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| Breastfeeding Mommies |
| Public online group |
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Hey everyone, just wanted to get some ideas/advice... I have a 2 month and 2 week old who has been breastfeeding with ease since the day he was born. Lately I feel as though he is not getting enough but feel like it might be a lil early to start cereals. I usually even supplement at least one feeding with formula so I know he is getting what he needs. He is growing like a champ but there are times when he is feeding that he pulls away only to latch back on, pull away latch back on and then he usually starts to get fussy so I switch breasts. He does okay for 10 minutes or so and then the pattern of pulling off latching on starts again. I have been drinking Mother's Milk which has helped keep my supply hearty but what else should I do? I try to pump sometimes but can never get enough out of a pumping unless I skip a feeding and give him formula because he feeds so much.
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| Posted by Maria on 11/07/2007 05:44 PM
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Hi Maria,
I have actually been to a nutrtionist for my baby girl with the same concerns. The nutrtionist told me that breast is best, as we all know, and that if you want to start cereals that the best time is 5 months. At 6 months is when you can introduce solids.
I have personally followed this advice and my baby girl is a hefty and healthy little bugger. Your son is still very young and still growing. I am sure that 10 minutes on each breast is a good start. He will let you know when he is hungry or if he is not getting enough. I also supplemented with formula in the beginning and then weaned to strictly breast. I applaud you for doing both.
As for pumping...the more you pump and feed at the same time the more milk will come in. Supply in demand girly. I have been doing both for quite some time and at first it was hard and I understand where you are coming from, but it gets easier as time goes on. Careful though, you could end up like me, a hyperlactator(sp?). :)
I would say keep doing what you are doing. Maybe pump once a day during your sons nap and rtake it from there. Hope I was of some help!
Good luck,
Caity |
| posted by caitlin on 11/07/2007 06:02 PM
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| Hi Maria, he may also be going through a growth spurt at this point, in which case he may need a little more than he was getting. In a few days you should catch up with him. Or, your milk may not be letting down as quickly as he wants it to. My 9 month old still prefers one breast over the other because the milk comes out much faster out of one. But, he always got a little fussy and wanted more, more, more!!! when he went through a growth spurt. |
| posted by Lauren on 11/07/2007 08:25 PM
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| Ladies...Thanks for your advice and thoughts. Hopefully it is just a growth spurt and I will do the catching up with him! I want to continue to breastfeed and hope to keep up with my hungry little man! |
| posted by Maria on 11/07/2007 10:36 PM
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Excellent advice Caitlin and Lauren! It is now recommended to hold off on solids until 6 months. I too started cereal around 5 months so Harlee would get used to spoon feeding.
Maria- my daughter went through a phase for a few months where she would latch on and off, on and off, over and over. I too would switch breasts, she'd eat a few minutes and do it again. Don't know why but she got over it. She is 8 months now and she still does not eat for more than 15 minutes unless we sleep through a feeding. The first few months she only ate one side for about 10 min. I rotated breasts by feedings instead of using both sides each feeding. If your concerned about you milk supply. Pump after each feeding until your breast is empty after each feeding. Make sure you stop when the milk stops so you don't over produce. If they are empty then pump 3-5 minutes even if nothing is coming out. This will get your milk supply back up. If you ever really get low there are pills called fenugreek, your can buy 200 for $13 at GNC. I took 3 twice a day till my supply got better (about 2 weeks). I freeze milk that I pump for when I am at work or is my supply gets low and she wants to eat and I have nothing left.
Good luck and good for you for the effort! |
| posted by Joni on 11/07/2007 11:48 PM
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Actually, by supplementing with formula, you are promoting the problem rather than solving it. The more you supplement, the less your breasts will produce. I made that mistake with my first and I ended up losing my milk around 5 months of age! Instead, you may want to try nursing more often. Even if he wants to nurse every hour, that's okay. Switching back and forth during a nursing session is okay too. Don't worry about how much you are getting with pumping, since that isn't a good indicator of how much you are actually producing. Pumping is still good though, since it lets "the girls" know that you want more from them, so they'll start producing more, even if it doesn't look like it from your pumping efforts.
He may be getting to a point that he is more interested in what is going on around him and that could be part of why he's pulling away. He could be experiementing with the nummies as well. It is also possible that he has a taste preference between the foremilk that first comes out and the hindmilk.
Drinking plenty of water, staying away from caffienated beverages, and eating a healthy snack (or meal) right before starting a nursing session can also help increase supply.
If he is growing, he is getting enough, so don't worry about it.
HTH
Brightest blessings and good luck,
Indigo Ottyr |
| posted by Indigo Ottyr on 11/07/2007 11:51 PM
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