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#1
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Intro and a few questions
Hi everyone! I've been lurking here for a while and recognize many of you
from misc.kids.pregnancy. Had my little guy on St. Patrick's Day, and we've been working out breastfeeding ever since. I am trying to feed on demand, but have resorted to offering my pinkie/a pacifier (which he hates and usually won't take) once or twice after some really intense cluster feeding. For the most part, it has been going pretty well, but recently, we've started having a few problems. Advice/suggestions would be much appreciated! 1) Lately, it seems to take the critter a few tries to get a proper latch and settle into nursing. The first couple times, he will bite instead of latch, or latch and then pull his head back hard, taking my nipple with him. OUCH! I unlatch him as quickly as I can when this happens, and I do try to keep a hand behind his neck/head to prevent him from pulling back, but he still manages to catch me somehow. Also, I've been hand expressing a little bit at the beginning of each nursing session, since my breasts seem really full. Any other suggestions for helping him get the latch right the first time? 2) Is Tylenol safe while nursing? My doctor's office is closed today, so I can't call, and I really could go for some pain relief. The lanolin just isn't cutting it today. 3) Critter tends to stay latched for quite a long time if I let him stay on until he decides to let go...usually 40 minutes or longer. After about 30 minutes, though, he falls asleep and only sucks every couple minutes. When I try to unlatch him, he starts sucking again. Should I be unlatching him when he falls asleep, or should I just wait until he lets go himself? 4) Every other feeding or so, Critter sucks too quickly and ends up choking on the milk. We both find this stressful. Is there anyway to prevent this? Thank you so much in advance for all of your help! Michelle |
#2
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Intro and a few questions
Oh, I can tell I am tired, because I forgot to include my biggest
question... I think my little guy has colic. He wakes up each night at about 10 and cries constantly until at least 12:30, sometimes longer. He also cries a lot the rest of the day when he is awake. He probably has about 2 hours of happy awake time during the day (and this might be an overestimate) - the rest of the time he is either sleeping, nursing, or crying his eyes out. Sometimes he cries while he nurses (I think this is when he isn't really hungry, but is comfort nursing). We have tried all of the colic tricks we can find (tummy massage (he hates it!), walking, dancing, vacuum cleaner, drives in the car), and none works for more than a few minutes. Now, I pretty much just hold him close, walk him and tell him I love him during that time and he cries himself out. I'm trying this week to cut things out of my diet that could be disagreeing with him. I'm avoiding veggies that might make him gassy, and today is my second day of cutting back on milk (I'm having a hard time cutting milk products out entirely, since I am vegitarian, and dairy is such an easy way to get protein in during the day, but I am trying to stick to just yogurt for a few days). Are there any other foods I should consider cutting out? Could spicy foods affect hime? I love spicy food, and have had quite a bit of it lately... Thanks for any suggestions -Michelle |
#3
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Intro and a few questions
Hi Michelle. What a neat birthday your son has. I don't suppose you're Irish?
I've been hand expressing a little bit at the beginning of each nursing session, since my breasts seem really full. I had to do this too at first. Sometimes I was so full that it was impossible for DS to latch on if I didn't express quite a bit. When I try to unlatch him, he starts sucking again. Should I be unlatching him when he falls asleep I would suggest trying to unlatch him as soon as you notice he is not swallowing...he will likely protest that and if so, try humming and rocking or whatever until he goes to sleep. If all else fails latch back on and let him nurse for comfort a bit more. In my experience, the longer they get accustomed to nursing themselves into a deep slumber, the harder it will be to get out of that habit. My son would nurse at bedtime until he was so full that he was uncomfortable. He couldn't get to sleep b/c nursing more only aggravated the situation. Now he is 8 months and he will nurse about 10 mins when we lay down, unlatch himself, toss and turn a bit, and I rub his back until he falls asleep. Its not a perfect bedtime ritual, but works for us. ~Tracy |
#4
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Intro and a few questions
No doubt you'll get any number of good suggestions from the group here, but
I highly recommend "Happiest Baby on the Block". It's a jewel, and will likely give you some really helpful tools for dealing with your little man. Good luck --Deirdre "Shelly" wrote in message ... Oh, I can tell I am tired, because I forgot to include my biggest question... I think my little guy has colic. He wakes up each night at about 10 and cries constantly until at least 12:30, sometimes longer. He also cries a lot the rest of the day when he is awake. He probably has about 2 hours of happy awake time during the day (and this might be an overestimate) - the rest of the time he is either sleeping, nursing, or crying his eyes out. Sometimes he cries while he nurses (I think this is when he isn't really hungry, but is comfort nursing). We have tried all of the colic tricks we can find (tummy massage (he hates it!), walking, dancing, vacuum cleaner, drives in the car), and none works for more than a few minutes. Now, I pretty much just hold him close, walk him and tell him I love him during that time and he cries himself out. I'm trying this week to cut things out of my diet that could be disagreeing with him. I'm avoiding veggies that might make him gassy, and today is my second day of cutting back on milk (I'm having a hard time cutting milk products out entirely, since I am vegitarian, and dairy is such an easy way to get protein in during the day, but I am trying to stick to just yogurt for a few days). Are there any other foods I should consider cutting out? Could spicy foods affect hime? I love spicy food, and have had quite a bit of it lately... Thanks for any suggestions -Michelle |
