what's happening? will it affect my suply?

[Lucie preciosa]

My lo has been drinking for less minutes these past two weeks, but no problems with her weight though. She's always been a fast eater but now sometimes 5 minutes does the trick for her. Will this affect my suply? shall I pump after each feed?

She was going through the night without a feed. It lasted 3 days, then she was back to one feed during the night. Last night, she had to have two feeds, nothing will stop her cry, I guessed she was hungry? grow spurt? She is 4 months now, 15lbs 5oz. 3.5 EASY.

Please advise.

 

[Samuel's mum]

4 months is classic growth spurt time. It's also the time when babies often get super fast at the breast but occasionally this is complicated by the fact they are increasingly distractible during the day - life has got too interesting!! And this can mean they want to make up for it at night.

As long as you aren't ignoring hunger cues your supply should adapt to meet her needs. I personally wouldn't bother with pumping although there would be no harm in doing so.

I would give it a couple of days to see if it's a growth spurt. Then work on extending daytime feeds perhaps with some breast compression or offering another side. If she's not bothered then some babies at this age feed better in a darkened dsistraction-free room. But don't force it if she's really not interested in taking more - it'll just make both of you miserable.

On the 'sleeping through' thing - babies do vary as milestones approach and as they get more active. You may find she goes in phases. Is she more physically active? Rolling or about to roll?

[Lucie preciosa]

Thanks for your reply, and congrats on your new baby. I wanted to ask, I've seen your several replies in most of the posts I've read. How do you do it? I hardly get any time? I just get a bit curious

Anyway. i've jus fed her and gave her the other breast too, she seemed interested and between both she took about 12 minutes!. But next feed which one I use next!?

She is definitely more active as more aware of her surroundings, she doesn't do much yet, she does not hold things or anything like that. (5wks prem). Some people say because I swaddle her she is slow in her motor development?

How do I know it is a growth spurt? and how long does it last?

when I eat in front of her she seems very interested and wets her lips? My mum said that she had to feed me solid when i was 4 months because I started to be grumpy during the day. Lucie has changed so much since last weeks. She is very grumpy sometimes and not longer the happy baby she used to be?

[yaya]

Emma is a super mummy!

[Samuel's mum]

 

I believe the official internet term is NAK - nursing at keyboard!! Right now in fact. God Bless the boppy pillow (and laptops - well, 'sofa tops') I'm a nifty one-handed typer!

If you are double-sided feeding you swap which sides goes first. So if it was right/left last time - next time is left/right. So you alternate which side gets the first enthusiastic sucks and which one follows up. It's not uncommon to need to move to double-sided feeding. Tracy says it often happens when a baby is around 12lbs.

As for solids - your baby is premature so that's another reason to hold off. No offence but your mum comes from a time when people were looking to start solids asap and before medical research revealed nearer 6 months to be the safer option (especially for ebf babies). These days we hold on as long as we can - rather than look for signs. Sounds like your LO was ready for 2 sides. Some babies will start solids before 6 months but ideally that's the exception rather than the rule.

There's more on delaying solids here:
 http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html