Author Topic: When BFing hurts....  (Read 2237 times)

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Offline Tecike

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When BFing hurts....
« on: December 02, 2011, 16:10:06 pm »
My 4.5 mo DS has been a distracted feeder for a while now (don't really remember when it started) and things are getting worse each day. It all started with snacking at 3 hr feeds - nursing for 3-5 mins at the most and then pulling, biting my boob while he was just looking around and sometimes taking a sip. I cut this by moving to 3.5 EASY and he started taking proper feeds but is still doing this thing - pulling my breast around. It seems like at the end of each feed he gets distracted and although he wants to eat he thinks he can look around with the breast in his mouth. It came to a point where I don't enjoy BFing at all, my breasts hurt so much. I'm really at my wits end as to what should I do. He is a short napper, usually takes 45 min- 1hr, which means that with a 3.5 hr EASY he has about 1 hr A time before E time...occasionally, when he has a longer nap I can feed him right after the nap, when he's a bit calmer, but it usually ends the same way.  :(

I was wondering if I could offer him BM in a bottle if I pump it, at least for some feeds?
Any suggestions?



Offline EllenS

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2011, 22:18:42 pm »
Yes, this is certainly feasible.  Some women experience a drop in supply if they rely too much on pumping.  At 4.5 months your supply should be well-established, but using a lot of bottles could make it a bit more work to compensate for a growth spurt, for example.  But when you need a break, this can be a good solution.

I found that changing positions helped - the "rugby" position, for example, helped control too much looking around.  Teething may also be a possibility - it can cause sore nipples because it affects the latch, but resolves in a few days after the tooth breaks through because baby learns to compensate.

My best advice is to use lots of Lansinoh and watch for the "golden moment" when he's no longer hungry, and pop him off before he starts the squirming.  He is not likely to bite or look around much if he's really hungry - he's likely done by the time he starts it. 

Hope this helps!
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Offline Erin M

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2011, 00:17:47 am »
Some moms find that things like "nursing necklaces" help too - gives the baby something to distract him while he's nursing so he's not so focused on squirming around.  Like PP said, if he's not actively nursing, your supply might suffer, though some people do fine with pumping.  If nothing else, you could definitely do it for the feeds he's most distracted just to give your boobs a break.  ((hugs))

Offline Tecike

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2011, 08:12:34 am »
Thanks ladies!

I thought offering the bottle just once a day - he has never used the bottle before, I don't know if he would want it at all...
I tried lying down and sitting positions, but I'm not familar with rugby position - could you describe it?
Actually I'm letting him fiddle with my shirt while nursing, so that he's still focused on nursing. And he unlatches himself a lot, partly because of my oversupply (which has been much better since I pump some milk out before latching him on) and partly because he uses unlatching to look around a bit and then turns to nursing again... so beacuse of his constant bobbing on and off the breast, I'm simply worried that if I take the breast away too soon, he won't be eating enough...Even like this, he nurses 10 mins at the most.



Offline Shiv52

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2011, 19:50:37 pm »
Even like this, he nurses 10 mins at the most.
I wonder has he just become a more efficient eater?  My DD1 went from 45 minute feeds to 10-15 minute feeds at 4 months and i spent weeks trying to get her to take more until I realised she was clearly getting enough as she was lasting through feeds.  How long does he last if you stop after the 10 minutes.  THis is also an age of high distractibility.  Feeding in a darkened room or feeding drowsy after a nap can help.






Offline Tecike

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2011, 08:19:08 am »
I wonder, too. 10 mins is the time we spend nursing altogether - he sucks efficiently for 3-5 mins (checked yesterday) and then he starts bobbing on-off and I try to keep up the 10 min mark. This way he can last for 3.5 hrs. I wonder, if I didn't let him bob on and off the breast and just suck for 3-5 mins, how long he would last...
We are in a darkened room, but with short naps unfortunately I can't feed him after each nap... as I said, he ususally wakes up 1 hr before E time, and we would end up eating every 2.5 hrs.... :(



Offline Mom-o

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2011, 13:18:26 pm »
The "USED" to comment is a red flag. If he used to sleep longer then he's probably not a short napper and you need to work on extending them. try putting a hand on him at usual wu time.also it may be time for shh pat. This was when we went to four hours. Check against his weight in SAYP and how long he should be going.

we had the same snacky problem that led to loads of NW and more snacking!

