breast feeding advice

[stevensmummy]

Hi girls,

Looking for a bit of advice re breast feeding. My little man is 13 wks and has been rather ill from about 5 weeks, bad abcess on his bum. Took him down hill rather but after the op he picked up quicly and regained some of the dropped weight. Well when I say dropped he didnt actually lose any just dint gain much.

Now and about 4 wks ago hes had a flare up. They say they dont want to operate again as his bum is too little and the rreason its come back is coz they couldnt get it all out coz its too small. Good point but in the meantime hes not doin greatly. Hv's agree something needs done but we cant really disagree with hosp unless it gets really bad.

thats the background now here lies the problem. Hes feeding ok, I've not noticed a prob up until now. but on mon he'd only gained 2oz, so hes dropped one of those lines on the chart. He has been gettin baby rice in an attempt to get him to sleep longer. But since going on quite a strong dose og antibiotics hes had it coming from both ends again and crys constantly. So really its not a wonder hes not gaining much. The HV said not to worry too much he is poorly so its understandable, when he strts losing then worry.

So do I just feed him on demand, like when he was fresh out, in the hope that he will fatten up with more regular feeding? Or do i hold him off 3-4 hrs in the hope that he'll be hungry and take more? I reckon my milk supply isnt as much as b4 as hes not eating so much. Am I right in thinking suckling stimulates the milk?

Help, I'm concerned

Sarah x

[Scarlet]

Sarah I breastfed my eldest and he was fed on demand. Could you try this for a bit, perhaps you may need to supplement him with a bottle if he's not getting enough breast milk. How old is he again hun?Yes sucking is meant to stimulate the milk.
BTW Did you try expressing milk? That's maybe a good idea, because you could see just how much he's drinking if it's in a bottle, then you could perhaps monitor him for maybe a two day period to see if he's building up his amount as he's recovering...it'll also give you something to show your HV if you write down the amounts he's drunk. Also it'll help stimulate your milk.

Sorry to hear about his absess, poor wee thing. Can they lance it or is he too small.

Of course you are gonna worry but it's true what the HV says in that when they are poorley they do lose a bit and may actually go under the development line for their age. My eldest had a virus at 10 months and it took him two months to catch up in weight gain. Can you nip along to the local GP hun for some reassurance (or ring him/her up).

At the moment my wee un is poorley with a cold and has also lost his appetite.

As always we are here for you

Scarlet
X

[stevensmummy]

Hi scarlet,

Thanks for the advice. Hes not a lover of a bottle to be honest. But any time I do express he eats it all. I did think baout supplementing him with formula but I really dont want to do that, last time I did that I ended up stopping and I want to carry on not like I did with my last one.

I also wonder could he just be spoilt? He doesnt cry so much when I'm not there. I was at mu aunts yest so she could help me and she sent me off for a bath and a lie down. When I came back he was happily lying on the floor but as soon as he heard me he cried. Jen said he'd been happy until I came thro and spoke. He seems to just want to be on me all the time, when he is hes happy. As soon as I hold him like when hes on the breast he automatically assumes hes going to get a tit in his mouth! When he doesnt he screams the place down. U think hes just spoilt or really not feeling great and wanting the comfort?

x

[Scarlet]

He's only 13 weeks isn't he hun, I think perhaps he wants some closeness with mummy and breastfeeding is his way of getting some attention and TLC, he does it for comfort and for feeling secure imo. I don't think you can spoil a baby at this age (but you made me laugh )....

You said that he drinks the whole bottle when you express, despite him not being a lover of the bottle. If so maybe you could express for a few days/week and feed him this way, until he gains a bit of weight and breastfeed in between.

[stevensmummy]

Yeah 13 wks, yeah I thought that too but everyone keeps saying u've spolit him so its ure own fault!

[winegirl]

Hi Sarah

I dont think you can spoil a 13 week old baby. My little girl was exactly the same only crying when with me and good as gold when others were around. I know it sounds daft but I wonder if its because they feel like they can cry around you as you are the one that will give them the things they need?

Used to drive me up the wall, my little one would cry all day and stop the second daddy or someone else came home so noone ever believed me that she had been at it all day!

