I'm curious how common this is? My son never gets full after bf'ing him. I have to give him 2 oz of milk or formula afterwards. This has been happening for a while. As much as I've tried to accept this, I am having a difficult time doing so.
Who else is dealing with this and how have you dealt with it? Thanks!
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
Sorry You re dealing with this : (
Since LO cut his feedings down to 5 mins (chugging sessions) I have been watching his cues after. If he seems hungry still I offer a bottle of pumped milk (.5 or 1 ounce). I don't do it every one though. My supply is fine (I can pump more after te feeding so I know it's not an undersupply issue). I have no idea how much he is drinking at he breast so this week I'm going to do a consult with an LC where they weigh before and after the feeding to determine how much they drank. Do you know what your supply is like?
It's hard to deal with it but I don't want to give up BF yet either.....
Its tough
grapefruit / 4110 posts
@marriedandlovingit: How often do you feed? It may be that you do more frequent smaller meals. That's what we ended up doing when he wasn't filling up.
persimmon / 1472 posts
Sorry to hear about the troubles - BF is not easy. What kind of cues is your LO giving to show he's still hungry? Also, does he pop off himself when he drains your breast? Is he feeding both breasts or one side per session?
I remember in the beginning when LO would get hungry very soon after a session - sometimes less than 30-45 minutes! Every time she seemed hungry I nursed her and my supply caught up with her. Eventually her feedings spaced out and she wasn't hungry as often. Maybe try nursing her on demand (timing can be sporadic throughout the day) and see if that might help? Also PP suggestion on an LCD might help too.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Why are you saying he's still hungry? If you can I would just try to feed on demand to catch your supply up. Also, some babies do just want to comfort suck so they may act hungry but really just want to be soothed.
apricot / 464 posts
Why do you think he's hungry? Many times babies will take a bottle even if they're not still hungry.
persimmon / 1087 posts
@winniebee: Thanks, girl!
@brownie: I feed after his naps. That's when he is hungry and ready to eat. Good point. Thanks!
@ElisaT: He does unlatch, but more often than not he will root for a hunger sign. Part of me is wondering if that is him wanting to suck for comfort.
I would love for my supply to catch up with his needs if that is the issue. I think my supply has been diminishing throughout the weeks.
To answer your question if I am feeding from one or both breasts, it varies. I will feed from one if I can get away with it. I know that the foremilk won't fill him up, so I have been trying to drain one breast as much as possible.
@Thehistoryofus: I think he is still hungry because after he unlatches, he will root around as if he is still hungry. I normally will wait a bit to see if it true hunger, he wants comfort, or his brain needed to catch up with his tummy that he really is full. More often than not, he winds up screaming until I feed him again (either bf or by bottle).
@ohapostrophe: I'm wondering if that was the case for his last feed. He finished bf'ing, and he was calm for a while then he started to cry and root. I prepared a bottle for him and he spit it up everywhere.
I apparently have sooooo much to learn! I appreciate everyone's input!! Thank you all.
pomegranate / 3388 posts
I supplement after each and every breastfeeding session. I have major supply issues, and I've never managed to produce more than 1/2 oz from either side for normal BF sessions that are spaced out at 3-hour intervals. It's a big pain to do both breastfeeding and formula from a bottle at each feeding session, but I've gotten used to it. I worked w/ a lactation consultant and did everything I could to increase my supply at the beginning, but nothing worked. So I've accepted that this is the only way that my daughter will be able to get some breastmilk.
grapefruit / 4817 posts
I have a lazy+sleepy nurser (has been since birth), so I always supplement at night and every once and a while during the day. Sometimes he gets so mad that it's not coming fast enough that he won't stay latched, and then I just get him a bottle because he starts screaming. He has me trained, but I don't stress about it. At this point, I just try and get him as much breastmilk as I can and then supplemnt from there. .
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@marriedandlovingit: It does sound like he may just be looking to suck for comfort. I would try a paci (or a few different kinds) to see if that maybe helps until he can be distracted. He also may just be smelling you and automatically want to nurse even if its not hunger. When I am done feeding my daughter I try to immediately stand up and move around so she knows we aren't just sitting down to nurse.
Also, trust your body and your baby, if there are enough dirty/wet diapers and he's not crying and all upset then more than likely hes getting enough.
persimmon / 1329 posts
i've never produced enough breastmilk, so we supplemented from day one. in a way, i think it's a blessing because he can both breastfeed but also totally fine with the bottle of formula. i was kinda bummed that i couldn't exclusively bf, but to be honest he's getting both and he's fine. plus now that i'm back to work most of his meals both bm and form are from a bottle and we never had any transition problems.
Currently, he gets breastmilk in the morning and formula in the afternoon, so he can sleep longer. I stopped doing nursing then giving him some formula since I'm back to work.
persimmon / 1087 posts
Just an update. I nursed most of today. I gave him a bottle of pumped milk this morning bc I was too full. The next feed, I nursed then supplemented with a bottle of formula. He spit that right up! I guess he wasn't hungry. The rest of the feeds, I have nursed without supplementing. He has been eating more frequently. He's asleep in my arms after a feed right now!
I pray I don't need to keep supplementing all of the time. Thank you all so much for your helpful and encouraging words!
coconut / 8305 posts
Penelope would nurse ALL. DAY. LONG. if I let her! Even though I KNOW she's not hungry & she's getting plenty. Sometimes nursing isn't about hunger at all but just about being close to mom. I know for Penelope alot of times she'll empty me pretty quick but still not have satisfied her sucking need so she'll want to keep nursing. Even if it means she's gonna throw it up afterward... I have to cut her off alot & give her a pacifier instead. 
I always go back to her weight gain & output. As long as those are good I know she's getting plenty, regardless of how she may or may not be acting... Especially since grassiness or other tummy issues often result in acting like she's hungry too. Tummy ache/hunger = wanna nurse.
Glad to hear its been a good bf'ing day! 
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