I have a 10 week old baby girl and breastfeeding full time, i start playing netball again tonight and just wonder what i should do? she use to feed every 2-3 hours but i read i should give it to her when she wants it! i’m so confused what to do, books tell you one thing, doctors say one thing midwives say another and my mum tells me another? my mum says the reason why she needs both breasts at one feed is cause i dont have enough milk, and should offer formula after feeds. she put on 300 grams last week. Should i feed my baby just before netball so she wont need a feed while playing? or take formula with me? she feeds pretty well put sometimes she pulls away and then wants more but pulls away again around the end of a feed, whys that???
November 25th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Breastfeeding can be very confusing because each baby and each mother is different. Moms with smaller breasts might have to feed more frequently, or some babies might want to cluster feed (many short feedings in a short period of time, epecially the evenings). Some babies like to graze all day long while others want to get on, get full, and get off! The best way to know how much and how often to give breastmilk is to learn your baby’s cues. There is no set schedule for any baby. Some may eat on a schedule for awhile, and may increase or decrease frequency or amounts according to different circumstances. The really great thing is that your baby knows how much she needs!
And you do likely have enough milk. You shouldn’t need to give formula at all. When formula is introduced into a breastfeeding schedule, the mother’s milk supply ALWAYS decreases, and she eventually dries up. It’s simple supply and demand. You can safely take away formula and your milk supply will increase in a matter of a day or two.
As far as her pulling off, this could mean she needs to burp. The milk at the end of a feed, called hind milk, is thicker and loaded with lots of healthy fats and proteins and nutrients, and it’s harder work for the baby to get it out. Make sure she has a really good latch throughout her feeding to help her get the milk to let down. It also might mean that she’s still hungry and there isn’t much milk coming out. The best thing to do in this case is to keep putting her on (even though she keeps pulling off) because that signals to the body to make more milk. Then at subsequent feedings there should be more milk for her.
I would suggest feeding her (breastmilk) just before netball. If she needs another feeding during netball, breast feed her again or bring pumped milk. I don’t suggest bringing formula.
November 26th, 2009 at 1:06 am
Pump milk so someone else can help feed her. It lets you do what needs to be done and if you are not producing enough, it will increase your milk supply if done right. Also, pumping gives you a chance to see the amount of milk you re producing.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:12 am
I second shera and mystic …
I had not heard of netball and had to look it up, very interesting… looks like fun
November 26th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Your baby gained 300g last week that’s above average -don’t worry that she is gaining too much my point is your baby is OBVIOUSLY thriving on breastmilk alone. So formula would be ridiculous.
You should breastfeed on demand, babies know what they need. I haven’t seen a reputable source that says different, however the breastfeeding book sponsored by *cough* *nestle* *cough* says to feed every 2-3 hours.
If she may need a feed during netball and you can’t feed her then bring some pumped breastmilk. Any formula can have negative side effects and since you have a tonne of milk you may as well use it.
She may be pulling away because you have so much milk it comes out too quickly at times. Its hard to tell without more info.
November 26th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
of cours she should feed on demand
do not listen to your mother…..she does not need formula……and she doesn’t always need both breasts at one feeding either…….you just go by babies cues
you don’t need to listen to anyboy but your baby…..the baby tells you what she needs…..that simple
she may have days that she feeds 20 times and comforts nurses all day….and then days when she sleeps alot and only feeds every so often and then sleeps again
my nursling is 7 months old and i cannot tell you how many times she nursed today and last night….but it was ALOT…..just one of those days