Feeding questions

My three and a half week old is feeding for almost two hours at a time.
I feel pretty confident with my latch. I see her sucking AND swallowing
consistently. Is she really this hungry? Before today, I would pull her
off after about 25 minutes at each breast when her sucking and
swallowing weakened. She would cry a little bit and refuse the pacifier
my husband gave her for a few minutes , then she would eventually
settle down and use it.

The issue that is complicating things a bit is that I had mastitis. I
have a scab on my right breast that needs time to heal. My doctor gave
me triple nipple cream to put on it between feedings. I am seeing a lac
consultant Monday.

I feel like if I let her suck for as long as she'd like, I'd never have
the chance to use the cream, but I am feeling guilty about denying her
the breast for as long as she'd like.

I am also having trouble knowing when she'd like to come off the brest.
Sometimes she shakes her head back and forth and I don't know whenther
that's gas or trying to get off. When she does pop herself off, she
will sometimes be in a milk drunk stupor for five or so minutes, then
cry for the breast again as if she didn't have enough.

Her diapers right now are around 4-5 soiled with a couple of just wet
in a 24 hour period.

Help is so appreciated.

Erin

Erin writes:
: My three and a half week old is feeding for almost two hours at a time.
: I feel pretty confident with my latch. I see her sucking AND swallowing
: consistently. Is she really this hungry? Before today, I would pull her
: off after about 25 minutes at each breast when her sucking and
: swallowing weakened. She would cry a little bit and refuse the pacifier
: my husband gave her for a few minutes , then she would eventually
: settle down and use it.

This is not unusual for a newborn. You will see her nursing times
settle down between 6 and 12 weeks.

: The issue that is complicating things a bit is that I had mastitis. I
: have a scab on my right breast that needs time to heal. My doctor gave
: me triple nipple cream to put on it between feedings. I am seeing a lac
: consultant Monday.

Hmm. I don't understand. Did you have to take antibiotics? Did you
have it lanced? Usually, to prevent a recurrance of the mastitis, the
thing you want to do is nurse on the affected breast as much as possible.

: I feel like if I let her suck for as long as she'd like, I'd never have
: the chance to use the cream, but I am feeling guilty about denying her
: the breast for as long as she'd like.

This is important for you as well as for her. At 3 weeks she is still
working to establish your supply. You should definately let her comfort
suck as much as possible, as this is what builds up your supply for the
shorter nursing sessions later on.

: I am also having trouble knowing when she'd like to come off the brest.
: Sometimes she shakes her head back and forth and I don't know whenther
: that's gas or trying to get off. When she does pop herself off, she
: will sometimes be in a milk drunk stupor for five or so minutes, then
: cry for the breast again as if she didn't have enough.

Perhaps you could nurse her down fo a nap on these occasions. Given
what you have described above, it seems that more nursing time, not
less, is indicated.

: Her diapers right now are around 4-5 soiled with a couple of just wet
: in a 24 hour period.

This sounds about right.

: Help is so appreciated.

: Erin


Good luck,
Larry

wrote in message ...
Erin writes:

Hmm. I don't understand. Did you have to take antibiotics? Did you
have it lanced? Usually, to prevent a recurrance of the mastitis, the
thing you want to do is nurse on the affected breast as much as possible.

It also helps if you can vary the nursing positions in order to drain the
breast properly. I think (from memory) that you want the chin to point
towards the part of the breast that needs draining.
3.5 weeks is a typical time for a growth spurt too. I think you might find
it settles down much sooner than you expect, and she'll do a lot of sleeping
which is when she'll do her growing.
The beauty of these early months is that they come with a pleasant amnesia.
When she's older, the endless stinky nappies, the broken sleep and the
constant feeding will all be a blur in your memory.
Hang in there, it does get easier!


--
Amy
Mum to Carlos born sleeping 20/11/02,
& Ana born screaming 30/06/04
http://www.freewebs.com/carlos2002/
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/ana%5Fj%5F2004/
My blog: http://spaces.msn.com/members/querer-hijo-querer-hija/