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EAT => Breast Feeding => Topic started by: JennVanessa1083 on March 05, 2016, 16:11:15 pm

Title: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on March 05, 2016, 16:11:15 pm
Hi!

I was wondering if it's common for a baby going through a growth spurt to not eat as much solids but wanting to nurse more frequently? I tried researching it and did not really find anything. DS just turned 9 months and usually eats 3 meals a day (about 3-5 oz of food) plus 5 feeds a day. However, last two days he's eating less and wanting milk more frequent. I know there's a bug growth spurt around 9 months so I think it's bc of that.

I don't mind as I nursed him a little more during the day yesterday and it helped him not wake up 3 times in the night to nurse (he only woke up twice).

Thank you!
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: creations on March 05, 2016, 18:34:31 pm
Hi just letting you know I've asked someone with BF experience to pop over here.
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on March 05, 2016, 20:46:19 pm
Thank you so much Creations!

Ps. I have been sick for the last couple of days (flu). This may sound like a strange question for the BF expert but I'm wondering do babies sense illness and possibly nurse more to build up antibodies and avoid being sick? Is that really farfetched lol
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: MasynSpencerElliotte on March 06, 2016, 00:25:32 am
Perhaps if you have been sick your supply is a bit lower hence the extra nursing. But I did read an article recently that they discovered that apparently baby saliva backwashes into the breast and our bodies use the info fr that to tailor the milk if the baby is ill. My kids were mixed fed by 9 months (formula & bm in addition to solids) so tbh I have no btdt but my best guess is growth spurt combined with (possibly) temporary low supply due to your illness.
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on March 06, 2016, 02:10:23 am
Thank you! That makes sense bc I feel as though he's just not satisfied and two hours later he wants to nurse again! How long does this last generally before I should rethink the feeding?
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: MasynSpencerElliotte on March 06, 2016, 02:46:14 am
Are you getting good hydration? Hard I know when you are ill but really important for you and your supply.  I would give it a few days until you are back to normal and then see how things pan out. Plus if a growth spurt is partly responsible that can last a few days too!
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on March 06, 2016, 04:18:20 am
I can definitely drink more as I haven't been drinking as much as I usually do. I think it's affecting night too as tonight he has already woken up twice before midnight. I only fed him once.
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: MasynSpencerElliotte on March 06, 2016, 14:20:47 pm
It might be - he could be feeding more often to boost your supply, they often do during growth spurts and perhaps combined with your illness that is all it is. For sure try to get more fluids in - it will help you as well as your supply (I hope you are feeling better!)
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: trimbler on March 06, 2016, 19:45:48 pm
Just to say hope you're better soon :-* Flu is horrible :( I know my supply definitely dropped when I had it when DD was 6mo - but she had it first and so her appetite dropped, so my supply dropped, and then when I got flu myself it dropped further, so I can definitely say that we've experienced that, but as Heidi said, you should find that all that feeding will help to build up your supply again. Actually since DD still didn't quite have her appetite back again when I got flu, I ended up doing a bit of extra pumping (may not have been necessary) to try to build it back up again - but is sounds like your LO is doing that work for you ;) Please just rest as much as you possibly can, I know that's hard to do in practice though :-\ get well soon!
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on March 10, 2016, 17:04:06 pm
Thank you ladies!

I'm feeling much better and DS is still feeding every 2-3 hours with solids! Wondering if it's also his 9 month old growth spurt?

Speaking of which; is it ok to pump and give him extra milk in a sippy with solids during a growth spurt? Will that hurt my supply?

How long does the 9 month spurt last? I heard it can be a doozy lol

Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: MasynSpencerElliotte on March 11, 2016, 05:14:26 am
I never pumped much so I am not sure on that, and we were partly on formula by that age so I never really noticed an uptick in feeds.
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: *Ali* on March 12, 2016, 15:52:30 pm
What sort of things do you guys get up to in the day? I'm just wondering if he might just need distracting if he isn't truly hungry.

I wouldn't worry about your supply dipping due to pumping instead of feeding for a few feeds as long as you are BFing at the other feeds.
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on March 12, 2016, 16:11:39 pm
Hi!

It depends on the day. Sometimes we have a music class,sometimes run errands, or stay home. He is a pretty independent baby so I could pump while he plays. How long should o wait to pump after a feed?
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: *Ali* on March 12, 2016, 17:17:40 pm
I'd do it immediately you are done feeding or after he goes to bed at night.
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on March 12, 2016, 17:45:30 pm
Ok...do for example, pump right after the morning feed?
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: *Ali* on March 16, 2016, 22:10:56 pm
Yes, any feed really then hopefully your body will just see it as an extension of the feed which will already have given you stimulation/letdown.
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on March 17, 2016, 01:01:56 am
Ok I can definitely give it a try...thank you for the tip  :D
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on March 30, 2016, 11:25:03 am
Hi!

I have been giving my DS top up milk after solids which his solid intake has increased as well. However, he still has 3 NF including a early morning one. I tried withholding but he will not go back to sleep or if he does, he wakes up again soon after  ::)

He does take full feeds each time. I'm wondering if my milk supply is running low bc I notice that his nursing time is shorter but I check to see if there is milk left and there isn't. He never seems satisfied and it's a frustrating.

He is STILL teething his top two teeth as he is apparently the slowest teether lol his gums are very transparent but still no apparent cutting (just really clear almost white at the bottom tips).

Not sure what to do? Should I start to night wean? I feel like I need hand holding if I do bc I am not sure I can stick to it without support. He's very stubborn about his milk lol
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: *Ali* on March 30, 2016, 20:37:27 pm
Sorry to hear things have not improved. Did you try the pumping at the end of a feed?

So he's 10mo now, is that correct?

Can you remind me how he goes to sleep for naps and BT please.
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on March 31, 2016, 03:42:43 am
Hi Ali!

Well he has been teething for a month lol and after writing the last post I looked into his mouth and saw that he is actually cutting his left top tooth. So it's nice to see that we are seeing an end in sight!

For naps, I change his diaper, put him in his zippy, give him teething tablets, story, short song while i walk around and turn on the white noise and then put him down. He self settles, but with teething I have had to get him more drowsy before putting him down. Bedtime is the same but I add nursing before the song. Perhaps I need to move th nursing up in the routine?

I haven't pumped bc my pump wasn't working  :o but I have one working now so I will start. He has been nursing more often even after solids.
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: *Ali* on April 01, 2016, 19:35:20 pm
That could work. And maybe go back to putting him down a little more awake?
Title: Re: 9 mo old suddenly wants more milk than solids?
Post by: JennVanessa1083 on April 02, 2016, 21:42:30 pm
I would love to once he stops cutting teeth. He's miserable right now.

I figure I will also transfer the extra BF to a sippy as well. He likes to nurse when his teeth are bothering him. On a good note, he only nursed once last night! Hoping it wasn't a fluke  ;)