Breastfeeding help please

[TeamOwen2020]

Hey hey! My 15 week old LO seems to be feeding less over the last couple of days. He is also behaving strangely at the breast. He latched on well sucks for no more than 10 seconds sometimes he will moan or crysometomes nit. I switch him to the other breast and he does the same. Should I keep going like this. My husband gives him N.V. a bottle before bed so we tried giving him one yesterday as he had not had mich and he took it immediately. Can anyone suggest what this could be please?

[Seb9]

He's probably trying to up your supply by fussing at your boob, try not to give a bottle so that his fussing works and increases your supply.

If you give more formula milk at this stage it's possible you'll get in to a top up trap where the more formula you give the less your body produces so it's not readily available for baby so you give more formula.

They're very good at getting you to increase your production, but it really it really does feel like while they're doing it.

They might also be getting a bottle preference if dad is giving a regular bottle but not pace feeding it. If he's not pace feeding the bottle maybe have a look at doing that, it makes the bottle more like feeding from the breast, slowing it down and making it harder to chug it down.

There are some great breastfeeding support groups on Facebook too and la leche league and Kelly mom too for help with breastfeeding, good luck, these early days are really tough, I've been breastfeeding for a year now and if you can make it through it definitely gets easier, good luck xx

[TeamOwen2020 in reply to Seb9]

Thanks so much. No we are trying not to give into formula only when it has been a long while between feeds and he is distressed. It’s only happened couple of times so will make sure we persevere. I think hubby is pace feeding but will take a look tonight xxx well done for persevering so long!

[Seb9 in reply to TeamOwen2020]

You might not believe me now, but after she started weaning and started to drop feeds and eat more, I really missed it. Now she only feeds at bedtime and once during the night and I miss our times snuggled up feeding together. If you find it works for you it can be lovely (plus be more convenient and cheaper than formula 😊) all the best with it xx

[TeamOwen2020 in reply to Seb9]

Yes I really don’t want to give up. I do love our time together. I just wish he would drop a feed or two at night as he can be up every hour most nights and this is how it’s always been.

Thanks so much for your support. Good to know we all go through it! Xx

[Seb9 in reply to TeamOwen2020]

We really do! One night I was so sleep deprived I thought I'd had a stroke! Luckily my husband was super calm and understanding and just packed me off to bed for a few hours and just took over baby duty. It's so tough, but as I pack away her 9 to 12 month clothing (as they're too small), while she's asleep in her cot, I know it does get better and it does go faster than you imagine. I swore at so many people telling me to cherish every minute as it goes so fast, but when you're living in that sleep deprived awfulness it feels like it is going to last forever! So I won't tell you to cherish it, but just try and give you hope that it does get better xx

[TeamOwen2020 in reply to Seb9]

Awww thanks. Yes just packing away most 0-3 months but still fits into some so holding onto those items a bit longer lol! I cannot believe how the time has flown and he has changed so much. Don’t want it to end. All the Covid restrictions has meant we have had far less visitors and have been able to spend more time as a family on our own. Has been lovely not being able to go many places in that respect. Also having hubby working from home is something I cherish every day as that has been a godsend! xx

[Seb9 in reply to TeamOwen2020]

I know covid has been life changing world wide, but for us it was a really lovely family time too. I went back to work, but was able to work from home and my husband was furloughed for 3 months, so was able to be a stay at home dad from when she was 7 months old, time with her he would never normally have had with her. So for that I'll always be grateful. It was wonderful watching him and her together, doing on line baby sensory and him doing all the craft needed for the class, we've still got his sensory weather umbrella. I'm looking forward to the world finding a bit of normality, but it definitely hasn't been all bad for us.

[RI90]

As the below commenter has said just keep trying to put him to the breast, he’s either trying to up your supply or have you thought about teething? Both of mine started teething around the 3 month mark and noticed a difference to their feeding when that started but it soon improved. If you’re worried about it affecting your supply I don’t know if you have a breast pump? I would be very careful about giving more formula if his feeding is off, you really don’t want it to start affecting your supply, if you are doing a regular bottle then I would carry on with it but try not to add in anymore. Stick with it, it will improve!!

[Gloria_B]

Hi there! You will find a lot of tips and support in laleche.org.uk/find-lll-sup...