[momie2b9-20-11]

How are you doing with BFing? How often is your LO eating? How long does your LO usually nurse each time? Starting solids/cereals yet?

[answeredprayer]

its going ok. not great because Ive battled with thrush since he was 3 weeks old. My poir nipples are always sooo sore. He eats every hour-2 hours around the clock. We tried cereal yesterday and he wasnt interested, so we will wait for a bit.

[blondie-lox]

Fallon is nursing about every 2hrs, all day long. I have no idea how much she eats, and we won't start solids until she's around 8 months so, maybe longer.

[Mom2twolittlemen]

Nathan does great! He nurses every 1.5-3 hours during the day. He WAS STTN until right before he hit 4 months. Now he is up every 3-5 hours after he goes down at 930. It sucks pretty much. But, I know it won't last forever.

We won't start solids until AT LEAST 6 months.

[brightmommy]

We just ditched the nipple shield finally!! But now I am really sore again from feeding without it because she has a really strong latch and it quite violent with it at times (likes to jerk around and stuff) which is why we started using it in the first place.
She was eating about every 2.5-3 hours over the last few weeks, but last week she went back to every 1.5-2 hours so I guess she is going through a growth spurt or something. She usually eats for about 25-30 min. (she likes to comfort nurse), but yesterday and today she has been down to about 10-15 min.

[Hazel]

Originally Posted by answeredprayer

its going ok. not great because Ive battled with thrush since he was 3 weeks old. My poir nipples are always sooo sore. He eats every hour-2 hours around the clock. We tried cereal yesterday and he wasnt interested, so we will wait for a bit.

Have you tried gentian violet? That worked really well for me when my oldest and I had thrush

Isabelle no longer has a schedule because eating just makes her tired so she snacks whenever she feels up to it.

[alicia1984]

Dominic eats on demand. Days I don't work I think he'll eat ever 2 hrs or so. He's been sleeping through the night. My supply hasn't been the best lately, but I think it's pretty awesome we've lasted this long with nursing since I wasn't even planning on doing it in the first place. I've given up being attached to the pump because it's way too hard to give attention to my DD, my son and juggle housework while attached to the stupid thing... so I've been supplementing Dominic with formula. He's doing just fine.

He has cereal every once in a while. He eats it alright.

[ashj_1218]

Bfing is good. Kieran eats every 2-3 hours during the day for 10-15 minutes. He rarely falls asleep and he is down on comfort nursing now that he is "busy." He is not a good sleeper, so we spend a lot more time nursing at night. He usually does one 3 hour stretch and then it could be every hour or more often for the rest of the night. That nursing is more comfort nursing because he is tired though.

We sorta tried solids. We did some prunes because he has gotten prune juice since around 2 months for belly/constipation issues. He did well with the prunes and seemed to love the spoon feeding thing. So I tried some oatmeal a few days later. And he was miserable trying to potty. So I waited a few days (swore off oatmeal) and tried some peas...again miserable. So he might be ready in terms of eating off the spoon, but his digestive system is not ready for any solids yet. So we are back to waiting until he is older. Which I guess I should have expected since his digestion has always been sluggish and caused him issues. The doc says he is just one of those babies who takes a long time to get up and running.

[momie2b9-20-11]

Kynslee still eats every hour to hour and half and will eat for about 20-25 mins each time *Sigh*. I don't mind feeding her but every hour during the day seems like so often for how little she is. I feel like I've failed her because she eats so often and yet hardly gains any. I have been adding cereal in and the other day we tried bananas and she loved them. But, she still bf's just as often and only gained 2 oz this last week. I know she may be petite and tiny but at the rate she's going she'll be only 16 lbs at a year. The doc said she looks fine and healthy so nothing to worry about yet, but I'm afraid if she doesn't start gaining faster that he may worry. She does have little rolls on her legs but a little chub to her face but is still only 10lbs 2 oz and still in Newborn sized clothes. I know I haven't failed but as often as she eats and as little as she gained it's depressing. Is my milk not rich enough for her? IDK - sorry for the little rant

[Hazel]

Have you done any weighted feeds to see how much she is taking in? (weigh her, nurse, weigh again and the difference is how much she ate). If she is just a slow nurser, it may reassure you that she isn't eating outrageous amounts but is simply sipping her meals and taking her time

One thing we are doing with Iz is at least once a day, sometimes more, I pump off the foremilk and then nurse her so she's getting all hind milk--the extra fat and calories are helping her grow (slowly). Before I started doing that, she gained three ounces over a month and after, she gained a pound the next month

[momie2b9-20-11]

I should try that, but Kynslee doesn't seem to like the hind milk. She's lazy - lol, and likes to suck and get as much out, the hind milk is a little harder to get out and so fusses like if she's not getting enough. But, when I pump I try and get the hind milk so she's getting it in her cereal. At her 2 month apt she weighed 8.15 and at 4 months only 10lbs - so she only gained 1lb 1oz in 2 months. I've never done a weighted feed but maybe I should. Thanks for the tip

[bajars2531]

BF'ing is great here--Caeden nurses like a champ, he hates bottles. He nurses 10 minutes or so every 2-3 hours, unless I work, then he nurses more often when I get home because he'll only eat 2-4 oz from bottles during the entire day. I have no idea how much he eats since the bottles aren't a good gauge for us. We are starting full time daycare next week so hopefully he will adjust to that. We won't start solids until at least 6 months but I am hoping to hold out until 8 or so. He does fine with just BM and he has never even nursed from both sides at one feeding yet. I'm not sure if that because I just have a good supply or he just doesn't need that much. Either way, he's happy with the boob and I'm fine to keep it that way for as long as possible.