I found if I fed DD at the 3.5hrs and pump for 8to 10mins after the feed. This increased the milk available to DD and then it holds her attention to keep sucking. U can use any milk u get to put on your sore nipples to help them heal up. The the milk air dry.

HTH it'll get easier and we are here for you.

Offline Tecike

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2011, 08:27:41 am »
That's a good idea! I'll definitely try today and see what happens....

You may be right about naps, too... He has benn doing short naps for 3 months now, but amazingly, for the last 3 days he started doing 2x2.5 in the am and pm, and a CN... So i'm thinking, it might be time to move to 4 hr EASY? I'm a bit discouraged, though, since I read that many EBF babies don't get to 4 hrs....



Offline Mom-o

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2011, 09:16:11 am »
my DD made it to 4hrs easy without a problem. U know your LO. Some of the problems you mentioned may be solved with a longer easy.

Let us know how the supply increase goes. If your lo's tummy is full he'll make 4hrs :)

Offline Mom-o

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2011, 09:18:26 am »
I was just thinking you should read up on how your diet can boost the quality of your milk.

Get some r&r time too.

That should all help your supply.

Offline Tecike

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2011, 12:11:49 pm »
Sorry, what does r&r time stand for?



Offline Erin M

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2011, 12:46:08 pm »
R&r = rest and relaxation

My 3 all made it to the 4 hour EASY around the 4/5 month mark.  We just like to remind people that not all babies make it there at 4 months as sometimes people push really hard to get them to somewhere they're not ready to go to yet.  Trying to stretch a baby to 4 hours when s/he isn't ready is very frustrating for everyone concerned.  :)

You sound like you're doing a great job reading cues - when we moved to 4 hours, we'd do 4 hours for our first EASY cycle and shorter times for the others (like 3.5) and eventually stretch as the days went on. 

Offline amayzie

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #12 on: December 06, 2011, 12:54:46 pm »
My little guy also drastically reduced his feed time at about 4 months.. by HEAPS!! I figured that if he was hungry he'd wake more... but no- these days the whole thing can be done and dusted in under 10 minutes. He only goes longer if we are at home, quietly on the lounge.. having a 'cuddle feed'... or when i'm in a hurry to go out!!!

ANd my guy is EBF and went to 4 hour easy fine... he even goes quite a bit longer than that now at 6 months...
Katy, Mummy to Hamish!


Offline Tecike

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #13 on: December 06, 2011, 17:44:23 pm »
Thanks, ladies!

I think, I'll start moving to 4 hrs as you did, Erin... this gradual approach sounds fine...
I started pumping today and it seems he really eats VERY efficiently - there was less then an oz left in my breasts after feeds!!! Maybe my supply is less now, then before...I don't know... It seems enough though, he doesn't seem hungry earlier...



Offline amayzie

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Re: When BFing hurts....
« Reply #14 on: December 06, 2011, 19:58:12 pm »
As always measure his intake by both when he's hungry next and by his output- those wet nappies and poos (and more the wet as BF babies can go days with no poos- although we waited a while before that happened at al!). If you're still getting the wet nappies then happy days!! I found too that once he got to the quick feeds, that when we are out and about to just cut it as soon as the silly looking around starts- it's not worth flashing your boob around more than required and nothing makes people look at you more than a baby complaining as you try to force them back onto the boob!!! (I'm more than happy to feed in public- just not to flash my boob with no baby attached!!)
Katy, Mummy to Hamish!