Re: breastfeeding and not gaining weight

[Guest guest]

Well, I'm not a breastfeeding counsellor nor nothing like, but here's my 2p.

First, I think if she's sleeping for that amount of time at night, then

there's nothing very much wrong with your milk and given the right support

and information you will probably be able to feed her yourself to everyone's

mutual contentment. So, if they suggest mixed or bottle feeding, stick to

your guns!

Second, if she's grazing then my feeling would be that she's operating on a

constant top-up system, so that the reason she's not gaining weight could be

because she's not taking enough milk because she's not hungry enough. I'm

on slightly shaky ground here, but if she's grazing, will she not be missing

out on some hind milk? It sounds like she's not feeding for long enough to

get you stimulated enough to release hind milk, which is the rich, fattening

stuff whereas fore-milk is less rich and more thirst quenching than

nourishing (I believe). Anyway, my inclination would be to see if you could

arrange to put her down such that the histrionics won't affect you - perhaps

leave her with DH, or a good friend or relative for a couple of hours? Let

her work up a *real* hunger so that she'll feed purposefully and take both

foremilk and hind milk.

The other thing I might try, if she's suckling half heartedly is a dummy.

If she's after comfort and the suckling is getting in the way of 'proper'

feeding, then a dummy may allow her to suckle herself into a nap, which

would also allow her to take a break from the grazing and build up a real

hunger.

In any event, don't let the HV talk you into something you're not ready to

do yet: your own instincts about your dd will be far better than all her

training, no matter how good she is. Stick to your guns, and perhaps talk

to a BFC who can give you better informed advice than me?! I do sympathise

about the hysterics: both my girls could win awards in Drama Queen - very

trying!

Best wishes

Vicki Portman

http://www.plushpants.co.uk

> I have a 16 week old exclusively breastfeed daughter. In the last 3 weeks

> she has managed to loose 5 oz rather than gain weight. She's only was only

> little to start with, but had followed the 9 % line.

> She is very unkeen on daytime naps and would quite happily breastfeed all

> day. She has a real line in end of the world hysterics if you put her down

> and she still wants to feed.

> I am beginning to suspect that she is suckling very half heatedly a lot of

> the time and that the milk isn't letting down as well as it should.

[Guest guest]

My thoughts:

If she is feeding a lot but half heartedly, and not gaining; it could

be a positioning problem rather than a grazing one. Rafi fed *a LOT*

but gained buckedloads. I would be *very very* reluctant to feed your

baby less than she is being fed now, if she is losing weight, but what

I would want to look at, is that she is feeding *efficiently*.

Half hearted feeding is often linked to poor latch; it's all such a

huge effort to get the milk that she gives up; doesn't mean she's not

hungry tho. Think of the drinking straw in a segment of orange

analogy. Damn hard work trying to get the juice out that way!!

Make sure she's tummy to mummy, really really really really CLOSE to

you, bottom hand tucked out of the way round the breast, not folded

between you, and bring her to the breast with her top lip, or area

just above it, opposite the nipple. Don't hold her head, support it

on your forearm so that her head is free to reach back for the breast.

Try not to have her lying on loads of pillows so that you have to lift

the breast to compensate.

They key is closeness. If she is too far away to get the right part

of the breast in her mouth easily, it's all going to be too much of an

effort.

HTH

Ruthie

[Guest guest]

> I have a 16 week old exclusively breastfeed daughter. In the last 3 weeks

> she has managed to loose 5 oz rather than gain weight. She's only was only

> little to start with, but had followed the 9 % line.

> She is very unkeen on daytime naps and would quite happily breastfeed all

> day. She has a real line in end of the world hysterics if you put her down

> and she still wants to feed.

Hi Sue,

I'm not a b/f counsellor either, but we have babies the same age so here's

my two penny worth:-

Firstly I'd forget weighing her - does she look like she's thriving?

Reaching her milestones? Glowing with health? Yes? Then don't worry!!

Every babies growth curve is different - as long as she looks well and you

feel she's okay then everything's fine - small weight gains/losses mean

nothing )

Also, I'd let her feed as much as she wants. It doesn't matter if you're on

the computer or doing something else does it? Have you got a sling? They

make it very easy to feed whilst you get on with other things. If she's

constantly sucking all day I would've though she's getting plenty of rich

hindmilk - I know if Alfie's been on me for ages the milk becomes almost

treacle like. Very very thick and creamy.

She might always be a very avid nurser- that's not to say she's not getting

enough. Alfie's not much of a comfort sucker, but Verity would be on me

every time I sat down right up until she weaned at 28 months!

Hope that helps!

Hannah, 27

Mum to Bethany 7, Lawrence 5 1/2, Verity 3, Alfie 4 months

Visit me on the web at :-

http://hannahshome.20m.com