[ashj_1218]

Originally Posted by momie2b9-20-11

Kynslee still eats every hour to hour and half and will eat for about 20-25 mins each time *Sigh*. I don't mind feeding her but every hour during the day seems like so often for how little she is. I feel like I've failed her because she eats so often and yet hardly gains any. I have been adding cereal in and the other day we tried bananas and she loved them. But, she still bf's just as often and only gained 2 oz this last week. I know she may be petite and tiny but at the rate she's going she'll be only 16 lbs at a year. The doc said she looks fine and healthy so nothing to worry about yet, but I'm afraid if she doesn't start gaining faster that he may worry. She does have little rolls on her legs but a little chub to her face but is still only 10lbs 2 oz and still in Newborn sized clothes. I know I haven't failed but as often as she eats and as little as she gained it's depressing. Is my milk not rich enough for her? IDK - sorry for the little rant

It is hard not to worry about everything. I worry that Kieran gets too much sometimes. They say breastfed babies won't overeat (and I do believe it). But it is hard to have a 22lb, 29'' 4-month-old who every assumes is 8 months and just "behind." So I think no matter where you are on the spectrum, there is worry. As long as she is gaining, she is probably fine and you are doing great. It does sound like she is a slow/lazy nurser. Which means she likes it for comfort, but not for the effort it makes her have to exert. I think pumping and bottle feeding some hind milk sounds like a good idea. At least you can see if it helps. And if it doesn't you can stop.

BUT, I have a very close friend whose 2-year-old daughter (she is born in December) is 19lbs and 30'' tall. She is two months younger than Liam and yet is smaller than Kieran. And she is completely healthy. You should see this kid tear around a bounce-house center. She has always been tiny like that. She was also nursed for over a year. Rarely gets sick either. Her mother's sister is a 4'10'' ballerina...so she comes by it naturally. Just like you said your families are not large people. I forgot how big she was at a year...but it was probably under 16lbs. Your doc will let you know when to worry and you can deal with it then But for now, it sounds like you are doing everything you can to get enough into her. She could have a really rockin' metabolism as well! Which she will LOVE when she hits high school. Lol.

[Justiah]

How are you doing with BFing? We are doing great
How often is your LO eating? He is eating every 3 hours until about 9pm from there he will sleep 6-7 hours straight
How long does your LO usually nurse each time? 15-20 mins
Starting solids/cereals yet? we bought a baby bullet which is great! We just started solids as he is just hitting the 6 month mark he seems to be doing very well so far!

[amycc]

We are still BFing here, and it's going well. He nurses every 2-3 hrs during the day, and 3-4 at night. He nurses one side for about 10 min per feeding, so it's pretty quick.

[Cruiser]

We`re doing great nursing. He nurses every 2-3 hours during the day typically, and nights are ok. He was STTN until 4 months, then he`s been back to getting up every 2-3 hours.


Ashley - there was something posted on the BF board about a supplement you can take that helps to increase the fat in your milk. I feel like it`s chlorophyll or lecithin, I can`t remember, but it might be worth a look!

[Hazel]

I need to go look that up, Cruiser! Maybe we could get some more weight on Isabelle Perhaps I'll give my IBCLC a call

[MoonlessNightx]

Parker was almost diagnosed failure to thrive when he was 2 weeks old. Our doctor told us to add in a couple ounces of formula a day and continue breastfeeding for the rest of it. Well, apparently he just got off to a slow start because after that he blew up like a puff ball! We mostly breastfeed (especially at night- we cosleep too) and he has 2-4 ounces of formula a day. He pretty much eats randomly... it can be every 2 hours and it can be every 20 minutes depending on his mood. He's definitely a grazer. It's weird for us because our daughter (formula exclusively after 1 month) ate every 4 hours on her own set schedule. Parker eats before bed and then goes about 4 hours before waking up to nurse. Then he goes a couple more hours before waking up to nurse every hour or so until we get up for the day. Then, like I said, it's completely random. We've been adding in some solids so he's eating formula less and less. He seems to prefer some solids and the rest breastfeeding.

My daughter didn't STTN until she was 4 1/2 YEARS old so we aren't looking forward to that with Parker any time soon. Although our daughter is super skinny with a high metabolism (unfortunately from daddy not me lol) and our son is a bit chubbier so maybe it will be different with him.

[momie2b9-20-11]

Originally Posted by Cruiser

Ashley - there was something posted on the BF board about a supplement you can take that helps to increase the fat in your milk. I feel like it`s chlorophyll or lecithin, I can`t remember, but it might be worth a look!

I'll have to check into that - thanks!