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Infant feeding

is it possible to over-feed?

10 replies

olivo · 15/09/2006 09:34

I am bf my dd who is 2 1/2 wks old and she has been getting quite a lot of what i assume is wind - squirming at the breast, kicking out, shaking her head. my hv said i may be over feeding her. i thought the point of feeding on demand was to give as much as little as she wanted, after all, you cant force her to suck. now i dont know what todo. in the night, i gave her the 3 1/2 oz of ebm that i was advised but she was still hungry and guzzled on my breast afterwards for about another 10 mins before taking herself off. am i doing this wrong or should i go with my instincts?

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kbaby · 15/09/2006 09:41

sounds to me as if she just has wind, take her off burp her and put her back on, youll know if shes had enough as she wont reopen her mouth.

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nearlythree · 15/09/2006 09:48

My dd2 fed around the clock. Could it be something in your own diet making her windy?

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olivo · 15/09/2006 10:01

i did think about my own diet - have deliberately not had anything spicy, no booze, onions, garlic (well, only a little). have been drinking peppermint tea for my own stomach, having been very windy since my c-section. cant think of anything too wind-causing!

it just seems to be that when i follow the advice I've been given about possible over-feeding, she gets really unsettled and things become a nightmare. please tell me I'm not wrong to use my own judgement!

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NotQuiteCockney · 15/09/2006 10:04

HV talking rubbish I'm afraid, it's not possible to overfeed a bf baby. If doing things you were told to do (to avoid impossible overfeeding) makes things worse, don't do them!

Babies are often really unsettled in the first few weeks. Their guts are new, and need time to settle down.

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hunkermunker · 15/09/2006 10:08

She's having a growth spurt by the sound of it.

They get a bit fussy and want to feed all the time.

Think about it like this - three weeks ago, your DD was held 24/7 in a warm, close embrace. She never knew cold or hunger. She's just getting used to the world and she's realised she LOVES sucking, above anything else - because she's not old enough to realise that shopping and chocolate exist, I think.

Let her feed when she wants, co-sleep (safely) to get some sleep yourself and do keep your energy up by eating cake.

And if the expressing's irritating you, leave it for a bit - it's not necessary.

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Emskilou · 15/09/2006 10:18

Sorry to say this but the hv is talking bo**ks, it is impossible to over feed a bf baby, they suck differently at different points in the feed, it sould be that your dd is suckling for comfort at some points during the feed, or she could be wanting more and getting frustrated when your boobs have emptied (which btw is completely normal too!) and by sucking more she is stimulating more milk production, it does take a little while (4-6 weeks) ime for your milk to sort itself out. You are doing a fab job so you are completely right to go with your instincts! I also agree to give up expressing for a little while, it isn't absolutely essential right now. Good luck, not that you need it because you are doing fine! Take care and congrats on new baby girl!!

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Emskilou · 15/09/2006 10:19

thats could not sould, I'm making up my own little language now!!

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alibobble · 15/09/2006 16:25

hunkermunker is prob right. My dd went through the "3week" growth spurt at 2 weeks and was never off the breast. She fed every 2 hours esp as I didn't have enough milk to keep her happy, tho that comes with time. It is impossible to overfeed BF baby! If wind = problem with feeding, try infacol. Has been a godsend to me as my dd won't burp without it and it slowly builds up in system to work even when you forget ot give it.

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nearlythree · 15/09/2006 22:40

Olivo, peppermint tea may be a bit stimulating. I drank loads of camomile tea when bf dd2 and it helped with wind for both of us, plus it is calming rather than stimulating so may help dd to settle and you to feel peaceful, it worked for us.

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olivo · 16/09/2006 17:06

thanks for all your tips everyone. i tried infacol last night and despite forgetting for two feeds today, she seems a little mopre comfortable. didnt know about peppermint being stimulating, will try camomile.
you were also right about the expressing - it is easier to feed her myself and accept that dh will get his turn eventually! they were both just getting stressed out anyway.
as usual, mumsnet has come up trumps!