Author Topic: Super fast eater...is this possible? or is my milk getting low....  (Read 1055 times)

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Offline Leia and Sabrina's Mom - Jessica

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my peanut has been eating sooooo fast lately. Like she seems done, and actually takes herself off my nipple after 10 minutes. (she is 10 weeks) I was only giving her one breast like BW suggests. This just seems too fast. Could my milk be running low? I have started giving her both because I am worried she is not eating enough but she will take some and then just stare at me - like "mom- I'm done..."

The other day I gave her about four extra ounces than typical during the day (I had some fridge milk that was going to go bad). She drank it and seemed like she wanted more so I gave her my breast. That night - she slept her first 10 hour stretch. (she usually goes about 7-8 hours before her NW).

This morning I did a test. I am giving her about 2 oz from a bottle every time we eat now...just to see if that extra milk will get her to sleep longer (like that 10 hour night). Anyway - she is using a born free level one nipple and she finished the 2 ounces in under 3 minutes flat. so - maybe she is just fast???

anyone with any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. she used to take longer to eat so I am just a little concerned...is she getting enough? Is it my supply? Or is she just not eating?? ???

Thanks in advance all!


Offline clh

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Re: Super fast eater...is this possible? or is my milk getting low....
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2008, 16:38:32 pm »
{{hugs}}  She really could be that fast.  Isaac was at that age.  3 things to look at:  (1) Does she have enough wet diapers? (2) is she gaining weight appropriately?  (3) does she seem satisfied after meals?  If yes to all (and it sounds like it is), then you're doing just fine.  :) 

There are several things that start happening around this age that can make you afraid for your supply...  lo's can get more efficient & therefore don't nurse as long as before.  Boobs get "smarter" about how much your particular lo needs, so the make less excess.  This can show up in reduced pump output.  Don't worry.  That's normal.  Sometimes moms find that they need to shift to double-side feeding.  (I fed double from day 1)  All of that is normal, and as long as you have diapers, growth, & contentment, you're fine.  :-*

Just keep following her cues.  If she still seems hungry, I'd try offering the other side rather than topping off with ebm in a bottle.  That way, if it's a growth spurt (which often occurs somewhere around 3 mo), she'll be giving your body the signals it needs to make more milk.  Also, a baby will almost always take milk from a bottle, even if they're not hungry.  It just drips in their mouths, so no work is required.

Hope that helps.  Keep posting back to let us know.  :)
Candice



Offline Chantel03

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Re: Super fast eater...is this possible? or is my milk getting low....
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2008, 17:13:36 pm »
My dd is 8wks and she feed's that fast. I do have an oversupply, and a fast letdown though. I would stop giving her the bottle babies will almost always take a bottle even if full, because they like to suck.
I do what clh said I offer one breast tell she doesn't want it anymore, and then I go to the next breast. Sometimes she takes it sometimes she doesnt want a thing to do with it. I feed off of one side mostly during a feed, cus of over supply.
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Offline Leia and Sabrina's Mom - Jessica

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Re: Super fast eater...is this possible? or is my milk getting low....
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2008, 17:39:49 pm »
Thanks CLH...

{{hugs}}  She really could be that fast.  Isaac was at that age.  3 things to look at:  (1) Does she have enough wet diapers? (2) is she gaining weight appropriately?  (3) does she seem satisfied after meals?  If yes to all (and it sounds like it is), then you're doing just fine.  :) 

Also, a baby will almost always take milk from a bottle, even if they're not hungry.  It just drips in their mouths, so no work is required.



So to your first point...yes, yes and yes...so that makes me feel a lot better. I thought that babies will always take from the nipple cause they like the suckling....but now she just stops. She will get fussy with the bottle when she doesn't want anymore so it is funny that you say that they will always take from the bottle. I never thought of it that way. I do have to be careful of the growth spurt. I am pumping because I have to go back to work...and I use some of the milk to give her her meds because she hates the taste and i hate when she cries after the dose. It is just easier to give it to her with some milk.

I will limit the amount though and give her the other breast...which I actually have been doing. I used to do both and then I switched to one...and now I think I am back to both.




Offline Leia and Sabrina's Mom - Jessica

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Re: Super fast eater...is this possible? or is my milk getting low....
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2008, 17:44:26 pm »
Chantel03 - good to know. I also have really fast let down (sprays like a geyser!) and I used to have an oversupply....which I was counting on for when I go to work...but it seems like it is gone. I will keep the bottle to a minimum just for her medication then. I think you are both right. I have only done it three times now anyway...so I will just go back to only breast except for the meds. She hates it so much and really screams her head off and ends up spitting half of it out. Thanks much ladies!!!


Offline clh

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Re: Super fast eater...is this possible? or is my milk getting low....
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2008, 18:41:01 pm »
I thought that babies will always take from the nipple cause they like the suckling....but now she just stops. She will get fussy with the bottle when she doesn't want anymore so it is funny that you say that they will always take from the bottle. I never thought of it that way. I do have to be careful of the growth spurt. I am pumping because I have to go back to work...and I use some of the milk to give her her meds because she hates the taste and i hate when she cries after the dose. It is just easier to give it to her with some milk.

I will limit the amount though and give her the other breast...which I actually have been doing. I used to do both and then I switched to one...and now I think I am back to both.
Hence the "almost" always'.  ;)  I did not mean to imply that they wouldn't stop when having a bottle; just that they may eat when not hungry.  That may not be your case. 

So sorry to hear that your lo requires meds.  By all means, do what you need to in order to get her to take them.  Medical conditions can always impact the advice given here.  Sorry I didn't know to take that into account.  :-[ 

Nothing wrong with 2-side feeding.  ;)  Just follow her cues about what she needs.

{{hugs}} about going back to work.  When the time comes, feel free to post back with questions specific to that.  There are a few threads you may want to check out the Pumping FAQ (http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=63603.0) and the 2 working moms threads (http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=66647.0 and http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=122472.0)
Candice



Offline Leia and Sabrina's Mom - Jessica

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Re: Super fast eater...is this possible? or is my milk getting low....
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2008, 19:02:26 pm »
No No...no sorry needed. The advice was really helpful and makes perfect sense. It is a new thing that she will stop taking my breast when she is done and I have seen her push away a bottle. That is where my confusion came in. You are right though...I don't want my milk to get low because I am giving her the bottle. If anything....I can see what she will take after she refuses to take anymore from my breast.

Thanks for the work posts. That will be really helpful. I can't even think about it without getting hysterical. I know there are positive things about it but it isn't really even about her. I KNOW she will be fine...I AM going to melt down...she will be great and it will be great for her to have lots of new experiences. Anyway - thanks again!