[faithy]

Hi!

I'm confused about hindmilk and foremilk and have some really silly questions that I probably should know the answer to.. the nurse at the clinic tried to explain when I asked but LO was crying and hardly anything was absorbed of what she was saying at the time.

So:
Is the foremilk the beginning of the feed from each breast with the hindmilk following on that same side?

Or, for example if I start on my right breast...do I get my foremik from this side, and then the hindmilk from the left?

How much of the milk is foremilk vs hindmilk? ie. is the foremilk the initial (for eg) 10mins ?

Also:
Do I need to make sure my breast is "empty" to finish a feed? Sometimes after 15-20mins on the one side, my breast doesnt feel completely drained is this normal?

Occasionally I "switch feed" ie. left-right-left-right... Is it a problem if I only do left-right-left, or does it have to be "even".


Thanks! .. Still getting my head around b/fing!

[*mylittleprince*]

Hi

Well done for breastfeeding. I would give the Australian Breastfeeding Association a call, they have a free helpline manned by volunteer moms and I found them very helpful in the early days:

You can contact them on 1800 686 268.

Some websites that also have good info are:

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/index.html

http://kellymom.com/category/bf/

http://www.lalecheleague.org.nz/index.php/...s-a-information

Edited to add:
My understanding is that the foremilk is the beginning milk of each feed from each breast and the hindmilk comes later on and is the thick creamy milk near the end of the feed. Not sure at what point it switches from fore to hindmilk but it is important to empty the breast. I relied heavily on the cues from DS to know when my breasts were empty. In the early days they would start off hard and go soft at the of a feed but later on they were always soft and DS was putting on heaps of weight so I' must have been producing lots of milk. For most feeds and most of our breastfeeding relationship (17.5months) DS fed from one breast (swapping each alternate feed). I personally wouldn't swap between them constantly but would empty one and then try the other if bub is still hungry.

All the best.

This post has been edited by *mylittleprince*: 12/08/2012, 09:47 PM

[anikal]

I'll try to help.
Basically treat your breasts as two separate units. The foremilk is the watery milk at the start of the feed, the hindmilk is the thicker, more nutritious milk further on in the feed from the same breast. How much foremilk or hindmilk is in each feed depends on you and your baby. For example in hot weather baby will usually feed more often, but in shorter bursts because they are thirsty. They are wanting more of the watery foremilk.
It's different for everyone, but it is usually a good idea not to switch breasts until baby has finished one side. That way they have had the full amount of foremilk and hindmilk available from that breast. Sometimes for me, my DS would only have one side a feed, other times he needed both. If you're demand feeding, just let your baby have what they want. They will only take until they are full.

Hope this helps. Good luck with it all.

[GoneWithTheWhing...]

http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/basics/foremilk-hindmilk

This explains the difference between fore and hind milk pretty well, otherwise I second the suggestion at contacting a breastfeeding support network, I found them a huge help during the first few months and it was so good to be able to phone up and ask the questions to who do know the answers!

Congratulations and well done on giving breastfeeding a try, I hope it develops into as lovely experience as I had bfing my youngest daughter.

[lucky 2]

Ha, it can seem so confusing but it really isn't!
https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/ea...breastmilk-made
The link above explains it well, how milk is made and scroll down to breastmilk changes within a feed which explains foremilk and hindmilk. They can be confusing terms.

All breast milk is nutritious but the emptier the breast is, the higher level of fats in that milk = higher in calories. It's all great though .

[runnybabbit]

Hi OP, the links above are great.

I think the confusing thing is that mums start to think that there is a discrete transition from foremilk to hindmilk. It's more than the fat content increases as the baby feeds from the one breast. But it's not like after x number of letdowns, the baby starts having hindmilk instead of foremilk.

When a full breast first lets down, that initial milk is watery and low in fat. The subsequent letdown produces milk that is less watery and higher in fat. And the third yet more watery and higher still in fat. And so on and on it goes, until the breast is empty -- i.e. low volume of high fat milk present.

The thing that confused me most as a new BFing mum was how to know when bub had "finished" a breast. That can be tricky!

The way I see it (and not sure if this is scientifically valid), dehydration is more dire than inadequate calorie intake (though neither good for a baby), so the mother's body aims to first quench thirst, then nourish. That makes sense to my mind, anyway!

Edited for sense.

This post has been edited by runnybabbit: 12/08/2012, 10:05 PM

[PreachersWife]

My DD is 8 weeks too!

I follow her lead with each feed, offer the side she finished on at the last feed, allow her to suck for as long as she wants (which is about 8mins or so now, getting very efficient). I feel a let down after about 30 secs and the she is gulping quite fast. After a minute of so she changes to a 'suck and swallow' pattern. After about five mins it changes gain to a 'suck, suck, suck, swallow' pattern. My trusted LC explained that the milk initially is more watery (foremilk) and is removed quickly, while the hindmilk is 'stickier', which explains the slower suck/swallow patterns. She also said not to get too hung up on the fore/hind milk thing, just let the baby lead the way.

She often only has one side in the mornings and by evening needs both sides (she's also cluster feeds every two hours from early evening to ten pm). I always offer the second side after burping. If she's had enough she either get cranky or just purse her lips closed!

DD2 is my third baby and it's taken me this long to really feel confident with breastfeeding a newborn! Good luck and well done for getting this far

[CharliMarley]

The ladies have given you great answers to your question of foremilk and hindmilk. There is also a great little booklet you can get sent to your email address for free, if you go onto the Australian Breastfeeding web-site www.breastfeeding.asn.au and it is called "Breastfeeding Confidence" Another thing you can do is to join the ABA and you receive the great book "Breastfeeding Naturally" which tells you everything from birth to solids and weaning. I thoroughly recommend this book - it is wonderful.