Just a few questions...

[kristi001]

OK Just have a few questions to ask to help my little munchkin!

1. In hospital they tell you to wake them if they fall asleep during a feed. I let DD sleep, she usually only has a 10 min doze then wakes up again..should I be waking her?

2. Everytime she gets a bit sooky i put her to the breast so she is basically feeding all day.. Should I have more set feeding routines?

3. My boobs seam to empty quite and sometimes she wants a feed but i dont have alot in there. should i be working on increasing my supply?

I think thats all for now!

Thanks in advance ladies!

[pkbub]

Here is my non-expert opinion:

1. Probably try to wake her by gently blowing on her head or shift her gently to wake her...I had to do this with DS...feeds lasted 1 hr at the start...every 2 hours, so I needed him to focus on the task at hand

2. I wouldn't worry about set feeding routines at such an early age...if you are happy doing frequent feeds, then keep doing it!

3. The frequent feeds will increase your supply naturally. Don't worry about not feeling full. Your body will work out what she needs.

Hope this helps

[kristi001]

Thanks for your advice pkbub!

[little_fish]

My opinion (also non-expert) is:

1. Wake them if you want to. I think the waking the baby thing is for the mother's convenience, so you don't have to feed them again in 10 mintues. So really your choice as to what you want to do with your day.

2. I'd say feed when you/bub wants, when they're young. That said if you are feeding her a lot, maybe sometimes she is wanting to feed to sleep, giving you the above situation. Again. I'd say no wrong way to do it, just do what you feel comfortable with. If you are getting too tired, think about more structure.

3. Just cos your boobs feel soft doesn't mean you have no milk. The engorged feeling will dissappear as your milk gets used to the required demand.

And good work in bf'ing

[punkbaby]

With all my bubs generally at first they would feed 10-15 minutes on one side then change nappy, burp etc then finish feeding, if they fell asleep i would put them to bed, if hey didnt and they stopped feeding i would put them to bed. Most of mine fell asleep on the breast but this bubs will stop feeding sit and goo and gaa and self settle in her own bed. Mind you now she feeds probably about 3 mins each side but shes thriving.

Feed whenever bubs wants it, at first newborn stage the minute bubs woke i offered the breast, wether it was for hunger, pain comfort etc, this was the first thing i would offer if bubs was crying or awake. Generally as a newborn it was hunger and sleep lol so i just went with that. Naturally they were always offered the breast and this bubs still is. Mind you some days she will feed like clockwork, every 3 - 4 hours but some days she will feed off me every hour, shes still young so i am happy to do this as shes forming a small routine (she sleeps at night thats heaven for me)

As the others have said if you dont feel full it doesnt mean that your not, you can feel empty but if bubs is content and has lots of wet nappies then they are doing well and your doing well. We have just had a growth spurt here it lasted a week and i am so full at the moment its crazy! Now shes over it i have all this milk LOL where as a week ago i felt like i had nothing!

I have always used the demand feed approach and generally mine have all set themselves a routine after a few weeks then they will seem to have more growth spurts, then settle into a basic routine again, etc then back to wanting more again only to get back into a routine, gotta love growth spurts

Good luck

[shed]

I agree with what the others have said. If you want to wake her to fill her up a bit more then do so, but if you are happy to feed her ten minutes later, then do that.

Don't worry about a schedule, she will just change it as soon as you set it anyway she has lots of little growth spurts coming up so just feed her whenever.

If you want to increase your supply make yourself a batch of lactation boosting cookies and maybe take a fenugreek tablet every now and then, but as long as she is thriving then you probably have enough milk.

When she is feeding and she stops feeding then give her a little jiggle or a pat on the bum or talk to her and she will start again. Babies sometimes stop feeding so their mum will do exactly this. Its like they want the interaction, like a little conversation back and forth. Funny little things, aren't they, communicating with mummy from the very start Most mothers do this instinctively but they don't realise that their baby is doing it on purpose.

[kristi001]

Thanks heaps Guys!

These are the small things that worried me so much with harrison that led me to give up. So If ever I have even a slight concern Im going to get the info straight away ( As silly as they might be )

To think that by the age DD is now i was already giving DS a bottle every second feed.

[jarrahsmumma]

it may be useful to get a good support network going now, by that i mean mums who are supportive of breastfeeding

i only fed my DS for a week before 6 weeks of EBM in a bottle

this time around, i had CORRECT information and a great support group of other breastfeeding mums, they had a wealth of knowledge and experience (not all plain sailing) now i am BF my DD who is 15 months..and no dramas

all the best