At a few weeks old my daughter was also feeding more or less constantly...you just have to hand in there, it will get better... but from what you are saying it is just normal behaviour, it does not mean she is not satisfied!

CandyDay · Apr 13th, 2012, 08:13 AM

Lots of feeds is perfectly normal.
If you can find a La leche league in your area so that you have some support. They can check your latch etc to make sure its not that. It is likely just normal behaviour but it might make you feel better to have someone who knows what they are doing to take a look at your feeding. You could also ask and check her for tongue tie to be sure its not that.
I know it made me feel better to have someone check my BFing and to let me know that I was doing it right.
If you getting the right amount of wet diapers then your LO is getting enough.

lynnikins · Apr 13th, 2012, 10:03 AM

It can be a bit like endless feeding in the early days she's trying to build your suPply and it is normal however she does need to sleep to so she grows I would try walking around with her in your arms even with the tip of your little finger in her mouth for her to suck on so she takes some time off the breast too their tummys are tiny so they do digest breastmilk quickly even if they have drunk till full, when u get a break sock up on easy to eat food and drinks by the chair you feed in

midori1999 · Apr 13th, 2012, 11:08 AM

Wow! How amazing that given the difficulties you have had you are even managing to breastfeed at all! Fantastic!

I think really that you need some qualified and good real life help. La Leche League may be a good starting point, as would any IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant, a medically qualified BF 'expert'). You can find an IBCLC via the Milk Matters website or by googling.

Obviously you need to increase your supply whilst still ensuring your baby is getting enough to eat and staying hydrated and in order to gradually reduce and stop formula you need professional advice and from someone that really knows how BF works. You may find a supplemental nursing system effective in your situation. It is a bit of a faff to use, but it means that any sucking at all your baby does is at the breast, as formula is given via the SNS, so it helps stimulate your milk supply.

You could start by ringing one of the BF helplines.

summer rain · Apr 13th, 2012, 11:10 AM

I think Midori's advice is spot on xx

MrsJT · Apr 13th, 2012, 12:49 PM

I have had the breastfeeding team here today and they have said positioning and everything is correct and that she should have a complete feed in an hour

as I said earlier she fed for 4 hours followed by a 40ml EBM topup and then she slept for 2 hours and has tried feeding for another 3 hours and a half hours.

Maybe I'm just being impatiant by wanting her to feed for an hour sleep for two and then repeat the process, it just feels 4 hours feeding and two sleeping is going to exhaust me and its starting to get me down

I really feel like she is not getting enough

oblada18 · Apr 13th, 2012, 13:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJT

I have had the breastfeeding team here today and they have said positioning and everything is correct and that she should have a complete feed in an hour

as I said earlier she fed for 4 hours followed by a 40ml EBM topup and then she slept for 2 hours and has tried feeding for another 3 hours and a half hours.

Maybe I'm just being impatiant by wanting her to feed for an hour sleep for two and then repeat the process, it just feels 4 hours feeding and two sleeping is going to exhaust me and its starting to get me down

I really feel like she is not getting enough

I have had days when my little girl fed almost 8 hours non stop...

usually it was just a one off though but as a normal rule when she was between 1 day and 7-8 weeks old she would frequently feed every hour, especially in the evening.

Your little girl is still very little indeed, try to put up with it for the time being. Do not rely on feeding pattern to know if she is doing well but rather on how she looks (alert etc), number of wet and dirty nappies and her weight gain (although again it needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, not every child follows the same weight growth chart...)

Do you have someone that can take her off you when she is not feeding so that you can go and sleep?