As for the feeding, I cant really advise as I gave up on breastfeeding after just over 2 weeks as was knackered feeding every hour and half. I put her on formula and she chaged over night and suddenly started sleeping through the night. Of course I would have liked to have done it for longer but it just didnt work out for us.

Winegirl x

[stevensmummy]

Thanks Winegirl

I really dont want to stop, purely coz I'm a lazy cow and dont fancy the idea of bottles. I also enjoy the closeness. I think I might just try feedin on demand. And make sure I eat better and more. Maybe I'm a bit stressed out and not eating well enough. I'll just persevere I think. If I get too tired i'll maybe supplement him with formula. If I can survive till monday I'll ask the HV what she thinks

Thanks

xx

[stevensmummy]

Hi girls

One more question. He fed 2x b4 his bedtime feed last night. over the sapce of about 2.5 hrs. So I decided to express so i could see what he takes. I only got 2.5 oz! I was disappointed at that so headed to the freezer for some back up. I gave him a 3oz and he took it all. Have to admit he was pretty full after and did sick up a bit but he did take it.

So I'm thinking maybe I dont have enough. I think it might be realted to me not drinking enough could that be possible?

Also since the antibiotics hes not been taking so much and I guss over the space of 4-5 days that would be enough to dry up the supply a bit. I have to admit I dont look quite so full, as my oh promptly told me last night when I was gettin changed! Would that be the case?

I thought I might try a day or 2 of feeding then expressing whats left and if theres none offer him some formula. Am I right in thinking they shouldnt empty both sides there should always be a little left?

Sorry 20 questions

Sarah xx

[scarlet1]

Sarah,

I think you need to drink lots. Didn't they at one time suggest beer or guiness for milk production?...maybe an old wives tale though. Anyways when I had my eldest in Germany they swore by herbal teas (containing fenugreek and aniseed I think) to help with milk production and you are meant to also to keep your feet warm (I forget why now ;D) this German milwife told me that....

Speak to you Monday hun have a lovely pink weekend.

Scarlet
X

[cinders]

Hiya Sarah,

How are you doing flower?

It is very important to drink lots of fluids when breastfeeding. Water is fine, but guiness is a an idea for me even though I'm not feeding anymore...ha ha!!

I had to express milk when I went into hospital for an op and was quite suprised at how little I managed to get out. The midwife did say that this was quite normal as expressing wasnt the same as actually feeding your baby. Dont worry about the amount aslong as baby is healthy in himself.

Feeding on demand does stimulate more milk and this mite be an idea for a while?

Good luck with it flower. Take care. Love n hugs Cinders xxx

[stevensmummy]

Thanks guys

I've gone for the drinking much more approach. I have been feeding on demand and when he has had a feed I've expressed to make sure I am empty and generally I have been getting very little so he must be taking it all. I was also told that emptying them will stimulate more next time. I hope so.

He didnt put on very much weight last time only 2oz but he is ill and I was told not to worry as it will take alot out of him but of course you do. My last little boy put on about 5oz evry week so I guess I expected the same. Having said thta he was on a special formula for lactose intolerance so I guess I cant compare them.

I expressed last nights feed and got 4.5 oz so I was surprised. he didnt take it all (although he nearly did). So surely theres enough there for him. I'm not going to worry too much about it and just see what monday holds re the weight gain.

Thanks for all the advice x

[Scarlet]

How did the appt go yesterday Sarah and how much did your baby weigh hun?

[stevensmummy]

We already discussed this in another thread. But clinic closed. Hv phoned and is going to come on thur aftrenoon and bring the scales so hopefully is a considerable amount. Keep your fingers crossed for me xx

[newbymummy]

Hi

Hope things have settled down for you and your bub re the BF.

I found the BF book by Clare Byam-Cook very helpful and reassuring, she explains the process in a really gentle and practical way.

Hope I havent broken any rules by making a recommendation on here but just wanted to let you know.

X

[stevensmummy]

Thankyou, I hadnt really considered reading a book about it. But I might try and have a look for that, thanks.

He put on 9oz at the last weigh in, which was 11 days worth of growing so I was much happier about it. He seems to be much more settled and when he was hungry I supplemented him with formula so until I built it back up which it now seems to be. Well hes happy and I look much bigger so there must be more in them lol.

Thanks for the advice tho, I appreciate it

Sarah x