Could this really be a growth spurt??

[stagemanager2]

I am new to bf, my first was bottle fed....

So, Hattie is 4 days old.  She is latching on well so we don't have a problem with that... but this is what has been happening today...

BF for 20min on L side, 25min on R side
after diaper change, refusing nap for about 30min
BF for 10min on R side, 10min on L side
(these are mostly "sucking" time, not much eating. I take her off the breast when I notice she isn't swallowing as quickly as she does with the earlier bf)
Sleeps for about 2hrs (I had to wake her)

BF for 20min on L side, 15min on R side
after diaper change, refusing nap for about 20min
BF for 10min on R side, 7min on L side (again, sucking, not much eating)
Sleeping now.....

I don't know how to "start as we will go on".... should I just continue to try to bf again after a diaper change and some daddy activity time instead of trying for a nap?  Or should I put her back on the breast even though she's had enough time on either side and begin again without a diaper change or daddy time until I am absolutely sure she's done?

Could it be a growth spurt so soon?  Or is this a sign of her needing sucking to fall asleep?

I am trying really hard to keep the bf going and I know it's still early but am afraid I may be doing something wrong or counter productive for bfing.

[Elenas Mummy]

Honey, you really need to just go with the flow at the four day mark.   Feed on demand and just go with it.  Babies can go through growth spurts every few days in those early weeks and it's soooooo important for your long term supply for you to feed as often as your lo wants.

The only thing that you could do that could be counter productive for breastfeeding is to not breastfeed   if your baby  spends all day on the boob, that's to no-one's detriment (other than your sanity's of course ). 

Lo's can often take a long time to nurse in those early weeks and that's totally normal. 

How is her latch?  How does your nipple look after a feed?  Is it still nice and round?  If it looks at all " pinched" this could be an indication of a poor latch which could use some correcting to make feeding more efficient. Breast compressions may help keep the milk flowing if you are worried that she's just suckling but not getting much milk.

[stagemanager2]

hmmmm, strange you mention the latch and the nipple... it does tend to come out looking lopsided.... is that bad.  It's almost as if the top has gotten more pull then the bottem... but I hear her swallow, and I assumed that if she were swallowing then the latch would be good oh dear... we just finished a feed and now after about ten minutes she is screaming for food again..... le sigh, must go but thanks for the encouragement... I will keep at it!

[*Ali*]

I believe the nipple looking lopsided (like a new lipstick) means her lip is too close to the nipple. She can still get milk this way but will be less efficient and probably more uncomfortable for you so best to correct if you can.
At 4 days I would definitely feed on demand rather than worrying about feeding too often.
Congratulations and good luck.

[stagemanager2]

her top lip or her bottom lip??

and thank you

[*Ali*]

Sorry the bottom. This means she isn't getting enough of the areola (dark area around the nipple) in her mouth. And make sure the bottom lip is turned out too.

A little trick my sister taught me to get a good latch was to use your finger to pull your nipple to bend out towards your armpit, when you baby opens her mouth put the bottom lip against the breast and use the finger your are pulling the breast over with to flick/push that nipple into the mouth. Pull the baby into you as you do it. This pushes the bottom lip down. Think I had to do this for a couple weeks before DS could latch on properly himself. I know this isn't what they say to do in all the guides but we found it worked when DS was struggling to get on properly.
Good luck with the BFing once you have it perfected (which was easily by 6 weeks for me personally) it's great!