thinking about giving up.....

[Fiver]

Fluids are just so important and I know full well myself that when I don't drink enough (most days ) that DD gets more frustrated with milk flow.

[atlantamomofthree]

Hi, H. 

I have been single side feeding since about 6-7 weeks old with no problem, until last week, that is!! He started the 6 month GS and WOW he took a lot!  I had to start offering both sides. He was only going 2 hours on one (and being fussy in between feeds), and now goes 3-3.5 on both. He bobs off and complains (and fools around like you described) when he's emptied one...that's when I switch sides. If she did that after the second side, though, she was probably just finished.

Water...I found a solution that works for me. I fill a 2 Liter bottle (a clean soda bottle) with water every morning and pour from it into my glass all day. My goal every day is to have it empty by BT. I can see what I've had/haven't drank, so it motivates me (plus, I can't trick myself into thinking I've really had more than I have )

Hth

[babymunkey]

Thanks Val - I'm normally pretty good with water - I keep a glass near the kitchen sink and any time I go near it I fill it and down it. But just don't seem to have time ATM! Eg this morning all I've had to drink is 2 cups of tea. Naughty Mummy.

I've always struggled with knowing when one side is empty - how do you tell? I check by squeezing but I know that they never really 'empty' - most of the time milk still squirts out as opposed to just bubbling out IYSWIM. My boobs feel empty, but they've finally settled and I never get that full to bursting feeling anymore anyway.

[Erin M]

The "empty" thing is tricky when they get older and when it's not your first.  I hardly ever get the empty (or full!) feeling either now, except when he skips feeds.  I take my cues more from him and how much swallowing he's doing (which of course is hard if she's bobbing on and off).  The water thing is hard too, I've been struggling with that lately too. 

[Little toes]

I found that a good multivitamin and a seperate mineral suppliment has really helped me feel more awake. I wake often with DS but adding that suppliments to my diet has helped me feel a bit more energetic. That way I know that I'm replacing what DS is taking out of me in case I have a day (well many days) when I'm rushed and don't eat or drink enough or on time.

[jennandsophie]

Helen, I'm feeling exactly what you are at this point.  On top of the bobbing off and on and 5 min feeds, I'm off dairy and wheat/gluten to help with his digestion.  So, yes, I'm selfish because I'm dying to eat bread and cheese and ice-cream again! Anyway, I'm still thinking that around 6/7 months when he's on solids, I'll transition to FF or at least cut it back to only 2 feeds (morning and bedtime) and the rest formula.  

During this horrible sleep regression/routine change thing this past month, I also got plugged ducts a few times because I didn't wake him for the DF.  I just kept thinking "why am I doing this?"  Anyway, I battle back and forth between quitting and sticking it out for the year like I did with DD.

Don't you go back to work soon?  How will you handle the BFing and work?

[~Sara~]

*hugs* H...bfing is hard work!  I don't have much advice to offer, but I'm here to hold your hand

[babymunkey]

Bad day again today.....

I just don't think she's getting enough from me - but she seems to be fine with that until bedtime where she will take a whopping feed - anyone know roughly how much is "average" at this age? I'll maybe post on the FF board.

She's still mucking about etc - part of the problem is with short naps, I try to feed her before she goes down if her feed would be due during the nap (assuming she might sleep through for a full nap) - of course inevitably she doesn't sleep through and I needn't have fed her, but I think it aggravates the snacking, mucking about behaviour as she's never really hungry.

Sighh - we're a bit of a mess still....I am determined to make it to 6 months, but I'm struggling - cheer me on girls!! I just feel like I need 1 part of our routine to fall into place and then everything else will have a chance to come right.....

[Fiver]

Ahh, H, it's so hard to know what's going on.  Most likely you are making enough milk, especially if she's ok during the day.  There's a calculator to give a rough idea of how much LO might be taking (or at least needing if you're giving EBM) at a feed here http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/

One day at a time

[ENMS]

anyone know roughly how much is "average" at this age?

H how much is she taking at BT? I would think anywhere between 6 and 8 oz would be the average at her age?

[~Sara~]

*hugs* I feel like I'm running on empty, too, at bedtime.  And I wish I had an answer as to how to beef up your supply at that time, but I'm trying to figure it out as well.  I've been dealing with it by cluster feeding her in the evenings when possible.  Amount-wise it works out to be the same vs. one feed.  M seems to want to do this on her own anyways, especially right when I get home from work, she wants to nurse.

FWIW, when M gets a bottle (bm or formula), she's eating 4-5oz...sometimes--rarely--6oz.  She eats about every 3.5-4h.

[babymunkey]

She's moved up this last week to taking 180ml at BT and the DF - BT tonight she took about 210ml. I think its 30ml per oz isn't it? So she's bang on in that range then. Thanks Elise.

I'll check the other links thanks girls - I think they key lies in not feeding her in between to help with naps. And given that we are still mostly on 40/45 min naps, I guess its not helping to be worth the impact on BF'ing. Like I said, if we could just get our naps sorted, I think we'd have a chance to get back on track with other stuff....

[caoimhe mum]

hi ya, sorry for butting in on your topic, im new to the writing on the forum.  im at the exact stage where my dd is only feeding for no more than five mins at a go and no matter what i do i can get her to feed for longer.  im really worried she is not getting enough, she is waking all the time at night, not sleeping during the day, so im wrecked.  i have tried to get her to take a bottle but she refuses, even though i have tried every type of bottle, with formula and with breast milk.  i have told solids is the only way to go, so i have started even though i really didn't want to until she was six months or over.  but due to exhaustion i said id give it a try.  so i gave her baby rice in the morning and she loves it but it hasn't changed anything.  i feel guity for giving the solids but i feel they haven't done anything to help so maybe i could take her back off them. please any advice.   

[Fiver]

Hi caoimhe mum, Shiv has started a new topic for you on the main BF board (http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=228890.msg2426715;topicseen#new).  Perhaps you could pop over there and we'll get to giving you some support with this.

[2ndTimeAround]

I just wanted to add something that I learned while almost giving up BF'ing my DD.  In Canada we have a breastfeeding help line which I called everyday (no word of a lie).  My LO didn't seem to be getting enough milk in my mind but the nurse on the helpline told me that with each growth spurt your LO goes through your milk changes to meet their demands.  So in the beginning we start out making 'Skim' milk and continue on to make 'Homoginized' milk.  So if this is true (which I believe it is) then your LO will require less at a feed because your milk is more fattening causing the LO to get full faster.  This tip saved me and I can remember saying if I could just make it until my LO is 4 mths and now she's 10mths and BF'ing is going great.  Another thing that I noticed is if I don't drink enough water in a day my boobs don't feel near as full so drink up.  It's good for you and baby.  Hope this info helps someone as it did me.