[puffsgirl11]

Hi,

I have a 5 day old who is fully BF. I just have a couple of questions about his feeding habits.

I have to use nipple shields as I have flat nipples and I notice when I feed my son there is always milk that pools around his mouth. Could this be because I use the shileds or is my supply maybe to fast for him?

Also he doesn't always feed for long. How long should a NB feed for on the one breast and what signs do i look for to say that he has had enough?

Do you burp bubs after every feed?

How do you get them to stop biting?

Thank you

[feliz6]

I can't answer most of ur questions. A lactation consultant told me a feed should be at least 15 minutes. I'm interested to know if others burp their baby after every feed. I haven't been and was told in hospital it wasn't necessary. However, I am currently reading save our sleep by tizzie hall and she recommends burping. I'm wondering if I should.

[Kay1]

"Biting" sounds like he's not attached properly. It should not feel painful or like its pinching. One of mine did this though, he wouldn't open his mouth wide enough so I bought some of those big cherry shaped dummies (happy baby ones) and that helped him get the right mouth shape.

Mine all fed for 45 mins + at that age but my milk supply was on the low side.

I try to burp after each feed, just put them upright over your shoulder for a couple of minutes while patting their back. I don't persevere for too long though if they don't.

This post has been edited by Kay1: 09/11/2012, 05:25 PM

[happygurl06]

Only speaking from personal experience:

DD was only BF for a few week but one main reason was she was only drinking for 10 mins and only getting for milk causing green frothy explosive poos and generally cranky baby.... If only I knew at the time.


DS on the other hand fed for about an hour but that included burping in between sides as he needed it.

[mini mac]

Some people swear to always burp after a feed, I think it depends on the baby. Some gets loads of wind, overflow milk (posset) some burp, others get no wind and never burp. It doesn't hurt to prop them on your shoulder for a few mins after a feed anyway.

Basic ways to tell if baby is fed, as many wet nappies as feeds, some poos (depending on baby re regularity, they're all different) and a generally happy baby. They generally feed on one side til they take themselves off, burp, then offer other breast. Babies should take themselves off when they're full.

If you're feeding for over about 45 mins, take care as he might be using too much energy trying to feed, not attaching or not getting enough.

Milk pooling inside or outside the mouth? Both my boys have struggled on one breast and not the other, I've got a super fast flow on one side poor things, just had to be careful I wasn't drowning them at the beginning!!!

Biting?? Explain?

If you have flat nipples, it probably wouldn't hurt tovisit a lactation consultant just for a checkup on your progress and they should be able to answer your q's.

Good luck

This post has been edited by minimac: 09/11/2012, 05:57 PM

[niggles]

I wouldn't worry about how long he is feeding for. Just watch his behaviour. My newborns would go from tense and curled up to relaxed and spread out as they finished a feed.

Other things you can do:
Start to get used to the way your breast feels before and after a feed.
Pay attention to swallowing. You'll notice less swallows for every suck as the feed finishes.

My DD fed for 45 minutes sometimes while DS rarely ever fed for longer than 10 minutes.

I've heard you don't need to burp a breastfed baby but I always do. I think it helps with settling.

[shopgirl76]

The 'biting', short feeds, and overflow would lead me to have someone check him for tongue-tie, just based on my experience with my NB DS. At least if's not that, you can rule it out.

Regarding burping, I have a very strong milk flow and DS always needs a burp because it causes him to gulp. In fact, when he needs one, he won't reattach until he has had one! Must just be his way of letting me know what he needs. I always burped my first and couldn't believe the advice that it wasn't necessary when I heard it bandied around.

Best of luck!

This post has been edited by shopgirl76: 09/11/2012, 06:19 PM

[BabeBlossom]

On burping, I never did it with DD I don't have a fast flow and she never burped.
Actually for the 2 weeks we used nipple shields she had terrible wind we struggled to get up once we stopped using them it stopped.
Every situation and child is different, if he doesn't seem to need burping I wouldn't stress about doing it.
Good luck with your issues, it will get easier.

[Mum2TwoDSs]

My MCHN says to burp a bf baby. I personally think we should just in case bubs has gulped down wind.

Not sure what you mean by biting but he still bites when you are using nipple shields?

[runnybabbit]

I only burped DS because he was a sleepy feeder and burping in between boobs would wake him up a little. When he did seem windy (lots of farts) it never seemed to bother him anyway.

Agree with PP that "biting" by a newborn sounds like there might be a problem with attachment, might be worth having an LC observe a feed.

It's hard to know when they are done with the first breast as newborns; in hindsight I let my baby comfort suck for waaay longer than he needed to for nutrition. Missed out on sleep, but if in doubt, offer the boob -- they can't really get too much breastmilk. My LC told me generally about three letdowns per breast per feed, but I think that might be overthinking things!