[spottydog]

Hi everyone,

My bub is 7days old.

I feed him on each side on alternative feeds.

I just wondered if he takes a short feed IE not sufficent length feed on one side, and he naps for a hr or three, do i go back to that breast the next feed?

Then go to the full one next feed?

Any adivce would be great, i have a ABA book here but it doesnt answer that question.

I have the midwife coming on Monday so ill ask her then.

Maybe i should just make sure he has a full feed each side each feed, but sometimes he just needs a top up and i cant keep him awake.

Thanks iin advance.

spottydog.

[tamjk]

Personally I'm of the opinion that if he falls asleep let him sleep and feed from the side that feels like the side that he needs to feed from.

I'd have times where I would alternate sides each feed and other times when I would feed from the same side three feeds in a row. When I fed from the side that 'felt' right I never had any issues, but when I fussed about making sure they fed from the 'correct' side I'd get engorgement issues.

[LookMumNoHands]

I'd be persevering in keeping him awake. Newborns can take an hour to feed, sometimes. Make sure he completely drains one breast at least, then give the other breast at the next feed.

I would be hiring or purchasing a breast pump to express the side not offered, to help keep supply up.

I'm no expert though! Someone else may offer better advice.

Congrats on your little guy

[greenthumbs]

I just wondered if he takes a short feed IE not sufficent length feed on one side, and he naps for a hr or three, do i go back to that breast the next feed?

Then go to the full one next feed?

I always did this and had no problems. I also followed the 'which breast feels like it needs to be emptied a bit', so it was trial and error. But mostly in the very early days it was exactly as you are suggesting.


Congratulations!

[spottydog]

Thanks everyone,

I have had issues all week with feeding him, so had a midwife out each day, as i left hospital the same day he was born.

The midwifes have been a great help, but each day i find a new question. I figured since the hospital programme discharged me yesterday EB would be the next best thing in regards to questions of feeding.

I was unsuccessful feeding DD now 3yrs so want to try harder this time, now i know how to look after a baby haha.

Cheers guys. Keep the suggestions and replies coming.

spottydog.

[nicknick]

Congrat's Spotty on your DS.

I saw a LC before I had DD as I had similar feeding issues you mention with your 1st and she said similar to PP, they take ages to feed in the first few weeks. She said to me do everything I could with DD to get her to drain the breast - tickling toes, changing nappy 1/2 way through the feed, not too warm etc. If then she still wanted more offer the 2nd breast - which you might find in the coming weeks as he gets stronger. But she was very clear that if you can get them into having a really good feed and the swapping breast for the next feed. I think it's really important as you keep going he drains the breast, mainly due to blocked ducts. I also had a similar experience, just as you think you have it under control something changes - very frustrating. I think if you are still having issues push back on the hospital a little or definitely get a LC out to help, it's really hard going in those early days.

This post has been edited by nicknick: 02/02/2013, 08:51 PM

[Sammij841]

I definitely think feeding from one side at each feed results in the baby getting the fattier milk and therefore getting fuller, and being able to go longer between feeds.

Its always a challenge the first couple weeks keeping the baby up long enough to eat. It's always good to try opening up his nappy, or gently stroking his face to try and keep him awake long enough to eat his fill!

Good luck, it gets easier

[Dylan's Mummy]

Bub has almost always had both sides. When he was littler he would usually fall asleep feeding (those were the days), I would usually tickle him behind the neck to get him to keep drinking. For night feeds, changing the nappy between sides helps a lot.

If your bub has only had a short snack on one side then has a 3 hour sleep, I don't think it would matter too much which side you put him on for the next feed, if it is just and hour, probably back on the original one.

[spottydog]

Thanks everyone,

Ive just been trying my hardest to keep MR sleepy head up for a good feed, waking, undressing etc to make sure he drains one side each feed.

Today we had a few snacks as we had photos done, so i just used the same side for a couple of hrs, then moved to the other side. I reckon practice will make me better at this

Thanks for the advice.

spottydog.

[Eirinn]

DD2 was always a quick feeder, right from the get go. Soooo different from DD1 who would do the typical newborn hour long feeds. I tried all the tips to get her to feed for longer and she just wouldn't. Or, she would, then end up doing a power vomit. It was just the way she was. I used to do what you are suggesting, if I felt a breast wasn't drained, I would go back to it next feed. It didn't seem to affect my supply.

Just my anecdote!