Is my milk enough?

[woopster]

I never thought I'd be asking that question. I'm starting to doubt myself.    Dan is 7 months old and still feeding every 3 hours during the day. Nighttime isn't too bad - he can go 4 hourly if I'm lucky. Although last night he only went 2 hours a couple of times.
He feeds like he is starving. He can't wait to get latched on and gets so frustrated if I am a bit slow getting it out!  He shoves his face into the breast and kicks his legs.
I let him feed as long as he wants and I do breast compressions too.  I've tried pumping after each feed but I'm getting nothing. Not even a dribble.

Weaning is going really slowly. After a great start he is no longer interested. I'm thinking it's because he's too full  I can barely get a mouthful into him.

Help! 

[Tamara]

My gut feeling would be that you do have enough milk given that you are feeding every 3 hours and still doing a number of feeds during the night.

Are you asking as you think he should be going longer between feeds at this age now? is that it?  I can see where you're coming from, tbh.

Is there an element of comfort feeding going on perhaps?   

RE: weaning - with Elin it was excrutiatingly slow and I think that was because she was doing so well on the BF - she loved it and would BF till the cows came home lol. 

I remember when she was about 12 months old roughly, she was still only having 1/4 a weetabix for breakfast for example and if I was lucky 2 ice cubes of food I'd made - tbh she still eats only about that amount now  and still guzzles milk (if allowed) all day.

Sorry for not being much help - but to answer your original Q, I'd bet you DO have enough milk

[woopster]

Thanks Awel.    Maybe I just need a bit of reassurance.    I've just come back from the hospital with him - he had a heart check-up and both the nurse who weighed him and the consultant commented on how small he was.  He weighs 10lb 4oz. He has lost quite a bit with this urine infection.

I don't know about the comfort feeding. I'm lucky in that he no longer feeds to sleep at night. And when he feeds during the night he goes back to bed awake.

He used to be able to go 5/6 hours during the night. what went wrong? 

[Tamara]

He weighs 10lb 4oz. He has lost quite a bit with this urine infection.

Except for losing weight during his illness - is he otherwise normally putting on weight?  What was his birth weight?  Apart from commenting on 'how small he is' did the nurse and consultant have anything useful/encouraging to say to you about his weight - are they happy with him?

Although it's really tough on you, if I were you I would try and look upon the fact that Daniel feeds so often as a real positive, he's stimulating your milk supply and it's the best thing you can do for him especially given his 'disadvantaged health status'     You are doing THE MOST amazing job Wendy - I hope you've been told this by the health professionals you are in contact with 

[binxyboo]

Have you checked out the Baby led weaning thread, Wendy?
I don't know how you are introducing solids, if you are doing purees etc, he may be more interested in sitting with the family and eating regular finger foods. That thread is great, anyways.

Hugs to you xx

[binxyboo]

Oh, and at a year old, Riley was big, at over 30 lbs and still waking to be fed at night, eating a minimal amount of solids all day long.

It got better over time  ::

[woopster]

Awel, he weighed 7lb 5oz at birth, lost 6oz the 1st week he was in hosp so came home at 6lb 15oz. when he went back in 2 weeks later he weighed 7lb 12oz. When he came out that time he had lost another 6oz.
Between weeks 11 and 18 he gained 2lb, bringing him up to 10lb 9oz. Since then he's had several colds and this UTI and between weeks 18 and 25 lost 1lb to weigh 9lb 9oz and now 4 weeks later weighs 10lb 4oz, so has gained 11oz.  (I think!)

His heart is working fine - no problems at all there. His consultant did say that he was too small for a full cardiac repair (which is fine by me!!) and wants to see him again in 3 months.

Michelle, I am doing purees. He does sit at the table with us, usually on my knee. I've tried him with bits of toast but he is not interested in holding onto things. Not even toys.  I will pop over and have a look. Thanks.

Thanks for the encouragement girls. 

[yaya]

Massive hugs Wendy...re: the weaning, I had a really hard time with Emily until 2 weeks ago and then suddenly she started eating, no idea why but my gut feeling is that she just wasnt ready. Keep offering but don't stress about it, he'll take to solids when he's ready; i know that's hard to hear, someone said the same to me when Emiyl wasn't eating and it really P***d me off
Would you consider supplementing with a bottle of formula at bedtime? Or for DF? Emily won't take formula so perhaps not an option for you   What sorts of food have you tried? Emily HATES sweet stuff specially fruit so I have to go the savoury route with her...
HTH A little an hugs again

[Tamara]

Awel, he weighed 7lb 5oz at birth, lost 6oz the 1st week he was in hosp so came home at 6lb 15oz. when he went back in 2 weeks later he weighed 7lb 12oz. When he came out that time he had lost another 6oz.
Between weeks 11 and 18 he gained 2lb, bringing him up to 10lb 9oz. Since then he's had several colds and this UTI and between weeks 18 and 25 lost 1lb to weigh 9lb 9oz and now 4 weeks later weighs 10lb 4oz, so has gained 11oz.  (I think!)

Again Wendy - am NO expert here, but to me, you only need to read the above to see that he is gaining weight lovely with your BF, he is still 'small' only because he's had to battle several ill-health episodes, he then gains that weight back, I'd say you are doing great.

[Samuel's mum]

I totally agree with Awel.

Sam wasn't going 5/6 hours at night at 7 months. I had oversupply and his weight gain was good. Frequency of feeding really doesn't indicate a lot unless you look at other issues. It really sounds as though he's getting what he needs at the breast and you are not pushing him to do anything before he's ready. He's lucky to have you

[woopster]

Thanks Awel and Emma 

[Tamara]

You're welcome Wendy - I'm just glad that I wasn't talking b0!!0cks 

[JennŠ]

That kid's not "small"!  He's just space efficient!!!   

[woopster]

LOL Jenn!!