Apr 13th, 2012, 07:18 AM	#1
MrsJT Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 62	Not satisfied with BF Hi all, My little girl was born at 34 weeks and so I was unable to breastfeed, she was a week old before anyone said anything about expressing for her. I started expressing every 3 hours when she was a week old and neonatal were tube feeding her ebm and topping up with formula when I didn't have enough milk. She is now 5 almost 6 weeks old and has been home since she was 12 days. She has only recently learnt how to latch on so has been having combimation feeds but my milk supply isn't brilliant I express between 30-70ml at a time. I'm trying to exclusively breastfeed but she nurses for an hour and a half and falls to sleep if I put her down she'll start rooting and screaming , I've changed nappy made sure warm enough and tried a dummy to make sure shes not just sucking for comfort but she still seems to want to feed. I really want her to BF but dont know how I'm going to manage an hour and a half every half hour Any suggestions? Please help desperately trying not to give up and FF

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Apr 13th, 2012, 07:31 AM	#2
nickyXjayno Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Swansea Posts: 1,814	that's what its like in the beginning. the feed near constant & you'd swear they were eating nothing. loads of theories on why. but it's totally normal & they do grow out of it. the more time on breasts the better their suck & the more milk they get. just hang in there xx

Status: Offline

Apr 13th, 2012, 07:44 AM	#3
MrsJT Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 62	I just feel like i'm starving her, since 10:30 am she was on my breast for an hour and a half slept for 10 mins and back on the breast she has done this on and off since 10:30 its now 13:40 and she hasn't been off the breat for longer than 5 mins since without crying and showing signs she still hungry. With only 5 mins before she starts crtyng again I haven't time to eat myself as she constantly wants to nurse she hasnt had a nap at all since she woke at 7:30am

Status: Offline

Apr 13th, 2012, 08:13 AM	#5
CandyDay Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ontario,Canada Posts: 618	Lots of feeds is perfectly normal. If you can find a La leche league in your area so that you have some support. They can check your latch etc to make sure its not that. It is likely just normal behaviour but it might make you feel better to have someone who knows what they are doing to take a look at your feeding. You could also ask and check her for tongue tie to be sure its not that. I know it made me feel better to have someone check my BFing and to let me know that I was doing it right. If you getting the right amount of wet diapers then your LO is getting enough.

Status: Offline

Apr 13th, 2012, 10:03 AM	#6
lynnikins Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Elite Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: East Midlands Posts: 15,499	It can be a bit like endless feeding in the early days she's trying to build your suPply and it is normal however she does need to sleep to so she grows I would try walking around with her in your arms even with the tip of your little finger in her mouth for her to suck on so she takes some time off the breast too their tummys are tiny so they do digest breastmilk quickly even if they have drunk till full, when u get a break sock up on easy to eat food and drinks by the chair you feed in

Status: Offline

Apr 13th, 2012, 11:08 AM	#7
midori1999 Other BnB Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 3,454	Wow! How amazing that given the difficulties you have had you are even managing to breastfeed at all! Fantastic! I think really that you need some qualified and good real life help. La Leche League may be a good starting point, as would any IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant, a medically qualified BF 'expert'). You can find an IBCLC via the Milk Matters website or by googling. Obviously you need to increase your supply whilst still ensuring your baby is getting enough to eat and staying hydrated and in order to gradually reduce and stop formula you need professional advice and from someone that really knows how BF works. You may find a supplemental nursing system effective in your situation. It is a bit of a faff to use, but it means that any sucking at all your baby does is at the breast, as formula is given via the SNS, so it helps stimulate your milk supply. You could start by ringing one of the BF helplines.

Status: Offline

Apr 13th, 2012, 11:10 AM	#8
summer rain Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East England Posts: 16,532	I think Midori's advice is spot on xx

Status: Offline

Apr 13th, 2012, 12:49 PM	#9
MrsJT Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 62	I have had the breastfeeding team here today and they have said positioning and everything is correct and that she should have a complete feed in an hour as I said earlier she fed for 4 hours followed by a 40ml EBM topup and then she slept for 2 hours and has tried feeding for another 3 hours and a half hours. Maybe I'm just being impatiant by wanting her to feed for an hour sleep for two and then repeat the process, it just feels 4 hours feeding and two sleeping is going to exhaust me and its starting to get me down I really feel like she is not getting enough

Status: Offline

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