#5
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Intro and a few questions
I am trying to feed on demand, but have resorted
to offering my pinkie/a pacifier (which he hates and usually won't take) once or twice after some really intense cluster feeding. Don't feel bad about that at all. If he'll take the substitute, you'll get a break and he'll be fine. If he won't take the substitute, you'll know he really does need the milk! :-) 2) Is Tylenol safe while nursing? My doctor's office is closed today, so I can't call, and I really could go for some pain relief. The lanolin just isn't cutting it today. I'm pretty sure Tylenol is fine, but I'd suggest ibuprofen. It'll probably work better and it is definitely considered safe while breastfeeding. I took an awful lot of it for a while. :-) 3) Critter tends to stay latched for quite a long time if I let him stay on until he decides to let go...usually 40 minutes or longer. After about 30 minutes, though, he falls asleep and only sucks every couple minutes. When I try to unlatch him, he starts sucking again. Should I be unlatching him when he falls asleep, or should I just wait until he lets go himself? Let him stay on if you've nothing more pressing to do. Unlatch him if you've really got to pee. ;-) Basically, once he's asleep, if you can unlatch him without causing him to wake and cry, go right ahead. My DS *never* let go on his own, so I certainly never followed the guideline to let him nurse until he let go! When I wanted to get up, I'd unlatch him. If he protested, I'd let him back on; if not, I was good to go. 4) Every other feeding or so, Critter sucks too quickly and ends up choking on the milk. We both find this stressful. Is there anyway to prevent this? In time the problem will likely solve itself. But you can try nursing in a reclined position with him kind of on top of you. That way, the milk has to flow against gravity and that may slow the initial letdown enough for him to manage better. Alternatively, you could try pumping or hand expressing into a towel or burp cloth for just a moment before latching him on, as the flow usually slows a bit after the initial letdown. The problem with that approach, besides the hassle and the delay in starting the feeding, is that you could wind up encouraging an oversupply if you pump too much. Holly Mom to Camden, 3yo EDD #2 6/8/04 |
#6
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Intro and a few questions
Let him stay on if you've nothing more pressing to do. Unlatch him if
you've really got to pee. ;-) Basically, once he's asleep, if you can unlatch him without causing him to wake and cry, go right ahead. My DS *never* let go on his own, so I certainly never followed the guideline to let him nurse until he let go! When I wanted to get up, I'd unlatch him. If he protested, I'd let him back on; if not, I was good to go. My problem with this is Morgan tends to throw up a bit if I don't burp her. So, I have to burp her and lay back down, but then she wants to latch on again...it's a vicious cycle! ~Carol Ann |
#7
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Intro and a few questions
My problem with this is Morgan tends to throw up a bit if I don't burp her.
So, I have to burp her and lay back down, but then she wants to latch on again...it's a vicious cycle! Well, if the throwing up doesn't wake or bother her, it's not a problem other than the extra laundry. :-) I generally burped DS (who was a champion spitter upper no matter what we did or didn't do) between sides. If he fell asleep at the breast on the second side, I didn't wake him. Holly Mom to Camden, 3yo EDD #2 6/8/04 |
#8
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Intro and a few questions
"Deirdre" wrote in message ... No doubt you'll get any number of good suggestions from the group here, but I highly recommend "Happiest Baby on the Block". It's a jewel, and will likely give you some really helpful tools for dealing with your little man. Good luck --Deirdre Thanks, Deirdre. I'll check it out! -Michelle |
#9
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Intro and a few questions
"All4meUC" wrote in message ... Hi Michelle. What a neat birthday your son has. I don't suppose you're Irish? No, wouldn't that have been too perfect, though. He is half Palestinian, the rest Polish/German...but we did end up giving him an Irish name for good measure. I would suggest trying to unlatch him as soon as you notice he is not swallowing...he will likely protest that and if so, try humming and rocking or whatever until he goes to sleep. If all else fails latch back on and let him nurse for comfort a bit more. In my experience, the longer they get accustomed to nursing themselves into a deep slumber, the harder it will be to get out of that habit. My son would nurse at bedtime until he was so full that he was uncomfortable. He couldn't get to sleep b/c nursing more only aggravated the situation. Now he is 8 months and he will nurse about 10 mins when we lay down, unlatch himself, toss and turn a bit, and I rub his back until he falls asleep. Its not a perfect bedtime ritual, but works for us. ~Tracy Thanks for the advice, Tracy. This is one thing I have been wondering about... I have heard other Mom's I know say they don't want their babies in the habit of nursing themselves to sleep. Why? Is it because they then have a hard time sleeping when they are weaned? Since our little man seems to be colicky and won't go to sleep before 1 a.m. most nights, I am happy to get him to stop screaming and sleep any way I can... Am I setting myself up for even more pain months down the line? -Michelle |
#10
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Intro and a few questions
"HollyLewis" wrote in message ... Let him stay on if you've nothing more pressing to do. Unlatch him if you've really got to pee. ;-) Basically, once he's asleep, if you can unlatch him without causing him to wake and cry, go right ahead. My DS *never* let go on his own, so I certainly never followed the guideline to let him nurse until he let go! When I wanted to get up, I'd unlatch him. If he protested, I'd let him back on; if not, I was good to go. Thanks for the advice, Holly! So, it sounds like you let your little guy nurse himself to sleep? Did this cause problems for you as he got older? -Michelle |
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